A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taupo vs. Guayaquil for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taupo or Guayaquil?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Taupo or Guayaquil? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Taupo or Guayaquil?

Taupo

Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Taupo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $125, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Taupo and Guayaquil in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taupo $61
    Guayaquil $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taupo $122
    Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Guayaquil

Looking for a hotel in Taupo or Guayaquil? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Taupo


Hotels in Guayaquil


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Taupo Hotel Prices and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taupo $24
    Guayaquil $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taupo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Taupo:

  • Tongariro Crossing : 2 Day PRIVATE TRANSFER Leaving AUCKLAND: $1,101

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $19
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
  • Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $20
  • Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $19
  • Luxury VIP car transfers to hotels in Guayaquil and Ecuador: $30
  • Private Transfer Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil by Car or Van: $48
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $227
  • Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil Airport(GYE): $227
  • Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil city hotels: $227

Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Guayaquil?

Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and Taupo change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Taupo $40
    Guayaquil $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
  • Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
  • Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
  • Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taupo $34
    Guayaquil $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo

Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Bungy Jumping
    $148
  • Jet Boating
    $55

Tours and Activities in Taupo

Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Chasing Waterfalls The Adventurer from Kinloch Marina: $185
  • Classical Sailing - Māori Rock Carvings -Taupo Sailing Adventures: $35
  • Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $39
  • Eco Sailing Tour to Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo: $35
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Cursed Cabin: $23
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Enchanted Candy Forest: $23
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $23
  • Evening Eco Sailing Adventure to Māori Rock Carvings Lake Taupō: $41
  • Hidden Lake Kayak Tour in Taupō’s Secret Gem: $115
  • Kakariki Day Time Cruise to Maori Rock Carvings: $35
  • Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $34

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cultural Tour of the Museums of Guayaquil: $35
  • Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
  • Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
  • City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
  • Guayaquil Museum Tour: $64
  • Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
  • Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
  • Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $74
  • Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
  • Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
  • City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
  • Historic Walking Tour Through Time & Culture: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taupo $13
    Guayaquil $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $4.92

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:

  • Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $65
  • Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
  • Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428


When comparing the travel costs between Taupo and Guayaquil, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Taupo is in Pacific and Guayaquil is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taupo Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Taupo or Guayaquil?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Taupo and Guayaquil, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.