A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. La Serena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena? 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: Terre-de-Haut or La Serena?

Terre-de-Haut

Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.

Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Terre-de-Haut?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is €140, while the average daily cost in La Serena is €81. 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 Terre-de-Haut and La Serena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Terre-de-Haut 68
    La Serena 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Terre-de-Haut 136
    La Serena 78
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and La Serena

Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut or La Serena? 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 Terre-de-Haut


Hotels in La Serena


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: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut 44
    La Serena 19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut

Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
  • Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $79

Is it cheaper to fly into Terre-de-Haut or La Serena?

Prices for flights to both La Serena and Terre-de-Haut 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
    Terre-de-Haut 45
    La Serena 25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut

For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $231

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut 20
    La Serena 22

Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.

  • Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $106
  • Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $133
  • Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $103

Tours and Activities in La Serena

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

  • Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
  • Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
  • Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
  • Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
  • Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
  • Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
  • Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
  • Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
  • La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
  • La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Terre-de-Haut 44
    La Serena 21


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and La Serena, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands and La Serena is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut than you might in La Serena.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena?

La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Terre-de-Haut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round.

In July, Terre-de-Haut is generally much warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during summer. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.

Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F) 
    La Serena 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as La Serena. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Terre-de-Haut this time of the year. In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.

Terre-de-Haut receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F) 
    La Serena 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena in the Winter?

Both La Serena and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year.

In the winter, Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in January average around 24°C (76°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Terre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F) 
    La Serena 12°C (54°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Serena in the Spring?

Both La Serena and Terre-de-Haut during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Terre-de-Haut is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 26°C (78°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the spring, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Terre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F) 
    La Serena 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for La Serena and Terre-de-Haut

Terre-de-Haut La Serena
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 12°C (54°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 14°C (57°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)