A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tilcara vs. Bonaire for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tilcara or Bonaire?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tilcara and Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Tilcara or Bonaire?

Tilcara

Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and CuraƧao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Camping Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Tilcara?

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 Tilcara is $78, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Tilcara and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tilcara $63
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tilcara $126
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Bonaire? 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 Tilcara


Hotels in Bonaire


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: Tilcara Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tilcara $3.09
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara

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

  • Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
  • Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Tilcara 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
    Tilcara $7.41
    Bonaire $101

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.

  • Dinner at Sea: $95
  • Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tilcara $22
    Bonaire $40

Tours and Activities in Tilcara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.

  • 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
  • From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:

  • 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
  • Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $130
  • Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
  • Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
  • Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
  • Bonaire island adventure: $110
  • Discover Scuba Diving Experience: $164
  • North & South Highlights Guided Group Tour: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tilcara $4.87
    Bonaire $33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tilcara is in South America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Tilcara.

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


Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Bonaire?

Bonaire has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Bonaire, 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.