Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Tilcara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tilcara or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $78Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $78, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $63Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $126Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Tamarindo? 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.
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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.09Tamarindo $69
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 Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280
- Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $225
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort Costa Rica: $185
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Margaritaville Costa Rica: $185
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Tamarindo, Guanacaste: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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
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Food Meals for one dayTilcara $7.41Tamarindo $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $22Tamarindo $17
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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV Tour Top Adventure Through beaches & Towns: $96
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Buggy - Side by Side Family Tour : $275
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1 Full Private Tour to Arenal Volcano + Baldi Hot Springs: $183
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- 2 Hours ATV Off Road Tour in Guanacaste Costa Rica: $100
- 2 Hours Private Jet Ski Tour in Brasilito Flamingo or Conchal: $270
- 2 Hours Pura Vida ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Conchal: $180
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 2h ATV Beach & Dirt Trails Adventure Tour: $130
- 3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $4.87Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo is in Central 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 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.