A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Veracruz vs. Paracas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Veracruz or Paracas?

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 Veracruz and Paracas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Veracruz or Paracas?

Veracruz

Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.

Paracas

Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Veracruz?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. 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 Veracruz and Paracas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Veracruz $54
    Paracas $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Veracruz $108
    Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Paracas

Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or Paracas? 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 Veracruz


Hotels in Paracas


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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Veracruz $28
    Paracas $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz

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

  • Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Arrival Private Transfer: $14
  • Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $28
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
  • Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $32
  • Airport Transfer: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:

  • Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
  • Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163
  • Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
  • Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
  • Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
  • Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
  • Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
  • Bus Station Private Transfer: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Paracas?

Prices for flights to both Paracas and Veracruz 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
    Veracruz $50
    Paracas $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas

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

  • From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Veracruz $15
    Paracas $25

Tours and Activities in Veracruz

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

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Double-Decker Bus Tour: $7.87
  • Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
  • San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
  • San Juan de Ulua Fortress of Veracruz Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
  • Sightseeing City Tour and Aquarium: $22
  • From Nature & Seafood Boat Tour to Madinga: $23
  • 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $25
  • Sightseeing City Tour and Wax & Ripley´s Museums: $25
  • From San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour: $26
  • Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $26
  • Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
  • San Juan De Ulua Tour: $29

Tours and Activities in Paracas

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

  • 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
  • 2D: Tour Ica, Huacachina, Sandboarding, Ballestas Islands: $215
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
  • 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
  • ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $45
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
  • Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
  • Ballestas Islands Tour for passengers of the Puerto San Martin Cruise: $32
  • Ballestas Islands Tour from Puerto San Martin Cruise: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Veracruz $17
    Paracas $11


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

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


Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Paracas?

Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 480 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and Paracas, 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.