Which place is cheaper, Tena or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Veracruz or Tena?
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 Tena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
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 G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $122Tena $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, while the average daily cost in Tena is $51. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $54Tena $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $108Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or Tena? 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $28Tena $17
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 Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
- San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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
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Food Meals for one dayVeracruz $50Tena $15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $15Tena $15
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 Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17Tena $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Tena, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America and Tena 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 Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 Tena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Tena?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 820 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and Tena, 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.
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.