A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Boquete for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Boquete?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Boquete can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Zanzibar or Boquete?

Zanzibar

Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.

Boquete

Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Zanzibar?

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 Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Zanzibar and Boquete in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $24
    Boquete $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $48
    Boquete $44
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Boquete

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Boquete? 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 Zanzibar


Hotels in Boquete


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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices and Boquete Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Boquete $5.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:

  • Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer Anywhere: $12
  • Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $16
  • Zanzibar Airport Hotel Transfer Private Taxi Service: $20
  • Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
  • Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
  • Private Zanzibar Airport Transfer: $20
  • Zanzibar Aiport transfer services: $23
  • Zanzibar Airport Transfers Pickup and Drop off/departure: $25
  • Private Transfer from Zanzibar airport/port - Pick & Drop off: $25
  • Zanzibar Airport Transfer Private Taxi to Hotels in Zanzibar: $25
  • Zanzibar Airport To Stone Town Hotels Transfer OR Vice Versa: $27
  • 24/7 Private Transfers across Zanzibar: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boquete

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boquete:

  • Private transfer from Boquete to Bocas del Toro: $200

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Boquete?

Prices for flights to both Boquete and Zanzibar 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
    Zanzibar $28
    Boquete $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar

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

  • Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
  • Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
  • Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
  • Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
  • Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
  • Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
  • Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
  • Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
  • Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
  • Zanzibar Spice & Night Market: Cooking & Street Food Tour: $80
  • Cooking Class Tour: $90
  • 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Boquete $17

Tours and Activities in Zanzibar

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

  • Zanzibar Unveiled From Slaves to Sultans Audio Tour: $7.12
  • Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $16
  • Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $18
  • Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
  • Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $19
  • Stone Town Tour: $20
  • 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
  • Stone town walking tour with Akash: $20
  • Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
  • Zanzibar : Stone Town Tour,history without transport: $22
  • Zanzibar Stone Town Cultural & Historical Walking Tour: $24
  • Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise in Nungwi and Kendwa: $25

Tours and Activities in Boquete

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

  • Taste Panama Coffee Tasting Experience: $25
  • Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
  • Fun Adventure at Finca CreaDora Cafe and Animals and Hiking: $35
  • Small, Hands-on Coffee Tour: $46
  • Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
  • Epic Cloud Forest Horseback Riding Adventure in Boquete: $55
  • River Tubing - Fun and Nature Experience: $55
  • Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $55
  • Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
  • Tubing Adventure on the Cochea River: $55
  • Family experience in boiler Thermal wells and limestone: $65
  • Private E-Bike Tour in Scenic Views & Coffee Farms: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.70
    Boquete $4.44


When comparing the travel costs between Zanzibar and Boquete, we can see that Boquete is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Zanzibar is in Africa and Boquete is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Boquete?

Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Boquete, 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.