A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Panama City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Panama City?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Panama City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or Panama City?

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

Panama City

As the tropical breeze kisses your face amidst the never-ending rows of palm trees and high-rise beach condos, you find both pleasure and peace in this popular beach vacation spot. Such a city could be no place else than Panama City, Florida, located on the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf Coast. The entire region is known for it's calm beach with white sand, blue water, and spring break and summer vacation fun. Panama City offers a multitude of hotels, parks, beaches, and restaurants to make it a prime destination to both party and relax. However, as you explore the city, you will find that Panama City acquires its own diverse, vibrant character unique to other beach towns. Bring out the fishing rods and boogie boards and take advantage of one of Florida's most popular destinations! It's a great destination for families, kids, younger travelers, singles, couples, and retirees alike.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Panama City, 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.

When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Panama City?

Panama City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Panama City in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Panama City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Also, many visitors come to Panama City in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Panama City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Panama City averages at about 82°F (28°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Panama City this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Panama City during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 283 hours of full sun in the summer.

Panama City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Panama City in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Panama City. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Basse-Terre is generally a little warmer than Panama City. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Panama City fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Panama City. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 256 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Panama City in the Winter?

Both Panama City and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Basse-Terre is much warmer than Panama City in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Panama City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Panama City during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Panama City in the Spring?

Both Panama City and Basse-Terre during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.

In the spring, Basse-Terre is a little warmer than Panama City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Panama City averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 295 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Panama City. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Panama City and Basse-Terre