A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Belize City vs. Copan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Belize City or Copan?

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

Should I visit Belize City or Copan? 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: Belize City or Copan?

Belize City

Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.

This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.

Copan

If you are a lover of history, or just really want to tap into your inner Indiana Jones, a trip to Copan, Honduras is right up your alley. Located in western Honduras, the cobblestone lined streets and white adobe buildings topped with red roofs provide the beautiful backdrop to this once powerful city.

Occupied by the Maya for 2,000 years, Copan was the ruling city in the southern Mayan kingdom. Settled nicely in a fertile river valley among rolling hills, this city is absolutely fascinating and the perfect place to explore history.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Copan or Belize City?

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 Belize City is $108, while the average daily cost in Copan is $99. 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 Belize City and Copan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Belize City $49
    Copan $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Belize City $98
    Copan $42
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Copan

Looking for a hotel in Belize City or Copan? 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 Belize City


Hotels in Copan


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: Belize City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Belize City $5.81
    Copan $73

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

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

  • Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
  • Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
  • Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $150
  • Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Belize City to Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $72
  • Private Transfer from Belize City To Hopkins Village : $115
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
  • Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Copan?

Prices for flights to both Copan and Belize City 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
    Belize City $47
    Copan $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City

For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant : $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Belize City $29
    Copan $24

Tours and Activities in Belize City

For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • The Historic Belize City Tour: $35
  • Belize City Tour: $40
  • Cucumber Beach and City Tour: $49
  • Cave Kayak tour for Belize Car Rental : $59
  • Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
  • TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour : $60
  • Taste Bud Explosion Food Tasting Belize City Tour : $74
  • Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $75
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • The Incredible Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City: $85
  • Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
  • Private Altun Ha Maya Ruin & Belize City Adventure From Belize City: $107

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Belize City $12
    Copan $6.77


When comparing the travel costs between Belize City and Copan, we can see that Belize City 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. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Belize City or Copan?

Belize City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Copan. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and Copan, 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.