A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Rosario Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Buzios or Rosario Islands?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Rosario Islands? 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: Buzios or Rosario Islands?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario Islands or Buzios?

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 Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in Rosario Islands is $108. 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 Buzios and Rosario Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $36
    Rosario Islands $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $72
    Rosario Islands $66
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Rosario Islands

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Rosario Islands? 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 Buzios


Hotels in Rosario Islands


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: Rosario Islands Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $18
    Rosario Islands $46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $45
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
  • Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
  • Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
  • Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
  • Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Rosario Islands?

Prices for flights to both Rosario Islands and Buzios 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
    Buzios $40
    Rosario Islands $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $25
    Rosario Islands $14

Tours and Activities in Buzios

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

  • Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $11
  • Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $27
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
  • Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $46
  • Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51

Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands

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

  • One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $50
  • Tour to Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid Plus: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $17
    Rosario Islands $5.98


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

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