Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cajamarca or Tamarindo?
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 Cajamarca and Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Tamarindo?
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Cajamarca Prices
Peru PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $95Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $95, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Cajamarca and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCajamarca $26Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $52Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or Tamarindo? 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: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $18Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Secret Papagayo: $13
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Riu Guanacaste: $16
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Palapa in Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport To Hotel Pas Tiempo Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Luna Llena: $22
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Conchal: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Cajamarca 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 dayCajamarca $52Tamarindo $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $28Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
- From Porcón Farm and Huambocancha Workshops Tour: $28
- Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
- La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
- Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
- Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
- Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
- Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $45
- From City Tour Cajamarca: $47
- Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Private Wildlife Tour in Avellanas Beach: $75
- Kayak and SUP Private Tour: $75
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $17Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Cajamarca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cajamarca is in South America and Tamarindo is in Central 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 Cajamarca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cajamarca 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Cajamarca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cajamarca Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.