Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Castro?
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 Castro 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 Castro and Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Castro or Tamarindo?
Castro
The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.
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 2-Week Tours in Chile, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Castro Prices
Chile PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCastro $114Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Castro is $114, 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 Castro and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCastro $37Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCastro $74Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Castro and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Castro 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: Castro Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Castro $20Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
- Castro Airport Private Transfer in Chiloe: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer to Best Western Tamarindo: $100
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $100
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $107
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to Westin Playa Conchal Resort: $140
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Castro or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Castro 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 dayCastro $62Tamarindo $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.Castro $21Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
- Coastal Nature Adventure in Chiloe: $102
- Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
- Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $141
- Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $170
- Chiloé: UNESCO Wooden Churches Full-Day Tour: $176
- Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
- Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $185
- Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $202
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 dayCastro $17Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Castro and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Castro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Castro 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 Castro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Castro 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 Castro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Castro 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.