A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eagle Beach vs. Tamarindo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eagle Beach or Tamarindo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or Tamarindo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Eagle Beach or Tamarindo?

Eagle Beach

Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.

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 Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Eagle Beach?

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 Eagle Beach is $500, 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 Eagle Beach and Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eagle Beach $290
    Tamarindo $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eagle Beach $580
    Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and Tamarindo

Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach 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.

Hotels in Eagle Beach


Hotels in Tamarindo


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eagle Beach $42
    Tamarindo $69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.84
  • One Day Scooter Rental
    $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:

  • Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $23
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
  • Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
  • Private Transfer from Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) to Aruba Island: $36
  • Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
  • Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
  • Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
  • Aruba VIP Airport Transfers (Round-Trip) : $40
  • Arubabound Transfers: $40
  • Round-Trip Aruba Airport Express Transfer: $45
  • Private Airport Transfer Round-Trip Aruba: $49
  • Aruba Restaurant Transfers Service (Round-Trip): $50

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 Eagle Beach or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Eagle Beach 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
    Eagle Beach $150
    Tamarindo $56

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.

  • Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $86
  • Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
  • Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
  • Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
  • Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
  • Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
  • Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eagle Beach $155
    Tamarindo $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $32
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $126
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $89
  • 4 Hr Snorkel Trip
    $95

Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach

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

  • Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
  • Aruba Ostrich Adventures Entrance Ticket and Unique Tour: $15
  • Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
  • Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
  • Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
  • Aruba Countryside Tour: $44
  • Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $45
  • Aruba Happy Hour Tour: $50
  • Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58
  • Aruba Sunset Sail Cruise aboard The Dolphin Catamaran: $59
  • Full-Day Aruba History and Must-See Landmarks Tour: $59
  • Highlights of Aruba Island Tour: $60

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eagle Beach $40
    Tamarindo $14


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

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