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

Should you visit Hagatna or Tamarindo?

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

Should I visit Hagatna or Tamarindo? 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: Hagatna or Tamarindo?

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 Hagatna?

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 Hagatna is $0.00, 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 Hagatna and Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hagatna -
    Tamarindo $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hagatna $0.00
    Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Hagatna and Tamarindo

Looking for a hotel in Hagatna 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 Hagatna


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.
    Hagatna -
    Tamarindo $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 Hagatna or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Hagatna 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
    Hagatna -
    Tamarindo $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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hagatna -
    Tamarindo $17

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
    Hagatna -
    Tamarindo $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hagatna and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Hagatna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hagatna is in Pacific 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 Hagatna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hagatna 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 Hagatna.

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