Which place is cheaper, Lima or Paracas?
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 Paracas or Lima?
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 Paracas and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Paracas or Lima?
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, and The Best Photography Tours in Peru.
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Paracas Prices
Peru PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParacas $84Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Paracas is $84, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. 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 Paracas and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParacas $24Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParacas $48Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Paracas and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Paracas or Lima? 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: Paracas Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paracas $20Lima $6.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $220
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $220
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package, hotels & transfers: $140
- Airport Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport LIM to Lima by Sedan: $47
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Full Day Small Group Tour in Caral with Transfer: $158
- Guided Assistance -Hassle-free service -Airport -Hotel transfers : $30
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Lima Airport Departure Transfer: $22
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Paracas or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Paracas 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 dayParacas $42Lima $32
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $40
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $42
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $44
- Lima Street Food Tour | Markets & Local Life: $45
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $58
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $59
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Best Cooking Classes and Local Market Visit in Miraflores: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paracas $26Lima $9.15
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Paracas Desert Bike Adventure: $15
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $15
- Ballestas Islands and Candelabro Boat Tour: $15
- Ballestas Islands: Peru’s Natural Paradise boat tour: $16
- BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
- Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour: $17
- speedboat BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $17
- From Ballestas Islands tour all Inclusive: $17
- Ballestas Islands tour all Inclusive: $18
- Tours to Ballestas Islands by Speed Boat: $20
- Tour Ballestas Islands: $20
- Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour: $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Bike Tour Lima: $19
- Lima City Tour with Baby Alpaca Class and Pisco Tasting: $20
- Water Magic Circuit Lima Night Tour by Panoramic Bus: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Guided Bike Tour of Lima : $24
- Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups): $24
- Barranco Street Art Tour | Unmasked: $25
- Arequipa Sillar Stone Quarries and Culebrillas Canyon Tour: $25
- Miraflores & Barranco Bike Tour with Local Guide: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParacas $12Lima $5.95
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When comparing the travel costs between Paracas and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paracas Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paracas or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 6470 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Paracas and Lima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.