A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta Cana vs. Bocas del Toro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro?

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

Should I visit Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro? 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: Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro?

Punta Cana

Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.

Bocas del Toro

The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or Punta Cana?

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 Punta Cana is $170, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $96. 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 Punta Cana and Bocas del Toro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta Cana $95
    Bocas del Toro $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta Cana $190
    Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Bocas del Toro

Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro? 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 Punta Cana


Hotels in Bocas del Toro


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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta Cana $6.39
    Bocas del Toro $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:

  • Private Transfer from Punta Cana PUJ to Samana: $299
  • Roundtrip VIP Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $270
  • La Romana port transfers (combined transfers: airport-hotel-port): $266
  • Private Transfer from puntacana AirPort to Bayahibe/romana: $260
  • Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $257
  • Transfers From Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)<=>To All place at Juan Dolio: $255
  • Private Round Trip Punta Cana Airport to Uvero Alto Villa/Hotel Transfer: $250
  • Private car transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Santo Domingo: $250
  • Roundtrip VIP transfers from Punta Cana to uvero alto and bavaro: $230
  • Transfers From Las America Airport AILA SDQ<=>To All Place at Punta Cana: $227
  • Private Transfer from Punta Cana to La Altagracia Province: $220
  • Punta Cana to Bayahibe transfer: $191

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:


  • Water Taxi
    $3.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro

Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro?

Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro and Punta Cana 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
    Punta Cana $64
    Bocas del Toro $47

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.

  • Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
  • Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
  • Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
  • Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169

Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:


  • Lunch
    $15
  • Breakfast
    $14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta Cana $30
    Bocas del Toro $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana

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


  • Dune Buggy Adventure
    $51

Tours and Activities in Punta Cana

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

  • Adventure:4x4 ATV Cave and Dominican Culture At Punta Cana: $40
  • Enjoy Our Tours Higuey City Cultural : $45
  • Explore Punta Cana Buggy or ATV Adventure in Macao: $59
  • Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo with Lunch.: $70
  • Full Experience Hacienda – 6 Exciting Adventures: $90
  • Full-Day Boat Tour of Los Haitises National Park: $165
  • Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour: $89
  • Half Day Higuey City Tour from Punta Cana with Pick Up: $82
  • Macao Beach private horseback tour in punta cana : $55
  • Private ATV Tour from Punta Cana : $250
  • Tours Parasailing Punta Cana: $99
  • Tours Ziplines Punta Cana : $99

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro

For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Island Boat Tour
    $25
  • Starfish Island Boat Trip
    $20
  • Yoga Class
    $4.99

Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.

  • Zapatilla Island Hopping Day Tour: $49
  • Bioluminescence Tour - Bocas del Toro: $49
  • Bioluminescence Snorkeling and Boat Experience at Bocas del Toro: $50
  • Isla Colon Tour to Bird Island, Boca del Drago and Starfish Beach: $50
  • Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Day Tour in Zapatilla Beach: $51
  • From Isla Colon: Bocas del Toro Archipelago Boat Tour: $56
  • Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
  • Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
  • Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
  • Bocas Biodiversity: A Birds & Wildlife EcoTour Experience: $76

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta Cana $10
    Bocas del Toro $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana

Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is Bocas del Toro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Bocas del Toro?

Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and Bocas del Toro, 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.