Which place is cheaper, Tena or San Fernando?
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 San Fernando or Tena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Tena, 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: San Fernando or Tena?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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San Fernando Prices
Trinidad and Tobago PricesTena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $188Tena $61
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $188, while the average daily cost in Tena is $61. 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 San Fernando and Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Tena $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Tena $46
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Tena
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Tena $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $46
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $83Tena $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Tena $14
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Medellin Paragliding Tour : $65
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Private Guided Tour to Hanging Stone Susa Cundinamarca: $55
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Tena $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Tena, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Tena is in South 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 Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Tena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Tena?
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Tena, 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.