A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Ignacio or Arequipa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Arequipa, 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 Ignacio or Arequipa?

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

Arequipa

Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or San Ignacio?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • San Ignacio Prices
    Belize Prices
    Arequipa Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Ignacio $86
    Arequipa $60

The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $86, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $60. 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 Ignacio and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Ignacio $19
    Arequipa $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Ignacio $38
    Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Arequipa? 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 San Ignacio


Hotels in Arequipa


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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Ignacio $3.10
    Arequipa $6.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • Transfer from Belize Airport to San Ignacio: $160

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.43
  • Bus Ride
    $0.46
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • 2 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $179
  • 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $132
  • Arequipa Airport (AQP) Private Transfer to Arequipa City: $23
  • Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
  • Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $283
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $147
  • Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
  • Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81

Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and San Ignacio 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
    San Ignacio $36
    Arequipa $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.

  • Maya Fish Cooking Experience: $75

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.43
  • Lunch
    $3.01
  • Ice Cream
    $1.15
  • Fruit
    $0.86
  • Ice Cream
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

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

  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
  • Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
  • Food Tour Gastronomic Guided : $113

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Ignacio $100
    Arequipa $19

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

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

  • Tea Tasting Medicinal Tour: $25
  • Night Hike Tour: Critters of the Night: $28
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $85
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $95
  • LOST WORLD CEREMONIAL CAVE- Exciting Adventure at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch: $98
  • 7:30am Jungle Farm trail Ride plus Xunantunich adventure: $100
  • Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $120
  • Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $122
  • ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio Actun Tunichil Muknal: $124
  • Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $125
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $131

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.87
  • Salsa Class
    $2.87
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.13
  • Hot Springs
    $2.87

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

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

  • Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $20
  • Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $20
  • From Salinas Lagoon Half Day Tour: $21
  • Tour Colca Full Day Promotional Price: $22
  • Full Day Tour Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Arequipa: $23
  • Arequipa City Tour and food and drinks experience: $25
  • Half day Sillar Stone Tour from Arequipa: $25
  • Ticket for Planetarium and Star Observatory: $27
  • Pillones Waterfall Tour | Stone Forest | Arequipa: $27
  • Full Day Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $28
  • Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $28

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Ignacio $17
    Arequipa $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.58


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

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


Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Arequipa?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Arequipa, 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.