Travel Budget for La Serena Visit La Serena on a Budget or Travel in Style

La Serena, Region de Coquimbo, Chile

How much does it cost to travel to La Serena?

You should plan to spend around $86 (CL$82,701) per day on your vacation in La Serena. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $27 (CL$25,566) on meals
  • $20 (CL$19,429) on local transportation
  • $84 (CL$80,089) on hotels

A one week trip to La Serena for two people costs, on average, $1,208 (CL$1,157,821). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $86
    CL$82,701
  • One Week Per person
    $604
    CL$578,910
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,208
    CL$1,157,821
  • One Month Per person
    $2,588
    CL$2,481,044
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,208
    CL$1,157,821
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,415
    CL$2,315,641
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,175
    CL$4,962,088
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to La Serena cost?

A one week trip to La Serena usually costs around $604 (CL$578,910) for one person and $1,208 (CL$1,157,821) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to La Serena on average costs around $1,208 (CL$1,157,821) for one person and $2,415 (CL$2,315,641) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in La Serena will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to La Serena on average costs around $2,588 (CL$2,481,044) for one person and $5,175 (CL$4,962,088) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to La Serena has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is La Serena expensive to visit?

La Serena is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Chile, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within South America, La Serena is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Brasilia or Rosario Islands.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is La Serena Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to La Serena?

The average La Serena trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these La Serena travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) CL$80,089 ($84)
Local Transportation 1 CL$19,429 ($20)
Food 2 CL$25,566 ($27)
Entertainment 1 CL$22,501 ($23)
Tips and Handouts 1 CL$219 - 656 ($0 - 1)
Alcohol 2 CL$10,704 - 32,111 ($11 - 33)
Accommodation Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in La Serena is $42 (CL$40,045). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in La Serena is $84 (CL$80,089). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $42
    CL$40,045
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $84
    CL$80,089

Hotel Prices in La Serena

Looking for a hotel in La Serena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in La Serena based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $72. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in La Serena is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $20 (CL$19,429) per person, per day, on local transportation in La Serena.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $20
    CL$19,429


Flights to La Serena
How much does it cost to go to La Serena? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in La Serena
The price of renting a car in La Serena will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in La Serena can vary, the average cost of food in La Serena is $27 (CL$25,566) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in La Serena should cost around $11 (CL$10,227) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in La Serena is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $27
    CL$25,566


Entertainment Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in La Serena typically cost an average of $23 (CL$22,501) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $23
    CL$22,501

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in La Serena is $0.46 (CL$438) per day. The usual amount for a tip in La Serena is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $0.46
    CL$438


Alcohol Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $22 (CL$21,408) on alcoholic beverages in La Serena per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $22
    CL$21,408


Water Budget in La Serena
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.58 (CL$559) on bottled water in La Serena per day. The public water in La Serena is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.58
    CL$559


La Serena On a Budget
La Serena La Serena, Chile
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
Sights
If you come in the spring or summer, visit the beaches of La Serena. The beach in La Serena is a long strip of soft sand about a 40 minute walk from the center. You can also take the public bus to get there. Walk down the long Avenida del Mar to choose where to lay down your towel or go shopping at Recova, the most famous market in the area, which includes an amazing arts and crafts fair. La Serena's central beach is named Playa El Faro due to its iconic lighthouse (faro), which is not operational but is open for visitors to climb to the top. Renting a mountain bike in La Serena and cruising down the beach makes for a great day trip. As you walk around the city, start counting every church you pass by. There are said to be 29 churches in La Serena alone. The ones worth visiting are found downtown including Iglesia Cathedral, the main cathedral on the central square, Iglesia Santo Domingo with its unique bell tower, and Iglesia San Francisco, which was built in the early 1600s, making it La Serena's oldest church. La Serena also has numerous attractions in the surrounding countryside, with pretty villages and pisco vineyards aplenty. If you enjoy guided tours, head to the Elqui Valley. This might be the highlight of your trip to La Serena. Just over the dry coast sits this lush and spectacular valley. You can also visit a pisco distillery and a colourful market town with a day tour for USD$30 per person. There are also a number of national parks in the area, and depending on the season they can be bursting with wildlife. The most popular trip is to Fray Jorge National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, due to its abundance of woodland and consequent ecosystem. The highlight is the cloud forest, which is quite a contrast from the semi-arid desert that visitors pass through on the drive from La Serena. For a shorter but perfect break from the usual bustling atmosphere of La Serena, head to the Jardin del Corazon, a quiet oasis in the form of a Japanese garden, also known as the Kokoro No Niwa garden. It was created as a symbol of the cooperation between Chilean and Japanese businesses that operated in the region's mining industry.

Activities
La Serena offers a wealth of attractions for visitors. Just a short bus ride down the beach to the south from La Serena is the rough and tumble town of Coquimbo. This is the center of activity during the day for most tourists. The old fort sits out at the point and makes for a nice stop, other places worth visiting are the fish markets, Cruz del Tercer Milenio, and Barrio Ingles which explodes in activity at night as the bar district in town. You can also check out the Collowara Observatory, one of the best places in the world for stargazing. In fact most scientists have been on a waiting list for years to use one of the observatories that take advantage of the region's exceptional atmospheric conditions and clear skies. One of the observatories has been built for tourism, and makes for a great night excursion. Most trips leave between 7-9 depending on the time of year, and last about 4 hours. La Serena's main history museum is named after Serena-born Chile's president from 1946 to 1952, Gonzalez Videla. The exhibitions don't really cover his own history, but the museum is full of other historic artifacts as well as some modern art. The building itself is in the old house of Gonzalez Videla, an 18th century mansion which is an artifact in itself. It is also handily located on Plaza de Armas, and admission is free. The numerous beaches around La Serena provide plenty of places for visitors to indulge in some water sport activities, such as surfing and windsurfing. There are plenty of small local businesses along the beachfront offering equipment rentals or lessons. If Playa El Faro is a little too busy and you are looking for a calmer and more peaceful experience, Playa Tongoy and Playa Totoralillo are great alternatives. A couple of hours drive away from La Serena is Punta de Choros, where you will find an array of marine wildlife, including dolphins, sea lions, whales, and Humboldt penguins; the perfect destination for a day trip!
Food and Dining
The local food is a pleasure you can't miss. For the best seafood head down to the coast where there's a number of good restaurants. On Avenida del Mar, the road running all along the beachfront, there are many of La Serena's restaurants and bars with an architecture quite different from the old quarter and specifically designed for tourism.

Transportation
Buses from several companies including Pullman Bus, TurBus and Flota Barrios, leave every day at every hour from Santiago de Chile to La Serena. The trip takes 7 to 8 hours and you will be able to choose between regular buses, semi-cama (semi-bed option) or the first class salon-cama. Prices vary greatly depending on the season and the type of seat you choose. You can also reach La Serena by plane. LAN flies five times from Sunday to Friday and four times on Saturday from Santiago de Chile to La Serena with a flight duration of about 1 hour. A ticket costs around USD$100 return. There are also daily flights from Antofagasta. On Saturdays there is one flight from Copiapo and Calama. Sky Airline flies three times daily from Santiago de Chile and Antofagasta.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.