Is La Serena expensive to visit?
La Serena is a smaller destination that charms visitors with a variety of travel styles, expenditure habits, and budgetary considerations. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels to high-end luxury properties.
You may find La Serena to be expensive in some places, but there are ways to keep your budget in check, like looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $42 (CL$41,835) per day, mid-range travelers spend $103 (CL$101,365) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $238 (CL$235,063) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to La Serena.
Within South America, La Serena is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in South America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, La Serena is generally more expensive than most.
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. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to La Serena cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
It's essential to keep realistic expectations for your travel budget. Many people think they can visit La Serena cheaply, but most travelers aren't comfortable with an extreme "shoestring" budget. Consider what you truly enjoy on vacation. Do you prefer resorts, vacation homes, or hostels? Is experiencing attractions and dining important to you? Your budget and itinerary will depend on your answers to these questions.
Who are Budget Travelers?
You might consider yourself a budget traveler, but if you're not ready to give up some comforts, prepare to spend a lot more than the $42 per day that younger budget travelers manage.
Backpackers will usually stick to this shoestring budget by staying in hostel dorms, dining at the cheapest spots such as fast food places, using public transit, and mostly visiting free attractions.
Luckily, La Serena has plenty of hostels like Hostal El Arbol and Hostal El Punto. At these hostels, you can find affordable dorm beds and a vibrant social scene, but amenities tend to be quite limited.
Could You Be an Average Traveler?
If you're traveling for leisure as a couple or family, you'll probably prefer a mid-range hotel, dine at well-known restaurants, and explore the major museums and attractions that charge entry fees. It's common for visitors to La Serena to seek out the major attractions, museums, and significant landmarks. Remember, most activities come with a cost. Therefore, it's reasonable to anticipate that your daily budget will be around $103 per person, per day.
There are a wide range of hotels and vacation rentals in La Serena. If you're traveling with others, you'll share your hotel with a partner, friend, or your children, so costs will be split accordingly, saving money. When traveling as a family, you'll want to find hotels and restaurants that cater to kids. Hotel Boutique Terra Diaguita & Spa is a good kid-friendly option, and Hotel Club La Serena is also terrific. You'll find more hotels that cater to families and couples in our hotel guide for La Serena here.
Want to Experience a Luxurious Trip?
If you're looking for a high-end escape with every amenity and high-quality service, be prepared for daily expenses around $238. Staying in upscale hotels, enjoying meals at award-winning restaurants, indulging in lavish excursions, and utilizing taxis or private drivers in the destination will entail a more premium price tag.
Accommodation Budget in La Serena
In La Serena, hotel prices can be quite surprising. Higher-end hotels offer more amenities and luxury, but come at a higher price tag, especially during the peak season. Off-season prices average around $72, but in peak season, they can average around $134. Prices generally range from $44 to $325, and hostels remain the cheaper option. Booking early or traveling during the low season can save you money, and you might find special deals along the way.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in La Serena for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $79 (CL$80,089). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $40 (CL$40,045) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in La Serena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in La Serena include:
- Apart Hotel Gran Pacifico starting at $88
- Hostal Avenue starting at $44
- Hotel Boutique Terra Diaguita & Spa starting at $71
By traveling in the off-peak times like the low or shoulder season, and steering clear of , you'll find cheaper lodging and smaller crowds.
Food Budget in La Serena
Food is a major reason many people explore new destinations, so don't skip the chance to try local delicacies.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in La Serena can vary significantly, the average cost of food in La Serena is $44 (CL$44,230) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$44
CL$44,230
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in La Serena is around $45 (CL$44230) per person, with previous travelers spending from $17 to $120. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in La Serena are as follows:
- Breakfast: $4 to $13
- Lunch: $7 to $18
- Dinner: $13 to $31
- Coffee: $4
- Fast Food or Street Food: $7
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.
Numerous hotels provide breakfast as part of your stay, although others may charge you extra for it. The price and quality can vary from hotel to hotel. Being informed ahead of time can assist you in determining if you need to budget extra funds. The hotel buffet might be worth your money, or perhaps a cheaper option at a nearby bakery or cafe would suffice.
Having a water bottle can help you save on drinks and do your part for the environment.
Be sure to check which meals are part of your tour before you go. You might be responsible for some of your own food costs, which could stretch your budget further.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in La Serena
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in La Serena typically cost an average of $22 (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.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$22
CL$22,501
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.
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!
A nice way to explore destinations in La Serena is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Spas and Beaches Tour: La Herradura -Totoralillo - Guanaqueros -Tongoy for $118 details
- Astronomy and Astrophotography Tour for $55 details
- Private La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour for $170 details
La Serena, Chile
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.