Which city is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Banos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Banos vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Banos or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Banos and Lake Titicaca (Puno). We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Banos or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanos $37Lake Titicaca (Puno) $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $37, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $42. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Banos and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanos $12Lake Titicaca (Puno) $20
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanos $24Lake Titicaca (Puno) $40
Compare Hotels in Banos and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Banos or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Banos Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banos $8.27Lake Titicaca (Puno) $8.09
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
-
Taxi$0.78
Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Banos 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 dayBanos $12Lake Titicaca (Puno) $12
Typical Food prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
-
Dinner$13
-
Ice cream$1.50
-
Coffee$2.50
Typical Food prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
-
Tamales$1.43
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banos $15Lake Titicaca (Puno) $23
Typical Entertainment prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
-
Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
-
Day at the Spa$45
-
2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
-
Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Baños's Top Attractions Pass (Save 10% on tickets): $65
- Fishing Tour & Local Life in Baños: $90
- Chimborazo Volcano from Baños private day Tour: $102
- Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights: $335
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanos $7.79Lake Titicaca (Puno) $9.87
Typical Alcohol prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
-
Beer$4.00
When comparing the travel costs between Banos and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Related Articles for Banos
Related Articles for Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.More City Comparisons
Recife vs. BanosRecife vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Fortaleza vs. Banos
Fortaleza vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Puerto Iguazu vs. Banos
Puerto Iguazu vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Mar del Plata vs. Banos
Mar del Plata vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
La Plata vs. Banos
La Plata vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Banos
Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Asuncion vs. Banos
Asuncion vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Salto vs. Banos
Salto vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Punta del Este vs. Banos
Punta del Este vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Piriapolis vs. Banos
Piriapolis vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Montevideo vs. Banos
Montevideo vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Colonia del Sacramento vs. Banos
Colonia del Sacramento vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Sao Paulo vs. Banos
Sao Paulo vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Salvador vs. Banos
Salvador vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.