Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Basse-Terre or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Calafate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or El Calafate?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
-
Basse-Terre Prices
Guadeloupe PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €185El Calafate €55
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €185, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is €55. 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 Basse-Terre and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90El Calafate €35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180El Calafate €70
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or El Calafate? 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00El Calafate €3.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Punta Walichu Reserve W Lunch & Transfer: $18
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $149
- Transfer from El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €80El Calafate €6.32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $115
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47El Calafate €49
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Guided Tour National Park+Perito Moreno Glacier+Sailing (optional): $47
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $67
- From Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional): $70
- Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $71
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $79
- Tour to Walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier: $83
- Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
- From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $89
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $90
- Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour: $92
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with optional Navigation : $96
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13El Calafate €7.87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and El Calafate, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and El Calafate 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 El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or El Calafate?
Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and El Calafate, 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.