A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten? 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 Chalten?

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 Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and El Chalten, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten 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 Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Chalten.

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 Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten in the Autumn?

Both El Chalten and Basse-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

In January, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or El Chalten in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as El Chalten. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Basse-Terre is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as El Chaltenin October. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Basse-Terre