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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Pucon?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Pucon? 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 Pucon?

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.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Basse-Terre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Pucon is €94. 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 Pucon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre 90
    Pucon 40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre 180
    Pucon 80
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Pucon

Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Pucon? 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.

Hotels in Basse-Terre


Hotels in Pucon


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basse-Terre 8.00
    Pucon 18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Pucon?

Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 day
    Basse-Terre 46
    Pucon 35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre 47
    Pucon 35

Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:

  • Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $214

Tours and Activities in Pucon

Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre 13
    Pucon 25


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

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 Pucon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Pucon?

Pucon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Pucon, 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.


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

Pucon 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 Pucon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

Basse-Terre is much warmer than Pucon in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pucon this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Puconin January. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Pucon 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Pucon in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Puconin April. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pucon. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Puconin April. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Pucon in the Winter?

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

In January, Basse-Terre is generally much warmer than Puconin July. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In January, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Puconin July. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Pucon 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Pucon in the Spring?

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

Basse-Terre is much warmer than Pucon in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Puconin October. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.

Pucon 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 April than Puconin October. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for Pucon and Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre Pucon
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 17°C (62°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 11°C (52°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 9°C (48°F) 295 mm (11.6 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 297 mm (11.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 247 mm (9.7 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 9°C (48°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 11°C (52°F) 109 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)