Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Bocas del Toro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn?
Bocas del Toro
The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBocas del Toro $77Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Bocas del Toro is $77, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Bocas del Toro and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBocas del Toro $33Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBocas del Toro $66Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Bocas del Toro and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn? 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: Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bocas del Toro $10Puerto Madryn $3.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:
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Water Taxi$3.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro
Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Colón Port to Panama Tocumen Airport PTY: $42
- Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54
- Transfer Colon Cruise Terminal - Tocumen Airport or Panama City: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Bocas del Toro 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
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Food Meals for one dayBocas del Toro $27Puerto Madryn $5.69
Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:
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Lunch$15
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Breakfast$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bocas del Toro $22Puerto Madryn $5.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro
For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Island Boat Tour$25
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Starfish Island Boat Trip$20
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Yoga Class$5.01
Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.
- Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
- Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
- Dolphin Bay and Coral Cay with Drinks Private Tour in Zapatilla: $66
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Panama from Colón Cruise Port: $231
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBocas del Toro $12Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bocas del Toro and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Bocas del Toro is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bocas del Toro is in Central America and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Bocas del Toro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bocas del Toro than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bocas del Toro Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Bocas del Toro and Puerto Madryn, 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 Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bocas del Toro experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
Both Puerto Madryn and Bocas del Toro during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Bocas del Toro is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bocas del Toro in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madrynin January. Bocas del Toro gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bocas del Toro and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bocas del Toro year-round.
In October, Bocas del Toro is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin April. Daily temperatures in Bocas del Toro average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bocas del Toro usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin April. Bocas del Toro gets 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bocas del Toro as well as Puerto Madryn. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bocas del Toro is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in Bocas del Toro averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, Bocas del Toro often gets less sunshine than Puerto Madrynin July. Bocas del Toro gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.
Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the winter. Bocas del Toro usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madrynin July. Bocas del Toro gets 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and Bocas del Toro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
In the spring, Bocas del Toro is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bocas del Toro in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. In April, Bocas del Toro usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin October. Bocas del Toro gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Bocas del Toro
| Bocas del Toro | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.