A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bogota vs. Tilcara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bogota or Tilcara?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bogota or Tilcara, 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: Bogota or Tilcara?

Bogota

Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.

Tilcara

Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Camping Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Bogota?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bogota is $61, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $78. 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 Bogota and Tilcara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bogota $26
    Tilcara $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bogota $52
    Tilcara $126
Compare Hotels in Bogota and Tilcara

Looking for a hotel in Bogota or Tilcara? 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 Bogota


Hotels in Tilcara


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: Bogota Hotel Prices and Tilcara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bogota $8.57
    Tilcara $3.09
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $7.39
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.38
  • 2 Bus Passes
    $0.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota

Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
  • Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $179
  • Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
  • Bogota to or from Villavicencio Private Transfer: $94
  • Private Bogota Airport drop-off Transfer: $59
  • Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Bogotá Hotels : $36
  • Bogota Airport (BOG) to Bogota - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $36
  • Salt Cathedral & Lake Guatavita: Private Transfer from Bogota: $34
  • El Dorado Airport Transfer: Direct to Your Hotel or Accommodation: $30
  • Private Transfer DE Bogota Airport: $30
  • Private One Way Transfer: Bogota Airport (BOG) from/to Bogota: $30
  • Private Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Bogota Hotels: $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara

Also for Tilcara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170

Is it cheaper to fly into Bogota or Tilcara?

Prices for flights to both Tilcara and Bogota 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
    Bogota $23
    Tilcara $7.41
Typical Food Prices in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $1.54
  • Hot Dog
    $0.90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
  • PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
  • Food Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $60
  • Flavors of Colombia: Chapinero Street Food Tour: $73
  • Food Tour in Historic Downtown with a Food Scholar and Tastings: $75
  • Colombian Cooking Class in Bogota with a Local Chef: $102
  • Tropical Abundance: Interactive Cooking Class in Bogota: $176
  • Bogotá Food Tour. Exotic Fruits and local Cuisine.: $180
  • Gastronomic Tour and Cooking Workshop: $213

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bogota $13
    Tilcara $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Beer
    $1.28

Tours and Activities in Bogota

For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bogota Private Tour with Monserrate, Museums, Food & Tasting Cafe: $43
  • Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch: $69
  • Lake Guatavitá Private Day Tour: $243
  • Salt Cathedral Zipaquira - Group tour and daily departure: $79
  • *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $168
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour and Musical Picnic in the Heart of Ibague: $23
  • 3h 30 -Hour StopOver—Walking Tour: Bogota Historical Center: $54
  • 4-hour Comprehensive Private Emerald Tour in Bogota: $59
  • 5 hour Bogotá City & Monserrate Hill Tour: $138
  • All-inclusive Monserrate experience : $69
  • Armed Conflict and Violence Tour in Bogotá, Colombia: $12
  • Basic City Tour: $200

Tours and Activities in Tilcara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.

  • From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
  • 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bogota $13
    Tilcara $4.87

Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:

  • Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá, Colombia: $25
  • Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá, Colombia: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bogota and Tilcara, we can see that Tilcara is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 Tilcara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tilcara than you might in Bogota.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bogota Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bogota or Tilcara?

Bogota has a larger population, and is about 1260 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Bogota and Tilcara, 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.