A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boquete vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Boquete or Cafayate?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Boquete and Cafayate can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Boquete or Cafayate?

Boquete

Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Boquete?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Boquete is $54, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $12. 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 Boquete and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Boquete $23
    Cafayate $4.43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Boquete $46
    Cafayate $8.86
Compare Hotels in Boquete and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Boquete or Cafayate? 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 Boquete


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Boquete Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Boquete $5.23
    Cafayate $2.40

Is it cheaper to fly into Boquete or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Boquete 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
    Boquete $18
    Cafayate $4.83

Typical Food Prices in Cafayate

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cafayate:


  • Dinner (Empanadas)
    $0.02
  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Pizza
    $0.02

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Boquete $17
    Cafayate $5.19

Tours and Activities in Boquete

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:

  • 2-Hour Private Mezcal and Geisha Liqueur Tasting Experience: $65
  • 3-Hour Private Tour to La Estrella Lake from Boquete on E Bike: $84
  • 3-hour Private Tour to the Peque Doraz Butterfly Garden by Ebike: $90
  • Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
  • Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
  • Boquete Private 360° View Tour: $40
  • Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $165
  • Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
  • Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included: $90
  • Private honey tasting bike tour and butterfly garden walk: $130
  • Schumann's BOTANICAL PARK TOUR: $30
  • Self-Guided Half-Day Boquete Tour E-Bicycle: $46

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

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

  • Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $62
  • Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $68
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $134
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Boquete $4.46
    Cafayate $4.88


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

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


Which is Bigger, Boquete or Cafayate?

Cafayate has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Boquete and Cafayate, 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.