Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Boquete?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Boquete or Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Boquete Prices
Panama PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBoquete $67Punta Arenas $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Boquete is $67, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBoquete $22Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBoquete $44Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Boquete and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Boquete or Punta Arenas? 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: Boquete Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Boquete $5.21Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Boquete or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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
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Food Meals for one dayBoquete $32Punta Arenas $36
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Boquete $17Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Boquete E-bike Panoramic Tour: $65
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75
- Guided Hike and Coffee Farm Tour with Tasting: $99
- Hands-On Coffee Experience with Tasting: $40
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $39
- City Tour: $60
- City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
- Monte Tarn Trekking Tour with Guide: $129
- Torres Del Paine and Milodon Cave Full Day Tour: $135
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBoquete $4.44Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boquete and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Boquete is in Central America and Punta Arenas 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Punta Arenas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Arenas than you might in Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boquete Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Boquete or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Boquete and Punta Arenas, 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.
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.