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

Should you visit Buzios or Cafayate?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Cafayate? 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: Buzios or Cafayate?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

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 Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Buzios?

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 Buzios is $94, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $53. 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 Buzios and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $37
    Cafayate $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $74
    Cafayate $68
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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 Buzios


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Cafayate $4.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $188
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
  • Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
  • Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $90
  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Buzios 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
    Buzios $41
    Cafayate $6.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $26
    Cafayate $40

Tours and Activities in Buzios

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

  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $39
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $105
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
  • Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $45
  • Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
  • Diving Experience In Buzios: $162
  • Escuna Tour in Búzios Viva Water: $18

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

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

  • Foz do Iguaçu: Iguazu Falls Argentina Side Guided Tour: $301
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: The Calchaqui Valley Winery Tour in Cafayate: $46
  • Horseback Riding Los Colorados Horseback Riding Adventure in Cafayate: $100
  • Hot Air Balloon Experience - Cafayate Salta: $250
  • Scenic Horseback Adventure to El Toldito All Levels Welcome: $139
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $116

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $17
    Cafayate $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Cafayate

Also in Cafayate, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Half-day Wine Tour: $100


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Cafayate, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios 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 Buzios Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Cafayate?

Buzios has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.