Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Buzios or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
-
Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $93Puerto Madryn $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $93, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $59. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Puerto Madryn $39
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Puerto Madryn $78
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Puerto Madryn $2.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $43
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $43
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch and Transfers: $64
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $113
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $113
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $195
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $251
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport: $100
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn: $55
- Transfer Trelew Airport Puerto Madryn: $40
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Transfer El Tehuelche Airport Puerto Madryn: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 dayBuzios $40Puerto Madryn $7.37
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $26Puerto Madryn $43
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Two Floor Boat Tour with Toboágua Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Stand up paddle experience: $16
- Escuna Tour in Búzios Viva Water: $18
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $34
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $35
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $40
- Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $49
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 3 hour 4x4 tour around Puerto Madryn: $115
- All Included Península Valdés Experience Shore Tour: $169
- Bike Tour Whales in Playa Doradillo: $75
- Bike Tour to El Doradillo: Whales from the Coast: $75
- Chubut River Valley, Gaiman, and Trelew Tour from Puerto Madryn: $148
- Cruise Passengers: Peninsula Valdés With Ticket Included: $170
- Cruise Passengers: Puerto Madryn City Tour & Punta Loma: $115
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Box Lunch Incl.: $179
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes: $129
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes Pto Madryn: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (Penguins): $115
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Puerto Madryn $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.
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.