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

Should you visit Buzios or Puerto Varas?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Puerto Varas? 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 Varas?

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 Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

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 G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Buzios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $79, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $106. 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 Varas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $38
    Puerto Varas $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $76
    Puerto Varas $132
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Puerto Varas

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Puerto Varas? 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 Puerto Varas


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: Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Puerto Varas $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $29
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
  • Departure Transfer from Buzios or to Rio Airports by Minivan: $219
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $101
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $111
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $41
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $29
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:

  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
  • Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
  • Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
  • Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Puerto Varas?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 $24
    Puerto Varas $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $27
    Puerto Varas $19

Tours and Activities in Buzios

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

  • Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $29
  •  Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $29
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $37
  • From Buzios To Arraial With Photos On A Private Tour!: $51
  • Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
  • Hiking Adventures in Buzios: $51

Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Chiloé Island Tour: $60
  • From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
  • Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
  • Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
  • Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $129
  • Osorno Volcano Tour: $31
  • Petrohue Falls and Osorno Volcano Bike Tour: $124
  • Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
  • Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
  • Premium Small-Group Half day Tour to Frutillar in Puerto Varas: $144
  • Private Sightseeing Tour in Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt: $99
  • Puerto Varas Mountain Biking Experience: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $18
    Puerto Varas $6.36


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

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 Varas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Puerto Varas?

Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Puerto Varas, 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.