A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cajamarca vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cajamarca or Guadalajara?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Guadalajara?

Cajamarca

Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Cajamarca?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $69, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $117. 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 Cajamarca and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $24
    Guadalajara $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $48
    Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or Guadalajara? 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 Cajamarca


Hotels in Guadalajara


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: Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cajamarca $17
    Guadalajara $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

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

  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Guadalajara Airport: $26
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Tequila - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Departure Private Transfer: $38
  • Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
  • Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $76
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels: $119
  • Airport to City Transfer: $151

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Cajamarca 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
    Cajamarca $28
    Guadalajara $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $26
    Guadalajara $28

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

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

  • 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $202
  • City Tour: $67
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
  • || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $40

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

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

  • Guadalajara Unique Highlights Walking Tour: $10
  • 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
  • KidZania Entrance Ticket: $12
  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center of Guadalajara in French: $15
  • Downtown Mexico City: App guided tacos and market tour: $18
  • Guadalajara City Tour: $20
  • Great Experience With A Tour Guide With Spark: $21
  • ticket to Michin Aquarium: $28
  • Private Guadalajara City Tour Within Your Budget: $31
  • Culture, Architecture, and Market Walking Tour: $32
  • Guadalajara Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
  • Private Walking Tour of Guadalajara: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $16
    Guadalajara $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
  • Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
  • Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
  • Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209
  • Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264


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

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


Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca and Guadalajara, 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.