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

Should you visit Cajamarca or Puerto Natales?

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 Puerto Natales can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Puerto Natales?

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.

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales or Cajamarca?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cajamarca Prices
    Peru Prices
    Puerto Natales Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cajamarca $95
    Puerto Natales $105

The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $95, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $105. 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 Puerto Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $26
    Puerto Natales $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $52
    Puerto Natales $76
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Puerto Natales

Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or Puerto Natales? 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 Puerto Natales


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 Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cajamarca $18
    Puerto Natales $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $30
  • Private Transfer Airport x Hotels inside the TORRES DEL PAINE Park: $100
  • Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Puerto Natales?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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 $52
    Puerto Natales $48

Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Cake
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $18
  • Coke
    $1.05

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $28
    Puerto Natales $29

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

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

  • Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
  • From Porcón Farm and Huambocancha Workshops Tour: $28
  • Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
  • La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
  • Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
  • Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
  • Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
  • Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
  • Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
  • || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $45
  • From City Tour Cajamarca: $47
  • Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

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

  • City Bike Tour through Puerto Natales: $65
  • Historical Tour: $65
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $77
  • Full Day Guided Tour in Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave: $80
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $80
  • Cerro Dorotea 8x8 Tour with Panoramic Views: $80
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $83
  • Torres del Paine : Full day Panoramic Tour: $83
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $85
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $86
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Torres del Paine & Milodon cave day tour from Puerto Natales : $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $17
    Puerto Natales $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $13


When comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Puerto Natales, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Puerto Natales?

Cajamarca has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca and Puerto Natales, 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.