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

Should you visit Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?

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 Varas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?

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 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.

Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $24
    Puerto Varas $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $48
    Puerto Varas $146
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Puerto Varas

Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca


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.
    Cajamarca $17
    Puerto Varas $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:

  • Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $14
  • Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $20
  • Frutillar to Puerto Airport (PMC) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Varas: $21
  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
  • Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
  • Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $34
  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
  • Puerto Varas Airport Private Transfer: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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
    Puerto Varas $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $26
    Puerto Varas $21

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

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

  • City Tour: $67
  • 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $202
  • 2 Days Private Tour in Cajamarca : $376

Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas

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

  • Tour Frutillar: $31
  • Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
  • Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
  • Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
  • Half Day Frutillar Tour from Puerto Varas: $35
  • Half Day Osorno Volcano Tour from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: $35
  • Petrohue Waterfalls & Osorno Volcano Half-Day Tour : $48
  • From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
  • From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $57
  • Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $60
  • Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $60
  • Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $16
    Puerto Varas $7.02


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Cajamarca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Cajamarca.

Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?

Cajamarca is bigger, and its population is about 5.4 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the population of Cajamarca vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Cajamarca vs. Puerto Varas Travel Comparison

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