A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cajamarca vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cajamarca or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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 San Carlos de Bariloche can help you decide which place is right for you.

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.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

Which city is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Cajamarca?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $54, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $42. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cajamarca and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $19
    San Carlos de Bariloche $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $38
    San Carlos de Bariloche $30

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cajamarca $13
    San Carlos de Bariloche $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $11
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Bariloche Airport to Hotel: $15
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $16
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $16
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: San Carlos De Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Bariloche: $35
  • Private Airport Transfer: Bariloche to San Carlos De Bariloche Airport (BRC): $35
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Bariloche Hotels to Cerro Catedral Ski Resort: $38
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $41
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Bariloche City: $41
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche City to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $22
    San Carlos de Bariloche $16

Typical Food prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.10
  • Empanadas
    $0.22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.

  • Night hiking in the woods with headlamps & Candlelit dinner: $70
  • Half-Day Bariloche Highlights with Cooking Class & Beer Tasting -Private Service: $274

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $21
    San Carlos de Bariloche $17

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

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

  • Cajamarca city tour - Private tour: $47
  • Inca's Bath - Private tour: $52
  • Ventanillas de Otuzco - private tour: $53
  • From Chachapoyas: Full-Day Tour of Kuelap Fortress: $60
  • Tour of the Port of Callao and fort Real Felipe: $60
  • Cumbemayo, the stone forest - Private tour: $75
  • Porcón farm - Private tour: $76
  • 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $189

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Bariloche Civic Center Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $18
  • Cerro Catedral Sightseeing Tour: $22
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $25
  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $34
  • Half Day Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $35
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $40
  • Nahuel Huapi National Park AdmissionTicket: $40
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $40
  • Mount Tronador and the Black Glacier Day Tour: $50
  • Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour: $60
  • Nahuel Huapi Lake Cruise with Victoria Island and Arrayan Forest Walk: $68

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $13
    San Carlos de Bariloche $10

Typical Alcohol prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.08

Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • City Tour, Nature Hiking & visit to a Local Microbrewery in Bariloche: $281

About these numbers

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

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Cajamarca vs. San Carlos de Bariloche Travel Comparison

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