Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama?
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 Pedro de Atacama can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama?
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 Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $69San Pedro de Atacama $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $69, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $59. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCajamarca $24San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $48San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama? 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.
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: San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $17San Pedro de Atacama $9.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29
- Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $33
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
- Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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
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Food Meals for one dayCajamarca $28San Pedro de Atacama $14
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $26San Pedro de Atacama $21
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Stargazing Tour with Astronomer in San Pedro de Atacama: $33
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39
- Tour to Vallecito and Magic Bus: $42
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $42
- Etno-Astronomical Experience: $43
- 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Experience: $44
- Valle de la Luna Guided Tour: $44
- Guided Atacama Desert Stargazing Tour: $44
- Tour Compartido Valle de la Luna: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $16San Pedro de Atacama $4.94
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cajamarca Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama?
Cajamarca has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.
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.