Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cajamarca vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $66San Pedro de Atacama $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $66, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $64. 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 $23San Pedro de Atacama $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $46San Pedro de Atacama $70
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 $16San Pedro de Atacama $10
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
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Pedro de Atacama Hotels to El Loa Airport: $31
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $32
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $55
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Private transfer San Pedro de Atacama - calama airport: $200
- Private transfer calama airport san Pedro de atcama: $200
- 4 days in San Pedro de Atacama with hotel, tours and transfers: $820
- Private 3 Days and 3 Tours + Airport Transfers: $950
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 $27San Pedro de Atacama $16
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$1.38
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Lunch$11
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Dinner$12
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Drink$1.03
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Empanada$5.73
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 $25San Pedro de Atacama $23
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- 2 Days Private Tour in Cajamarca : $470
- 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $202
- City Tour: $67
- || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $30
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$61
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:
- Walking Tour of San Pedro de Atacama Stories and Legends: $25
- Stargazing Tour with Astronomer in San Pedro de Atacama: $34
- Astronomical Tour + Astrophotography in the Atacama desert!: $36
- Stargazing Experience with Astronomer: $37
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $42
- Tour to Vallecito and Magic Bus: $42
- Astronomical tour in San Pedro de Atacama in a small group: $43
- Etno-Astronomical Tour: $44
- Moon Valley Tour: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $44
- Guided Atacama Desert Stargazing Tour: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $16San Pedro de Atacama $5.40
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$27
When comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that Cajamarca 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.
Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or San Pedro de Atacama?
Cajamarca is bigger, and its population is about 67.5 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the population of Cajamarca vs. 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Cajamarca
Related Articles for San Pedro de Atacama
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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