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

Should you visit Cali or Cajamarca?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cali and Cajamarca can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Cali or Cajamarca?

Cali

Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Cali?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $25, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $69. 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 Cali and Cajamarca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cali $6.04
    Cajamarca $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cali $12
    Cajamarca $48
Compare Hotels in Cali and Cajamarca

Looking for a hotel in Cali or Cajamarca? 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 Cali


Hotels in Cajamarca


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: Cali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cali $5.65
    Cajamarca $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali

Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $17
  • Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $19
  • Transfer in Private Car from Cali Airport (CLO) -Cali City: $22
  • Alfonso Aragon Airport CLO to Cali Palmira Arrival Transfer: $24
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $25
  • Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
  • Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $48
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $51
  • From Cali Airport: One-way Privater Transfer to Cali: $58
  • Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $98
  • National Park Waterfalls Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $115
  • City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Cajamarca?

Prices for flights to both Cajamarca and Cali 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
    Cali $8.60
    Cajamarca $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Alameda Market Cali Food Tour: $14
  • Street Food Tour: $21
  • Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
  • Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cali $11
    Cajamarca $26

Tours and Activities in Cali

For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Gastronomic Tour at the Alameda Market Shared: $13
  • Cali's Cultural and Historical Walking Tour: $14
  • Cali Salsa & Resistance Street Art Tour: $14
  • Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $15
  • Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $16
  • Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Cali City: $25
  • The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30
  • Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $35
  • Walking tour of the historic center: $37
  • Cali Walking Tour: $38
  • Craft beer tour in Cali: $41
  • Commune 20 Siloe Tour: $45

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
  • || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cali $8.51
    Cajamarca $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Cajamarca, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.

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


Which is Bigger, Cali or Cajamarca?

Cali has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Cali and Cajamarca, 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.