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

Should you visit Cali or Huaraz?

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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz?

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.

Huaraz

Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Cali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $31, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $66. 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 Huaraz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cali $6.02
    Huaraz $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cali $12
    Huaraz $42
Compare Hotels in Cali and Huaraz

Looking for a hotel in Cali or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz


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 and Huaraz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cali $5.62
    Huaraz $11
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:

  • Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
  • Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
  • Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $71
  • Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
  • Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $182
  • Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $250
  • Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
  • Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
  • Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
  • Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.29

Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Huaraz?

Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $15
    Huaraz $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

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

  • Street Food Tour: $23
  • Street Food Tour: $29
  • Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $53
  • Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
  • Traditional Colombian Meal Cooking Class: $67
  • Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
  • Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
  • Food Tour San Antonio: $75

Typical Food Prices in Huaraz

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:


  • Lunch
    $6.31
  • Chips
    $1.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cali $11
    Huaraz $21

Tours and Activities in Cali

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

  • Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $10
  • Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $10
  • Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $12
  • Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $12
  • Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $12
  • Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
  • Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $15
  • Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
  • Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $18
  • Tour in Cali : Culture, Tropical Fruits and Sauce: $23
  • Walking tour of the historic center: $25
  • Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz

Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Climbing Gear
    $18

Tours and Activities in Huaraz

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

  • 2-Day Hatun Machay Tour: $439
  • 3-day tour to Parón, Llanganuco and Laguna 69 from Huaraz: $150
  • From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi 4D/3N: $197
  • From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz 2D/1N: $92
  • From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
  • From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $40
  • From Chavín de Huántar Full-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
  • From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56
  • From Cordillera Huayhuash 8-Day Trekking Tour: $1,650
  • From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
  • From Llanganuco Lagoon fullday tour: $65
  • From Nevado Pastoruri Tour fullday tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cali $8.48
    Huaraz $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Cali

Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $25
  • Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $40
  • Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
  • Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Huaraz, we can see that Huaraz 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 Huaraz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huaraz 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 Huaraz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cali or Huaraz?

Cali has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Cali and Huaraz, 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.