Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn?
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 Cartagena and Puerto Madryn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Puerto Madryn?
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $48Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Cartagena and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Puerto Madryn? 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.64Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.90
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.90
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.90
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.90
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.11
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Cartagena 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 dayCartagena $10Puerto Madryn $5.69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $44
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Street food tour: $61
- Street Food & Local Food Tour: $67
- Dinner on a boat at Cartagena Bay: $68
- Dinner cruise on Cartagena's bay with Sibarita Master: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $22Puerto Madryn $5.77
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.29
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.42
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.11
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.33
- Old Town & Artists' Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.48
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.39Puerto Madryn $3.13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Dancing and Complimentary Drinks: $18
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $45
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Cartagena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cartagena than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cartagena Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Puerto Madryn?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and Puerto Madryn, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the summer, Cartagena is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cartagena in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F)in January.
In July, Cartagena usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin January. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCartagena 29°C (84°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Puerto Madryn. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Cartagena is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin April. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cartagena usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCartagena 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Cartagena is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Madryn during winter. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Puerto Madrynin July. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCartagena 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and Cartagena during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Cartagena is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cartagena in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in October.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCartagena 28°C (82°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.