A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cartagena vs. Puerto Natales for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cartagena or Puerto Natales?

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 Natales can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cartagena or Puerto Natales?

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 Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales or Cartagena?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $47, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $91. 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 Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cartagena $27
    Puerto Natales $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cartagena $54
    Puerto Natales $82
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Puerto Natales

Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Puerto Natales? 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 Cartagena


Hotels in Puerto Natales


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 Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cartagena $7.44
    Puerto Natales $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • Private Transfer from Bocagrande to Port of Cartagena: $24
  • 10. ARACATACA Transfer from Cartagena-private: $340
  • 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $220
  • 16. Transfer to Valledupar from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $298
  • 18.Transfer (Rafael N-Hotel Decameron Baru Airport) or vice versa: $90
  • 19. Transfer to Tolú/ Coveñas from Cartagena or vice versa.: $220
  • 2. Transfer from the Airport to the Cartagena Hotel (or vice versa): $26
  • 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-hotel las islas or barú town: $122
  • 6.Transfer (Rafael Nuñez Airport- H.Manzanillo) Or vice versa: $35
  • 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $140
  • Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $21
  • Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • Private Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas: $267
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Puerto Natales?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cartagena $9.75
    Puerto Natales $30

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
  • Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $38
  • Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $38
  • Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
  • Shared Street Food Tour: $41
  • Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
  • Flavors of Colombia - Cartagena Street Food Tour: $45
  • Bazurto Market Food Tour by Anthony Bourdain: $47
  • Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
  • Cartagena Food Tour: $57
  • Dinner on a boat at Cartagena Bay: $58
  • Zombie Paintball with Dinner & Transportation - Shoot Zombies!: $59

Typical Food prices in Puerto Natales

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


  • Cake
    $1.13
  • Dinner
    $19
  • Coke
    $1.13

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cartagena $21
    Puerto Natales $31

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

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

  • Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Walled City and Getsemani Shared Walking Tour: $8.00
  • Pirate Tales Tour: To the conquest of the treasure of Cartagena: $10
  • Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. Cartagena Sensorial Tour: $10
  • San Diego Neighborhood Tour: Legends, tradition and culture: $10
  • Republican Architecture Tour in Behind the History: $10
  • Historic Free Tour Slavery and Gethsemane Heritage: $10
  • Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
  • San Diego & Gabriel García Marquez Walking Tour: $10
  • Getsemani District Walking Tour in Cartagena: $10
  • Walled City Cartagena Walking Tour: $10

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

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

  • Bus ticket to El Calafate, Argentina: $44
  • Puerto Natales Sightseeing Bike Tour: $48
  • City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $48
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $65
  • Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full-Day Guided Tour: $75
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $75
  • From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $80
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine + Milodon cave: $85
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $93
  • Base of the Towers Trekking Experience: $95
  • Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cartagena $9.14
    Puerto Natales $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena

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

  • Getsemaní Pub Crawl with Complimentary Drinks: $18
  • Pub Crawl: $70

Typical Alcohol prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Puerto Natales, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Puerto Natales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Natales than you might in Cartagena.

Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Puerto Natales?

Cartagena is bigger, and its population is about 47.6 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the population of Cartagena vs. Puerto Natales, 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.

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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Cartagena vs. Puerto Natales Travel Comparison

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