Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Varas can help you decide which place is right for you.
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 Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $109. 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 Varas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Puerto Varas? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in Cartagena.
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 Varas Expensive?.
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and Puerto Varas, 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.
Puerto Varas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Puerto Varas and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Cartagena is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the summer. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Varas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Varas during summer. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin January. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Puerto Varas and Cartagena during the autumn 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 autumn, Cartagena is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cartagena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 11°C (51°F)in April.
In the autumn, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin April. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun.
Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Puerto Varasin April. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Puerto Varas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In January, Cartagena is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin July. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during winter. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin July. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Puerto Varas. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the spring. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In the spring, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin October. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Varasin October. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Cartagena | Puerto Varas | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |