A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Castro vs. Machu Picchu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Castro or Machu Picchu?

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 Castro and Machu Picchu can help you decide which place is right for you.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Which city is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Castro?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Castro is $80, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $79. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Castro and Machu Picchu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Castro $33
    Machu Picchu $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Castro $66
    Machu Picchu $66

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Castro $18
    Machu Picchu $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Machu Picchu

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

  • Aguas Calientes: Bus Transfer to Machu Picchu Citadel: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Castro or Machu Picchu?

Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Castro 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
    Castro $32
    Machu Picchu $15

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Castro $19
    Machu Picchu $58

Tours and Activities in Castro

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

  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $100
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $63
  • Chaiguen Adventure Park in Chiloe: $139
  • Chiloé National Park Private Tour from Castro: $222
  • Coastal Villages Tour of Chiloé from Castro: $99
  • Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route": $155
  • Highlights of Chiloe Island Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.34
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $170
  • Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $124

Typical Entertainment prices in Machu Picchu

For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gardens of Mandor
    $2.64

Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.

  • From Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu Guided Tour: $27
  • Machu Picchu Admission Ticket: $31
  • Huaynapicchu mountain hike + Machu Picchu entrance ticket: $40
  • Machu Picchu official entrance ticket: $40
  • Private Guided Tour from Aguas Calientes: $45
  • Admission Ticket to Machu Picchu Ruin and Mountain: $53
  • Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Admission Ticket: $53
  • Machu Picchu Ticket: Official Entrance Ticket: $63
  • Machu Picchu Lost Citadel Official Ticket: $65
  • Machu Picchu Official Ticket: $68
  • Machu Picchu Official Entrance Ticket: $68
  • Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Entrance Ticket: $85

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Castro $16
    Machu Picchu $5.37

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Castro and Machu Picchu, we can see that Castro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Castro vs. Machu Picchu Travel Comparison

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