Should you visit Castro or Machu Picchu?
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 $82, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $82. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Castro and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
Castro's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $68. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $34.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $64 in Machu Picchu For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Castro costs travelers about $33 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
While meal prices in Machu Picchu can vary, the average travelers spends about $20 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Machu Picchu should cost around $8.00 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Machu Picchu is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Castro $33
Machu Picchu $20
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Castro is $19 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Machu Picchu, the average visitor spends $23 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
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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:
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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.
Entertainment
Castro's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $19 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Machu Picchu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $58 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour:
$100
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Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe:
$63
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Chaiguen Adventure Park in Chiloe:
$139
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Chiloé National Park Private Tour from Castro:
$222
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Coastal Villages Tour of Chiloé from Castro:
$99
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Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route":
$155
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Highlights of Chiloe Island Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
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Lemuy Island Tour from Castro:
$178
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Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe:
$170
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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:
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
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From Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu Guided Tour:
$27
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Machu Picchu Admission Ticket:
$31
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Machu Picchu official entrance ticket:
$40
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Huaynapicchu mountain hike + Machu Picchu entrance ticket:
$40
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Private Guided Tour from Aguas Calientes:
$45
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Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Admission Ticket:
$53
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Admission Ticket to Machu Picchu Ruin and Mountain:
$53
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Machu Picchu Ticket: Official Entrance Ticket:
$63
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Machu Picchu Official Ticket:
$68
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Machu Picchu Official Entrance Ticket:
$68
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Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Entrance Ticket:
$85
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Machu Picchu And Huayna Picchu Morning Entrance Ticket:
$88
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Castro may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Machu Picchu, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.25.
When comparing the travel costs between Castro and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu 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.
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