A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Colonia del Sacramento vs. El Calafate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or El Calafate?

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 Colonia del Sacramento and El Calafate can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or El Calafate?

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.

El Calafate

Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.

The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.

El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Colonia del Sacramento?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $66, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $25. 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 Colonia del Sacramento and El Calafate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Colonia del Sacramento $34
    El Calafate $8.41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Colonia del Sacramento $68
    El Calafate $17
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and El Calafate

Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or El Calafate? 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 Colonia del Sacramento


Hotels in El Calafate


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: Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Colonia del Sacramento $17
    El Calafate $8.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento

Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer : $15
  • Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer : $15

Typical Local Transportation prices in El Calafate

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:


  • Taxi
    $3.41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer iPrivate Vehicle from Calafate Airport (FTE) - Calafate City: $25
  • Transfer from your hotel to El Calafate airport: $6.00
  • Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $6.00
  • Transfer from Calafate Airport to your Stay in Calafate: $20
  • Transfer Private Vehicle Calafate City - Calafate Airport (FTE): $26
  • South Glacier Pioneers with transfer: $300
  • Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
  • Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $32
  • Shared Transfer Airport - Hotel in El Calafate: $32
  • Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
  • Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $90

Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or El Calafate?

Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Colonia del Sacramento 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
    Colonia del Sacramento $18
    El Calafate $9.11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colonia del Sacramento

For Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sensory Experience - Blind dinner in Colonia Del Sacramento: $95

Typical Food prices in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dessert
    $0.03
  • Dinner
    $4.44
  • Dinner
    $2.62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $48
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $67
  • Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $100
  • Private Country Afternoon with Horseback Riding Initiation and Dinner Show: $125
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Colonia del Sacramento $23
    El Calafate $9.10

Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento

For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • City Tour Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay: $49
  • City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $16
  • Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
  • Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $65
  • Museums Entry Ticket: $14
  • Colonia del Sacramento:Custom Private Tour with local guide: $120
  • Fripp Winery Experience Day Trip-Colonia del Sacramento: $200
  • From Horse Ride Experience: $80
  • From Montevideo: Colonia Day Trip & Sightseeing: $150
  • Full Day Birdwatching and Nature Tour: $200
  • Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $20
  • Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28

Typical Entertainment prices in El Calafate

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Glacerium Museum
    $3.41

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Calafate Night" Astrotourism in El Calafate: $130
  • "Glaciares Gourmet" - Maria Turquesa Cruiser Navigation (classic): $285
  • "Todo Glaciares" boat tour from El Calafate. : $165
  • 13-Day Best of Patagonia Tour from El Calafate to Ushuaia: Los Glaciares, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego National Parks: $2,440
  • 2 Days Private Horseback Riding Tour through Patagonia: $325
  • 2-Days and 1 Night Experience El Calafate with Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,174
  • 3-Day Tour of El Calafate and the Glaciers: $359
  • 4 Day Tour to El Calafate by Air from Buenos Aires : $1,590
  • 4-Days El Calafate Adventure - Hiking Patagonia Forests & Perito Moreno Glacier!: $1,227
  • 4x4 adventure through the Balconies of Calafate: $59
  • 5-Day Adventure Trip in El Calafate: $2,340
  • 6-Day Best of El Calafate & Ushuaia tour: $1,014

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Colonia del Sacramento $5.71
    El Calafate $4.56

Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:


  • Beer
    $0.02
  • Alcohol
    $0.91

Sample the Local Flavors in El Calafate

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in El Calafate:

  • Calafate Wine Tours | Pedestrian City Tour Paired with Wines: $40

How are these travel costs calculated?

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

Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or El Calafate?

Colonia del Sacramento is bigger, and its population is about 2.7 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the population of Colonia del Sacramento vs. El Calafate, 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Colonia del Sacramento vs. El Calafate Travel Comparison

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