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

Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon?

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

Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon?

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.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Pucon 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 $70, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $98. 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 Pucon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Colonia del Sacramento $35
    Pucon $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Colonia del Sacramento $70
    Pucon $84
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Pucon

Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon? 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 Pucon


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Colonia del Sacramento $18
    Pucon $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon?

Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $19
    Pucon $37

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Colonia del Sacramento $25
    Pucon $36

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:

  • Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town: $13
  • Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $20
  • Shared City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $20
  • Regular City Tour in Portuguese: $25
  • Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
  • Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28
  • Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
  • Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
  • Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
  • Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $59
  • Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $63
  • Experience an typical Uruguayan dish: Chivito & Tannat Wine: $78

Tours and Activities in Pucon

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

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Colonia del Sacramento $6.01
    Pucon $26

Sample the Local Flavors in Colonia del Sacramento

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Colonia del Sacramento:

  • Shuttle to Traditional Vineyard with Wine Tasting included: $30


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon?

Pucon has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento and Pucon, 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.


When is the best time to visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon in the Summer?

Both Pucon and Colonia del Sacramento during the summer are popular places to visit.

Colonia del Sacramento is much warmer than Pucon in the summer. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Pucon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Colonia del Sacramento. In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun.

Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in January than Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Colonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F) 
    Pucon 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Pucon.

In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Pucon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less rain than Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Colonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Pucon.

In July, Colonia del Sacramento is generally much warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 12°C (53°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets less rain in July than Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Colonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F) 
    Pucon 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Pucon in the Spring?

Both Pucon and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Colonia del Sacramento is much warmer than Pucon in the spring. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during spring. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Pucon. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Colonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for Pucon and Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento Pucon
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 24°C (75°F) 98 mm (3.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Mar 22°C (71°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 18°C (65°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 11°C (52°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 75 mm (3 in) 9°C (48°F) 295 mm (11.6 in)
Jun 12°C (53°F) 75 mm (3 in) 8°C (46°F) 297 mm (11.7 in)
Jul 12°C (53°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 7°C (45°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Aug 13°C (55°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 8°C (46°F) 247 mm (9.7 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 9°C (48°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 18°C (64°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 11°C (52°F) 109 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 21°C (69°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Dec 23°C (74°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 16°C (60°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)