Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $68Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $68, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $34Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $68Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn? 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.
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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Puerto Madryn $3.28
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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
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Food Meals for one dayColonia del Sacramento $19Puerto Madryn $5.69
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $24Puerto Madryn $5.77
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: $15
- Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $18
- 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
- Winery tour with shared transport and tasting included: $38
- Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
- Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $53
- Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
- Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $58
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.85Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Colonia del Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Puerto Madryn.
In January, Colonia del Sacramento is generally a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madryn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryColonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Madryn and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Colonia del Sacramento is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the autumn. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilColonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Colonia del Sacramento during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the winter temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 7°C (45°F).
In Puerto Madryn, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets less sunshine than Puerto Madryn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madryn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyColonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Puerto Madryn.
In October, Colonia del Sacramento is generally a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 18°C (64°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberColonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Colonia del Sacramento
| Colonia del Sacramento | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.