A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eagle Beach vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eagle Beach or El Chalten?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Eagle Beach or El Chalten?

Eagle Beach

Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Eagle Beach?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $341, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Eagle Beach and El Chalten in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eagle Beach $227
    El Chalten $4.42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eagle Beach $454
    El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and El Chalten

Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or El Chalten? 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 Eagle Beach


Hotels in El Chalten


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: El Chalten Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eagle Beach $33
    El Chalten $2.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.22
  • One Day Scooter Rental
    $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:

  • Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $22
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
  • Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
  • Private One-Way Transfer from Aruba To Reina Beatrix Airport: $32
  • Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $36
  • Private Transfer from Oranjestad Queen Airport to Oranjestad Port: $36
  • Private Transfer from Oranjestad Port to Oranjestad Queen Airport: $36
  • Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
  • Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
  • Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
  • 2 Ways Private Transfers: $45
  • Private Transfer from Reina Beatrix Airport to Oranjestad Aruba: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or El Chalten?

Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Eagle Beach 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
    Eagle Beach $68
    El Chalten $3.66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.

  • Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
  • Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
  • Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
  • Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
  • Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eagle Beach $121
    El Chalten $2.66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $25
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $98
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $70
  • 4 Hr Snorkel Trip
    $74

Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach

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

  • Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
  • Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
  • Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
  • Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $40
  • Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
  • Aruba Countryside Tour: $41
  • The Whole Story Tour + A Ride: $45
  • Half-Day Aruba Animal Sanctuary Guided Tour : $45
  • Half-Day Aruba Island Tour from Oranjestad: $49
  • Aruba Baby Beach Express Tour: $49
  • Colorful Beach Bus Sightseeing Tour of Aruba: $54
  • Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58

Tours and Activities in El Chalten

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:

  • 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
  • Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
  • Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eagle Beach $31
    El Chalten $1.22


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eagle Beach and El Chalten, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in El Chalten.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.