Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or El Calafate?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit El Calafate or Cafayate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Calafate or Cafayate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: El Calafate or Cafayate?
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.
Cafayate
Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.
Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.
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El Calafate Prices
Argentina PricesCafayate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Calafate $59Cafayate $54
The average daily cost (per person) in El Calafate is $59, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $54. 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 El Calafate and Cafayate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Calafate $37Cafayate $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Calafate $74Cafayate $70
Compare Hotels in El Calafate and Cafayate
Looking for a hotel in El Calafate or Cafayate? 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: El Calafate Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Calafate $4.23Cafayate $5.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Glacier Huemul: Private Transfer Service: $640
- Perito Moreno Mini Trek Pro (Optional Transfer): $540
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- Private transfer from El Calafate Airport to hotel in El Chaltén: $315
- Private Airport Transfer: $270
- Minitrekking Perito Moreno: Ice hiking tour (optional transfers): $255
- Direct Private Transfer: El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $230
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $210
- Kayaking on Lake Argentino with Transfers: $120
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Bus Transfer to Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- El Calafate to Puerto Natales Bus Transfer with Border Crossing: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into El Calafate or Cafayate?
Prices for flights to both Cafayate and El Calafate 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 dayEl Calafate $6.74Cafayate $6.51
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: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Country Afternoon with Dinner Show and Riding: $127
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $179
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Calafate $52Cafayate $40
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Todo Glaciares” Scenic Glacier Boat Tour from El Calafate: $235
- 2-Day Tours from Torres del Paine & Perito Moreno: $289
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- Adventure on Ice: MiniTrekking in the Perito Moreno Glacier: $447
- Calafate : Patagonian Riding and Lunch Experience: $260
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $195
- Calafate: Cerro Huyliche-SouthRoad Adventure 4x4 Full / Trekking / Zip Line: $120
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Calafate: SouthRoad Extreme Adventure. UTV Self-Drive: $250
- Cerro Frías Experience FWD Tour: $174
- Cerro Frías Experience Horse Ride: $174
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- Foz do Iguaçu: Iguazu Falls Argentina Side Guided Tour: $301
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- From Salta: The Calchaqui Valley Winery Tour in Cafayate: $46
- Hot Air Balloon Experience - Cafayate Salta: $250
- Scenic Horseback Adventure to El Toldito All Levels Welcome: $139
- Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Calafate $8.39Cafayate $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Cafayate
Also in Cafayate, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-day Wine Tour: $100
When comparing the travel costs between El Calafate and Cafayate, we can see that El Calafate 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Calafate Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Calafate or Cafayate?
Cafayate has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of El Calafate and Cafayate, 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.
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.