A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. Tilcara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or Tilcara?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or Tilcara? 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: Florianopolis or Tilcara?

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

Tilcara

Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Camping Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Florianopolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $74, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $78. 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 Florianopolis and Tilcara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $25
    Tilcara $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $50
    Tilcara $126
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Tilcara

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or Tilcara? 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 Florianopolis


Hotels in Tilcara


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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Tilcara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    Tilcara $3.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

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

  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $228
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $115
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $81
  • Transfer Hotels in Florianópolis/Airport - private: $67
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $56
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $13
  • Shared Transfer: $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara

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

  • Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Tilcara?

Prices for flights to both Tilcara and Florianopolis 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
    Florianopolis $36
    Tilcara $7.41
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

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


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.42

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $25
    Tilcara $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis

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


  • Internet
    $0.56

Tours and Activities in Florianopolis

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

  • Balneário Camboriú tour and cable car ride from Florianópolis: $39
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $40
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $40
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $21
  • Cinematic Kayak Tour: The Best of Florianópolis: $59
  • Discover Florianópolis: Full Day City Tour and Local Highlights: $27
  • Florianópolis city tour (full day): $21
  • Florianopolis Bike Tour: Photography, History & Street Food: $86
  • Florianopolis Walking Tour - History, Art and Gastronomy: $17
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $35
  • Floripa by Night: The Local Party Tour: $299
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $58

Tours and Activities in Tilcara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.

  • From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
  • 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.34
    Tilcara $4.87
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.56


When comparing the travel costs between Florianopolis and Tilcara, we can see that Tilcara 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Tilcara?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and Tilcara, 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.