A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Puerto Madryn for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Puerto Madryn?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Puerto Madryn? 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: Guatemala City or Puerto Madryn?

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Guatemala City?

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 Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $61. 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 Guatemala City and Puerto Madryn in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Puerto Madryn $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Puerto Madryn $82
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Puerto Madryn

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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.

Hotels in Guatemala City


Hotels in Puerto Madryn


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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.25
    Puerto Madryn $2.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $28
  • Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $33
  • Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Private transfer Guatemala airport to Antigua.: $60
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
  • Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $42
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
  • Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $216

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Puerto Madryn?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Guatemala City 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
    Guatemala City $27
    Puerto Madryn $7.60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.22
    Puerto Madryn $45

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:

  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $30
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
  • Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
  • Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
  • City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
  • Private Night City Photo Tour in Guatemala: $50
  • Historical and natural bike tour in Guatemala City: $50

Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:

  • Madryn Bike Tours. Punta Loma: sea lions, shipwrecks, and cliffs: $55
  • El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • Shore Tour Punta Loma & city tour cruise passengers Puerto Madryn: $65
  • Punta Loma & City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
  • Puerto Madryn Punta Loma Shore Tour with Craft Beer Tasting: $70
  • El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour: $70
  • Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
  • Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
  • Solo Ballenas - Share-Based Whale Watching and Guided Tour: $83
  • Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $90
  • Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.93
    Puerto Madryn $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City

Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105


When comparing the travel costs between Guatemala City and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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. Even though Guatemala City is in Central America and Puerto Madryn is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Puerto Madryn?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.