A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Torres del Paine National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Torres del Paine National Park?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Torres del Paine National Park? 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 Torres del Paine National Park?

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.

Torres del Paine National Park

The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or Guatemala City?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $79. 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 Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Torres del Paine National Park $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Torres del Paine National Park

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Torres del Paine National Park? 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 Torres del Paine National Park


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.17
    Torres del Paine National Park $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Puerto Quetzal Port: $73
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
  • Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in Guatemala City: $30
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Torres del Paine National Park?

Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park 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 $15
    Torres del Paine National Park $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.21
    Torres del Paine National Park $31

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $130
  • 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
  • 4-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South Center: $65
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City : $300
  • Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
  • Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
  • Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
  • Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
  • Bike Tour to Antigua Villages from Guatemala City : $175
  • Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
  • Chichicastenango Market Tour: $116
  • City Tour - Test Fly by Escuela de Flight S.A: $158

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.84
    Torres del Paine National Park $5.39


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that Torres del Paine National Park is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Torres del Paine National Park 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Torres del Paine National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Torres del Paine National Park than you might in Guatemala City.

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 Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.