A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guayaquil vs. El Calafate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guayaquil or El Calafate?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or El Calafate, 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: Guayaquil or El Calafate?

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Guayaquil?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $10. 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 Guayaquil and El Calafate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guayaquil $32
    El Calafate $3.48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guayaquil $64
    El Calafate $6.96
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and El Calafate

Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or El Calafate? 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 Guayaquil


Hotels in El Calafate


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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guayaquil $15
    El Calafate $3.59

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
  • Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
  • Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
  • Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
  • Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $99
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $99
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotels: $20
  • Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25

Typical Local Transportation Prices in El Calafate

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:


  • Taxi
    $1.41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

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

  • South Glacier Pioneers with transfer: $300
  • Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
  • Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
  • Mini trekking Perito Moreno with Footbridges visit and Transfer: $230
  • Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $12
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $456

Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or El Calafate?

Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Guayaquil 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
    Guayaquil $29
    El Calafate $3.77

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185

Typical Food Prices in El Calafate

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


  • Dessert
    $0.01
  • Dinner
    $1.83
  • Dinner
    $1.08

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:

  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $114
  • Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $117
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guayaquil $21
    El Calafate $3.76

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

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

  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
  • Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
  • From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $169
  • Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
  • Full day tour Mangroves, dolphins and cocoa farm from guayaquil: $225
  • Full-Day Cuenca and Traditional Craft Beer Tasting Tour: $241
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $40
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $90

Typical Entertainment Prices in El Calafate

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


  • Glacerium Museum
    $1.41

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

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

  • "Calafate Night" Astrotourism in El Calafate: $140
  • "Glaciares Gourmet" - Maria Turquesa Cruiser Navigation (classic): $285
  • Blue Safari Experience: Hiking and Navigation on Glaciers: $171
  • CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $190
  • Cañadón Experience: $160
  • Calafate City Tour with Walichu Caves: $78
  • El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $161
  • El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $137
  • El Calafate Balconies Experience: 3-Hour 4WD Tour: $98
  • El Calafate Balcony in 4WD Experience with Optional Quads: $241
  • El Calafate Boat Tour to the Glaciers + Lunch(Glaciares Gourmet) : $220
  • El Calafate City Sightseeing Tour Including Walichu Caves: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guayaquil $17
    El Calafate $1.89

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:

  • Taste and discover the factory of a craft brewery: $65

Typical Alcohol Prices in El Calafate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:


  • Beer
    $0.01
  • Alcohol
    $0.38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and El Calafate, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil than you might in El Calafate.

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


Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or El Calafate?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and El Calafate, 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.