Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Guayaquil?
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 Guayaquil or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Guayaquil Prices
Ecuador PricesLake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuayaquil $116Lake Titicaca (Puno) $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $116, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $72. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $13
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $19
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $19
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Luxury VIP car transfers to hotels in Guayaquil and Ecuador: $30
- Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
- Puno Arrival Transfer from Juliaca Airport: $45
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $95
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $22
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $223
- Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
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Food Meals for one dayGuayaquil $50Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
- Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
- Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
- Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guayaquil $21Lake Titicaca (Puno) $32
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cultural Tour of the Museums of Guayaquil: $35
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
- City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
- Guayaquil Museum Tour: $64
- Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $74
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 2 Day Lake Titicaca Tour From Puno: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $78
- 2 Days and 1 Night Tour from Puno to Colca Canyon and Arequipa: $240
- 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $119
- 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $255
- 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
- 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $22
- 3-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $249
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $36
- 4h Tour to Sillustani Inca Tombs from Puno: $28
- Bus Tour of the Puno to Cusco Sun Route with Buffet Lunch: $62
- Chullpas Tour of Sillustani Inca Cemetery: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.