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

Should you visit Guayaquil or Valparaiso?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso?

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.

Valparaiso

Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.

Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.

Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso is $65. 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 Valparaiso in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guayaquil $32
    Valparaiso $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guayaquil $64
    Valparaiso $70
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Valparaiso

Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Valparaiso? 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 Valparaiso


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 Valparaiso Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guayaquil $15
    Valparaiso $4.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $131
  • Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
  • Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
  • Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
  • Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotels: $20
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $99

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:

  • World Biggest Organic Winery Emiliana, Valparaiso & Transfer : $250
  • Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $76
  • Valparaiso Airport Private Transfer: $156
  • Transfers from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to Santiago: $120
  • Small group transfer from Valparaiso/S.Antonio+Tour in Santiago: $140
  • Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $239
  • Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Port to Santiago Airport (SCL): $66
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $107
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago hotels: $82
  • Private Transfer from San Antonio Port to Valparaiso or Viña del Mar.: $133
  • Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170

Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Valparaiso?

Prices for flights to both Valparaiso 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
    Valparaiso $22

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 Valparaiso

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:


  • Empanada
    $1.84

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso

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

  • Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class with Traditional Market Tour: $72
  • Learn to Cook Like a Local: Private Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guayaquil $21
    Valparaiso $18

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

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

  • Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $40
  • Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
  • Private Experience of Flavors and Wine Pairing in Guayaquil: $50
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
  • Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
  • Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
  • Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport: $82

Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso

Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Boat Tour
    $4.10

Tours and Activities in Valparaiso

Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2 Hour Walking Tour in Valparaiso: $35
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour along the Coast of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso: $55
  • Cruise Port to Valparaiso & Casablanca: Drop-off in Santiago: $150
  • Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $35
  • Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $35
  • Gastronomic Tour Valparaiso Visit Mani Restorans Ceviche Empanada: $60
  • Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
  • Half-Day Chilean Pacific Coast Tour: Viña del Mar, Reñaca and Concón: $87
  • Half-Day Valparaiso City Highlights Tour: $87
  • Neruda Museums Isla Negra & La Sebastiana Valparaiso City Tour: $259
  • PRIVATE TOUR: Pre-Post Cruise Viña del Mar Valparaiso and Casablanca Winery tour: $155
  • Pre or Post Valparaiso Cruise with Santiago City Tour and optional Vineyard: $98

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guayaquil $17
    Valparaiso $7.61

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 Valparaiso

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:


  • Beer
    $0.97

Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:

  • Private Wine Tour in Valparaíso: $166
  • Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $255
  • Isla Negra Museum Tour & CasaBlanca Wine Tour: $289


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Valparaiso, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Valparaiso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valparaiso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso.

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


Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Valparaiso?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Valparaiso. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Valparaiso, 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.