Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Huaraz and El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or El Chalten?
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $50El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $50, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Huaraz and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz or El Chalten? 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $10El Chalten $2.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Huaraz 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 dayHuaraz $18El Chalten $3.66
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.97
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Chips$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19El Chalten $2.66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$17
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $28
- Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $30
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $37
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $38
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Lake 69 Full-Day Hiking Tour from Huaraz: $40
- From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $46
- From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56
- From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz |2Days-1Night|: $92
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huaraz and El Chalten, we can see that Huaraz is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Huaraz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huaraz than you might in El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huaraz Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Huaraz or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Huaraz experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Huaraz or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Huaraz and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Huaraz. Huaraz is much colder than El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 3°C (37°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Huaraz usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin January. Huaraz gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHuaraz 3°C (37°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Huaraz as well as El Chalten. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Huaraz can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Huaraz is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huaraz in October average around 4°C (39°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Huaraz usually gets less rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Huaraz gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHuaraz 4°C (39°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Huaraz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year.
In January, Huaraz is generally much colder than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Huaraz average around 7°C (45°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite rainy in Huaraz. In January, Huaraz usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. Huaraz gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyHuaraz 7°C (45°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Huaraz during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Huaraz is much colder than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Huaraz usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Huaraz gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHuaraz 6°C (43°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Huaraz
| Huaraz | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.