A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Humahuaca vs. Easter Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Humahuaca or Easter Island?

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

Should I visit Humahuaca or Easter Island? 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: Humahuaca or Easter Island?

Humahuaca

Located in the northwest region of Argentina, Humahuaca is a town nearly 3000m high in elevation, found on the border of the rio Grande. It is the largest settlement with the biggest population along the famous quebrada de Humahuaca gorge, but it has managed to keep its authenticity with its cobblestoned streets, adobe houses, quaint plazas filled with inhabitants of Andean traits and handicraft shops. If you have the chance to visit Humahuaca in February, during the carnival, you will appreciate how traditions are kept alive in this part of Argentina. Humahuaca has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting next to the spectacular SerranĂ­a de Hornocal (colored mountains). While most visitors rapidly make their way through Humahuaca before continuing to the other two main Quebrada towns, Pumamarca and Tilcara, some enjoy spending a night or two there. Indeed, the town offers a perfect starting point to visit the region and has a few interesting landmarks not to miss, such as the historic church and Soto Avendano's Independence Monument. If you decide to stay in Humahuaca, remember that nights get chilly and ask the tourist office for any information (in the Cabildo, on the main square, opened Monday to Friday from 7h to 21h and Saturday from 9h to 12h and 13h to 16h and only Sunday mornings).

Easter Island

Although Easter Island is considered a territory of Chile, it is actually located far out in the Pacific, almost halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is well known, despite being one of the most isolated islands on Earth, because of the mysterious giant stone busts which date back centuries. There are 887 monumental statues, called moai, that were built by the Rapa Nui people. There remains much mystery around the historic Polynesian culture which created the stones, as well as the specific meaning for them.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Easter Island or Humahuaca?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Humahuaca is $6.83, while the average daily cost in Easter Island is $78. 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 Humahuaca and Easter Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Humahuaca $2.45
    Easter Island $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Humahuaca $4.90
    Easter Island $86
Compare Hotels in Humahuaca and Easter Island

Looking for a hotel in Humahuaca or Easter Island? 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 Humahuaca


Hotels in Easter Island


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Humahuaca $2.11
    Easter Island $2.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Humahuaca

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

  • From Salta: 2-Day Cachi and Humahuaca Tour with Transfer: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Humahuaca or Easter Island?

Prices for flights to both Easter Island and Humahuaca 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
    Humahuaca $2.67
    Easter Island $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Easter Island

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

  • Dinner, Show and Traditional Curanto Te Ra'ai Cultural Experience: $120
  • Rapa Nui Dinner Show on Easter Island: $153

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Humahuaca $2.60
    Easter Island $39

Tours and Activities in Humahuaca

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Humahuaca.

  • Hornocal: Full-Day Tour to the Hill of Seven Colors: $70

Typical Entertainment Prices in Easter Island

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


  • Bike Rental
    $8.19

Tours and Activities in Easter Island

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

  • Half Day Private Tour: Caves and Volcanic Refuges: $170
  • 2 Day Private Tour: Rapa Nui's Cultural Heritage: $300
  • 2 Days Highlights Tour in Easter Island Moai and Nature: $210
  • 3 Hours Terevaka Horseback Private Guided Riding Tour: $180
  • Easter Island Full-Day Tour: Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku and Anakena Beach: $171
  • Easter Island Moai Archaeology Tour: Ahu Akivi, Ahu Tahai and Puna Pauâ Quarry.: $91
  • Easter Island Moai Dining Experience: $90
  • Poike Volcano Private Hiking Tour with Guide: $280
  • Experience Easter Island Shared Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers : $290
  • Fishing with an Experienced Native in Rapa Nui: $150
  • Full Day Hotu Matua Tour from Vaihu to Anakena: $70
  • Full Day Private Tour: Factory of the Moai the stone giants: $219

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Humahuaca $1.18
    Easter Island $5.22


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

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


Which is Bigger, Humahuaca or Easter Island?

Humahuaca has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Easter Island. When comparing the sizes of Humahuaca and Easter Island, 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.