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

Should you visit Humahuaca or Pucon?

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

Should I visit Humahuaca or Pucon? 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 Pucon?

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).

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Pucon 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 Pucon is $98. 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 Pucon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Humahuaca $2.45
    Pucon $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Humahuaca $4.90
    Pucon $84
Compare Hotels in Humahuaca and Pucon

Looking for a hotel in Humahuaca or Pucon? 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 Pucon


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
    Pucon $19

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Humahuaca or Pucon?

Prices for flights to both Pucon 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
    Pucon $37

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Humahuaca $2.60
    Pucon $36

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

Tours and Activities in Pucon

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

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Humahuaca $1.18
    Pucon $26


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Humahuaca and Pucon, we can see that Pucon 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon 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 Pucon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Humahuaca or Pucon?

Pucon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Humahuaca. When comparing the sizes of Humahuaca and Pucon, 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.