Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Ilha Grande?
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 Ilha Grande or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or El Calafate? 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: Ilha Grande or El Calafate?
Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is a large, beautiful, island located off the southeast coast of Brazil. The island has few inhabitants, resulting in mostly unadulterated beaches and landscapes. There are over a dozen trails and beaches to explore, some of which have been called the best beaches in Brazil. Due to the limited number of inhabitants, ATMs are sparse on the island, so be sure to have cash with you before getting there.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $83El Calafate $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $83, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $59. 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 Ilha Grande and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37El Calafate $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74El Calafate $74
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or El Calafate? 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: El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18El Calafate $4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $50
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from the Airport to El Calafate with City Tour: $29
- Transfer from your hotel to El Calafate airport: $16
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $16
- Transfer from Hotels to Airport: $45
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Shared Transfer Airport - Hotel in El Calafate: $20
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $25
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Hotels to the Airport: $45
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Ilha Grande 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 dayIlha Grande $36El Calafate $6.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Country Afternoon with Dinner Show and Riding: $127
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $179
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.57El Calafate $52
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $84
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $64
- Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $89
- Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $85
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $79
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $74
- Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $109
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $20
- Discover Angra’s Hidden Paradise Islands by Speedboat Tour: $115
- Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $239
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Todo Glaciares” Scenic Glacier Boat Tour from El Calafate: $235
- 2-Day Tours from Torres del Paine & Perito Moreno: $289
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,500
- Calafate : Patagonian Riding and Lunch Experience: $260
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $210
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $207
- Cerro Frías Experience FWD Tour: $174
- Cerro Frías Experience Horse Ride: $174
- DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $240
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11El Calafate $8.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and El Calafate, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Ilha Grande would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ilha Grande than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ilha Grande Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
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.