Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Puerto Varas? 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 Puerto Varas?
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.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Puerto Varas $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $109. 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 Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Puerto Varas? 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: Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- All Private Transfer from Ilha Grande to Rio de Janeiro: $275
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
- From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $104
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $187
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $187
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 $21Puerto Varas $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
- Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
- Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $40
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $43
- Rio de Janeiro: Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch: $47
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $50
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
- Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
- Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $129
- Petrohue Falls and Osorno Volcano Bike Tour: $124
- Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
- Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $185
- Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
- Premium Small-Group Half day Tour to Frutillar in Puerto Varas: $144
- Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $100
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Ilha Grande much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ilha Grande would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ilha Grande 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 Puerto Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in Ilha Grande.
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 Puerto Varas 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.