A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Isla de Ometepe vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten?

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla de Ometepe and El Chalten, we can see that Isla de Ometepe is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla de Ometepe is in Central America and El Chalten is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Isla de Ometepe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Isla de Ometepe are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.

Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. In July, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten in the Autumn?

Both El Chalten and Isla de Ometepe during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Isla de Ometepe is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in October average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Isla de Ometepe and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.

In January, Isla de Ometepe is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In January, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin July. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or El Chalten in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Isla de Ometepe as well as El Chalten. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Isla de Ometepe is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Isla de Ometepe this time of the year. In the spring, Isla de Ometepe often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Isla de Ometepe gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Isla de Ometepe