Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Isla Mujeres?
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 Isla Mujeres or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Isla Mujeres and Puerto Varas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Isla Mujeres or Puerto Varas?
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
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 Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesPuerto Varas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $164Puerto Varas $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $164, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $127. 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 Isla Mujeres and Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $71Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $142Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices and Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $32Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Private Transfer: Playa Mujeres to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $135
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and Isla Mujeres 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 dayIsla Mujeres $72Puerto Varas $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $19Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $25
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $29
- Tour Isla Mujeres excursion in Collective Transparent Boat: $38
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $39
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $52
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $53
- Snorkel Tour at Musa and Manchones Reef: $55
- Transparent Boat Tour from Isla Mujeres: $60
- UNDER WATER MUSEUM CANCUN SNORKEL ISLA MUJERES - Experience with Ticket: $65
- ATV Mangrove Adventure: $65
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $84
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scenic Catamaran Tour on Llanquihue lake: $8.50
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $36
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $41
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $59
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- From Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $23Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Puerto Varas, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Varas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Varas 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 Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in Puerto Varas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla Mujeres Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Puerto Varas?
Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 100% larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Puerto Varas, 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.
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.