Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or Puerto Madryn, 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: Jaco or Puerto Madryn?
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $104Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Jaco and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Jaco and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or Puerto Madryn? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Jaco 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 dayJaco $21Puerto Madryn $5.69
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaco $60Puerto Madryn $5.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
- Jason Crocodile Tours: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Horseback Riding Pacific Experience in Tarcoles Garabito: $47
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- From Canopy Tour in Hacienda Nosavar: $50
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $50
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Chocolate Experience: $62
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32Puerto Madryn $3.13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and Puerto Madryn 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 Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaco or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco and Puerto Madryn, 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.
When is the best time to visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Puerto Madryn. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the summer. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in January.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madrynin January. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryJaco 28°C (82°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Madryn and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
In the autumn, Jaco is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Jaco in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin April. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilJaco 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Jaco during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Jaco is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin July. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In Puerto Madryn, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the winter, Jaco often gets more sunshine than Puerto Madrynin July. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.
Jaco usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Madrynin July. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyJaco 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Jaco is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the spring. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in October.
In April, Jaco usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin October. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberJaco 29°C (85°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Jaco
| Jaco | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.