A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina La Plata vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Plata or El Chalten?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Plata and El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or El Chalten?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When comparing the travel costs between La Plata and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit La Plata or El Chalten?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit La Plata or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and La Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.

In January, La Plata is generally around the same temperature as El Chalten. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 25°C (77°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Plata usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and El Chalten.

La Plata is cooler than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, La Plata usually receives less rain than El Chalten. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Plata or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to La Plata as well as El Chalten.

In the winter, La Plata is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Plata in July average around 12°C (53°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F).

La Plata usually gets more rain in July than El Chalten. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In October, La Plata is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (64°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in La Plata. In October, La Plata usually receives less rain than El Chalten. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and La Plata