A Travel Price Comparison for Chile La Serena vs. Easter Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Serena or Easter Island?

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 Serena and Easter Island can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Serena or Easter Island?

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

Easter Island

Although Easter Island is considered a territory of Chile, it is actually located far out in the Pacific, almost halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is well known, despite being one of the most isolated islands on Earth, because of the mysterious giant stone busts which date back centuries. There are 887 monumental statues, called moai, that were built by the Rapa Nui people. There remains much mystery around the historic Polynesian culture which created the stones, as well as the specific meaning for them.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Easter Island or La Serena?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in La Serena is $87, while the average daily cost in Easter Island is $80. 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 La Serena and Easter Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Serena $42
    Easter Island $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Serena $84
    Easter Island $88
Compare Hotels in La Serena and Easter Island

Looking for a hotel in La Serena or Easter Island? 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.

Hotels in La Serena


Hotels in Easter Island


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: La Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Serena $20
    Easter Island $2.59

Is it cheaper to fly into La Serena or Easter Island?

Prices for flights to both Easter Island and La Serena 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    La Serena $27
    Easter Island $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Easter Island

For Easter Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner, Show and Traditional Curanto Te Ra'ai Cultural Experience: $120
  • Rapa Nui Dinner Show on Easter Island: $153

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Serena $24
    Easter Island $40

Tours and Activities in La Serena

For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
  • Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
  • Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
  • Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
  • Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
  • Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
  • Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
  • Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
  • La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
  • La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194

Typical Entertainment Prices in Easter Island

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Easter Island's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Bike Rental
    $8.38

Tours and Activities in Easter Island

For Easter Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Day Tour Touring the Highlights of Rapa Nui: $300
  • Half Day Private Tour: Caves and Volcanic Refuges: $170
  • 2 Day Private Tour: Rapa Nui's Cultural Heritage: $300
  • 2 Days Highlights Tour in Easter Island Moai and Nature: $210
  • 3 Hours Terevaka Horseback Private Guided Riding Tour: $180
  • Easter Island Full-Day Tour: Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku and Anakena Beach: $171
  • Easter Island Moai Archaeology Tour: Ahu Akivi, Ahu Tahai and Puna Pauâ Quarry.: $91
  • Poike Volcano Private Hiking Tour with Guide: $280
  • Experience Easter Island Shared Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers : $290
  • Full Day Hotu Matua Tour from Vaihu to Anakena: $70
  • Full Day Private Tour: Factory of the Moai the stone giants: $219
  • Full Day Tour - The Land of Hotu Matu´a: $177

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Serena $22
    Easter Island $5.34


When comparing the travel costs between La Serena and Easter Island, we can see that La Serena 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 Serena Expensive? and Is Easter Island Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Serena or Easter Island?

La Serena has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Easter Island. When comparing the sizes of La Serena and Easter Island, 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 La Serena or Easter Island?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit La Serena or Easter Island in the Summer?

Both Easter Island and La Serena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

La Serena is cooler than Easter Island in the summer. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Easter Island fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Easter Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. La Serena usually receives less sunshine than Easter Island during summer. La Serena gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 272 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, La Serena usually receives less rain than Easter Island. La Serena gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    La Serena 18°C (64°F) 
    Easter Island 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit La Serena or Easter Island in the Autumn?

Both Easter Island and La Serena during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In the autumn, La Serena is cooler than Easter Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Serena in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Easter Island averages at about 22°C (72°F).

In the autumn, La Serena often gets less sunshine than Easter Island. La Serena gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 185 hours of full sun.

Easter Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Serena usually gets less rain in April than Easter Island. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    La Serena 15°C (59°F) 
    Easter Island 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit La Serena or Easter Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Serena and Easter Island.

In July, La Serena is generally much colder than Easter Island. Daily temperatures in La Serena average around 12°C (54°F), and Easter Island fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

La Serena usually receives more sunshine than Easter Island during winter. La Serena gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

Easter Island receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, La Serena usually receives less rain than Easter Island. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    La Serena 12°C (54°F) 
    Easter Island 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit La Serena or Easter Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to La Serena as well as Easter Island.

La Serena is cooler than Easter Island in the spring. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Easter Island fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Easter Island. In the spring, La Serena often gets less sunshine than Easter Island. La Serena gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 224 hours of full sun.

La Serena usually gets less rain in October than Easter Island. La Serena gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    La Serena 14°C (57°F) 
    Easter Island 20°C (67°F)

Typical Weather for Easter Island and La Serena

La Serena Easter Island
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 24°C (74°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 18°C (64°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 20°C (69°F) 153 mm (6 in)
Jun 12°C (54°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Jul 12°C (54°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Aug 12°C (54°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (65°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 20°C (67°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 21°C (69°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Dec 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)