Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or La Serena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Serena 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 Serena and El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Serena or El Chalten?
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.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Serena $87El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in La Serena is $87, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Serena $42El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Serena $84El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in La Serena and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in La Serena or El Chalten? 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: La Serena Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Serena $20El Chalten $2.37
Is it cheaper to fly into La Serena or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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
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Food Meals for one dayLa Serena $27El Chalten $3.66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Serena $24El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Serena $22El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Serena and El Chalten, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit La Serena 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 Serena or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to La Serena as well as El Chalten.
La Serena is cooler than El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. La Serena usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. La Serena gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Serena 18°C (64°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Serena or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and La Serena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, La Serena is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Serena in April average around 15°C (59°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In April, La Serena usually receives less rain than El Chalten. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilLa Serena 15°C (59°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit La Serena or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and La Serena during the winter are popular places to visit.
In July, La Serena is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in La Serena average around 12°C (54°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
La Serena usually gets less rain in July than El Chalten. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyLa Serena 12°C (54°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit La Serena or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Serena and El Chalten.
La Serena is much colder than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in El Chalten this time of the year. La Serena usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. La Serena gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, La Serena usually receives less rain than El Chalten. La Serena gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberLa Serena 14°C (57°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and La Serena
| La Serena | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.