Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Machu Picchu?
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Machu Picchu. 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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Machu Picchu?
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Peru, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lima, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $54Machu Picchu $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $54, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $99. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Titicaca (Puno) $25Machu Picchu $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Titicaca (Puno) $50Machu Picchu $82
Compare Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Machu Picchu? 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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $10Machu Picchu $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $290
- Private Transfer From Puno to Arequipa with English Speaking Driver: $266
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $245
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $212
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $205
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $196
- Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
- Juliaca Airport Private Transfer to/from Puno city: $44
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $15Machu Picchu $19
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29Machu Picchu $72
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $65
- 2 Days and One Night Tour on the Aymara Route and Churches in Juli: $90
- 2-Day Amantani Homestay Including Kayak Experience: $233
- 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
- 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
- 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
- 3-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $226
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $36
- 4h Tour to Sillustani Inca Ruins: $26
- A Full Day Tour View: Uros and Taquile Islands on the Titicaca Lake from Puno: $50
- Andean Homestay Connection 2 Days Cultural Experience: $89
- Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $13Machu Picchu $6.71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Lake Titicaca (Puno).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.