A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manaus vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manaus or Cafayate?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Cafayate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Manaus or Cafayate?

Manaus

Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Manaus?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $59, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $12. 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 Manaus and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $42
    Cafayate $4.43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $84
    Cafayate $8.86
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Cafayate? 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 Manaus


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Manaus Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.94
    Cafayate $2.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 24-hour private group transfer service airport -> hotel: $95
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $72
  • Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Transfers from the airport to any place in Manaus City: $40
  • Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $40
  • Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $34
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
  • Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Manaus 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
    Manaus $12
    Cafayate $4.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus

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

  • Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
  • Food Tour: $50

Typical Food Prices in Cafayate

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cafayate:


  • Dinner (Empanadas)
    $0.02
  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Pizza
    $0.02

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Cafayate $5.19

Tours and Activities in Manaus

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

  • Jewish Tour in Manaus in the Amazon from 4 to 5 hours: $147
  • Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
  • Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $80
  • Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
  • Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $200
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
  • Amazon River Stand Up Paddling Tour: $124
  • Amazon Waterfalls Tour: $70
  • Amazon and Negro Rivers Experience with Night Exploration Tour: $300
  • City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
  • City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $62
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $134
  • Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $68
  • Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.84
    Cafayate $4.88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Cafayate, we can see that Manaus is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 Manaus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manaus than you might in Cafayate.

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


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Cafayate?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Cafayate, 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.