Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Manaus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Manaus or Cajamarca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Manaus or Cajamarca? 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 Cajamarca?
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.
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Manaus Prices
Brazil PricesCajamarca Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $66Cajamarca $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $66, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $95. 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 Cajamarca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManaus $41Cajamarca $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $82Cajamarca $52
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Cajamarca
Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Cajamarca? 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: Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manaus $7.63Cajamarca $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 24-hour Hotel Transfer to Manaus Airport: $16
- 24-hour transfer from airport to hotel in Manaus: $17
- 24h Private Transfer Service Hotel to Manaus Airport: $23
- Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
- Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Cajamarca?
Prices for flights to both Cajamarca 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
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Food Meals for one dayManaus $21Cajamarca $52
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: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -Cajamarca $28
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manaus Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
- Walking Tours in Manaus: $36
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $60
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $65
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $67
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Cajamarca : Sulluscocha extreme adventure.: $63
- Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
- City Tour: $67
- Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
- La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
- Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
- Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
- Sulluscocha Extreme Activities Full-Day Adventure: $65
- Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
- Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
- From City Tour Cajamarca: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManaus $2.72Cajamarca $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Cajamarca, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Cajamarca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cajamarca than you might in Manaus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manaus Expensive? and Is Cajamarca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manaus or Cajamarca?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Cajamarca, 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.
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.