Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Manaus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manaus or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Manaus or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten?
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.
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 Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $59El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $59, 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 Manaus and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManaus $42El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $84El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Manaus and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Manaus 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: Manaus Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manaus $7.94El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $15
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Private Transfers Services Airport -Hotel 24h: $19
- Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $12El Chalten $3.66
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking Tours in Manaus: $15
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $68
- Amazon Waterfalls Tour: $70
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 dayManaus $2.84El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and El Chalten, we can see that Manaus 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 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manaus Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Manaus 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 Manaus or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Manaus as well as El Chalten.
In January, Manaus is generally around the same temperature as El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Manaus average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Manaus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manaus usually gets more rain in January than El Chalten. Manaus gets 264 mm (10.4 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 JanuaryManaus 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manaus or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and Manaus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Manaus is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manaus averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Manaus. In April, Manaus usually receives more rain than El Chalten. Manaus gets 311 mm (12.3 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 AprilManaus 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Manaus or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Manaus during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Manaus is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manaus in July average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Manaus usually gets more rain in July than El Chalten. Manaus gets 85 mm (3.4 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 JulyManaus 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Manaus or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manaus and El Chalten.
In October, Manaus is generally a little warmer than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Manaus average around 29°C (84°F), 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. Manaus usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Manaus gets 171 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. Manaus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manaus usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Manaus gets 113 mm (4.4 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 OctoberManaus 29°C (84°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Manaus
| Manaus | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.