A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manaus vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manaus or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $42
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $84
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.94
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
  • Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $207
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15

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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29

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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
  • 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $65
  • 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
  • 2-Day Tour Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands: $98
  • 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
  • 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
  • 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
  • 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
  • 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
  • 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.84
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13


When comparing the travel costs between Manaus and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Manaus is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.