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

Should you visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn?

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.

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $42
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $84
    Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Puerto Madryn

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn


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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.94
    Puerto Madryn $3.28

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Puerto Madryn?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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
    Puerto Madryn $5.69

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Puerto Madryn $5.77

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:


  • Whale Watching for Two
    $0.35

Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:

  • 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
  • From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
  • From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
  • From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
  • Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.84
    Puerto Madryn $3.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Manaus is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.

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


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Puerto Madryn?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Puerto Madryn, 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.


When is the best time to visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn?

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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Manaus as well as Puerto Madryn.

In the summer, Manaus is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Manaus in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F).

Manaus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manaus usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madryn. Manaus gets 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Manaus 27°C (81°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Madryn and Manaus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In April, Manaus is generally much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Manaus average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Manaus. In April, Manaus usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Manaus gets 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Manaus 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?

Both Puerto Madryn and Manaus during the winter are popular places to visit.

Manaus is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in Manaus averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In Puerto Madryn, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Manaus. In the winter, Manaus often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Madryn. Manaus gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.

Manaus usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madryn. Manaus gets 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Manaus 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Manaus or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manaus and Puerto Madryn.

In the spring, Manaus is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Manaus in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F).

Manaus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manaus usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Manaus gets 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Manaus 29°C (84°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Manaus

Manaus Puerto Madryn
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 264 mm (10.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 290 mm (11.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 335 mm (13.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 311 mm (12.3 in) 14°C (58°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 279 mm (11 in) 10°C (51°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 7°C (45°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 85 mm (3.4 in) 7°C (45°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 9°C (48°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 11°C (53°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Nov 28°C (83°F) 174 mm (6.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Dec 28°C (82°F) 220 mm (8.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)