A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Mar del Plata vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or El Chalten?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or El Chalten?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.

When comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten 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 Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.

Mar del Plata is cooler than El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 20°C (69°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and El Chalten.

In the autumn, Mar del Plata is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mar del Plata in April average around 15°C (59°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as El Chalten.

In July, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 9°C (47°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than El Chalten. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Mar del Plata is much colder than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In October, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Mar del Plata