A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montanita vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montanita or El Chalten?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Montanita or El Chalten?

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Montanita?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $10. 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 Montanita and El Chalten in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montanita $41
    El Chalten $4.49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montanita $82
    El Chalten $8.98
Compare Hotels in Montanita and El Chalten

Looking for a hotel in Montanita 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.

Hotels in Montanita


Hotels in El Chalten


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: El Chalten Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montanita $39
    El Chalten $2.40

Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or El Chalten?

Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Montanita 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
    Montanita $28
    El Chalten $3.72

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montanita $31
    El Chalten $2.70

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montanita $7.86
    El Chalten $1.24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montanita and El Chalten, we can see that Montanita 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 Montanita would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montanita 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 Montanita Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Montanita or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montanita experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Montanita or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Montanita during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Montanita is around the same temperature as El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montanita in July average around 25°C (78°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Montanita 25°C (78°F) 
    El Chalten 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Montanita or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

In October, Montanita is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin April. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 26°C (78°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Montanita 26°C (78°F) 
    El Chalten 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Montanita or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Montanita as well as El Chalten. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Montanita is much warmer than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in July.

Montanita usually gets more rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Montanita 27°C (80°F) 
    El Chalten 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Montanita or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

In the spring, Montanita is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montanita in April average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Montanita gets 133 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 April, Montanita usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Montanita 27°C (81°F) 
    El Chalten 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Montanita

Montanita El Chalten
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 26 mm (1 in) 19°C (66°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 25°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 26°C (78°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)