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

Should you visit Montanita or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 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 Montanita and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montanita $41
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montanita $82
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Montanita 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 Montanita


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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montanita $39
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

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


  • Taxi
    $0.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

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

  • Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $251
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $243
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $207
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $204
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $195
  • Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

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

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

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

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


  • Tamales
    $1.50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montanita $31
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $30

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 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-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $226
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
  • Chucuito Bike Tour: $194
  • Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
  • Full Day Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montanita $7.86
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13


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

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