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

Should you visit Montanita or Pucon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Pucon, 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 Pucon?

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.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Pucon 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 Pucon is $98. 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 Pucon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montanita $41
    Pucon $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montanita $82
    Pucon $84
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Pucon

Looking for a hotel in Montanita or Pucon? 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 Pucon


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montanita $39
    Pucon $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or Pucon?

Prices for flights to both Pucon 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
    Pucon $37

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montanita $31
    Pucon $36

Tours and Activities in Pucon

Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montanita $7.86
    Pucon $26


When comparing the travel costs between Montanita and Pucon, we can see that Pucon 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 Montanita Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Montanita or Pucon?

Pucon 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 Pucon in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Montanita is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montanita in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Pucon averages at about 16°C (61°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In the summer, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Puconin January. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun.

Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Puconin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Montanita 25°C (78°F) 
    Pucon 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Montanita or Pucon in the Autumn?

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

In October, Montanita is generally much warmer than Puconin April. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 26°C (78°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during autumn. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puconin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Montanita 26°C (78°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Montanita or Pucon in the Winter?

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

Montanita is much warmer than Pucon in the winter. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.

In the winter, Montanita often gets more sunshine than Puconin July. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun.

Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in January than Puconin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Montanita 27°C (80°F) 
    Pucon 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Montanita or Pucon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

In the spring, Montanita is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montanita in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F)in October.

Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during spring. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

Pucon receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puconin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Montanita 27°C (81°F) 
    Pucon 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for Pucon and Montanita

Montanita Pucon
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (61°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 17°C (62°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (52°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 26 mm (1 in) 9°C (48°F) 295 mm (11.6 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 297 mm (11.7 in)
Jul 25°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 7°C (45°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 8°C (46°F) 247 mm (9.7 in)
Sep 26°C (78°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 109 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 16°C (60°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)