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

Should you visit Montanita or Puerto Montt?

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

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

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.

Puerto Montt

The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Puerto Montt in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montanita $41
    Puerto Montt $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montanita $82
    Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Puerto Montt

Looking for a hotel in Montanita or Puerto Montt? 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 Puerto Montt


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: Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montanita $39
    Puerto Montt $6.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:

  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
  • Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
  • 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
  • Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $114
  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
  • Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $41
  • Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
  • Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or Puerto Montt?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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
    Puerto Montt $21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montanita $31
    Puerto Montt $14

Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt

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

  • 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
  • Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
  • Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
  • Excursion City tour Puerto Varas / Llanquihue and Frutillar: $77
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
  • Frutillar Tour: $31
  • Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
  • Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
  • Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
  • Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
  • Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montanita $7.86
    Puerto Montt $4.49


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



When is the best time to visit Montanita or Puerto Montt?

Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt in the Summer?

Both Puerto Montt 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 July, Montanita is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin January. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Puerto Montt, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Puerto Monttin January. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.

Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Monttin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Montanita 25°C (78°F) 
    Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?

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

Montanita is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in April.

Montanita usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during autumn. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Montanita 26°C (78°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Montt in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Montanita is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.

In the winter, Montanita often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin July. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Montanita usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Monttin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Montt in the Spring?

Both Puerto Montt 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 April, Montanita is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin October. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Montt during spring. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In April, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Montanita 27°C (81°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Montanita

Montanita Puerto Montt
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (60°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 26 mm (1 in) 9°C (49°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 224 mm (8.8 in)
Jul 25°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 7°C (45°F) 229 mm (9 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 8°C (46°F) 209 mm (8.2 in)
Sep 26°C (78°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 9°C (47°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 14°C (58°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)