Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Paracas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paracas or Arequipa?
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 Paracas and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Paracas or Arequipa?
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Peru, The Best 2-Week Tours in Peru, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParacas $61Arequipa $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Paracas is $61, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $46. 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 Paracas and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParacas $22Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParacas $44Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Paracas and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Paracas or Arequipa? 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.
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: Paracas Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paracas $18Arequipa $5.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $166
- Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $179
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $80
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $89
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $80
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $89
- Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $89
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
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Bus Ride$0.42
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Taxi Ride$0.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- 2 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $179
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $250
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
- Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer: $25
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- From Colca Canyon Tour 1 Day and Transfer to Puno: $129
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Paracas or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Paracas 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
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Food Meals for one dayParacas $22Arequipa $13
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.40
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Lunch$2.77
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Ice Cream$1.06
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Fruit$0.79
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Ice Cream$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $48
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Arequipa Ancestral Cuisine and City and Food Tour: $69
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $85
- Peruvian cooking experience, pisco sour and visit local market: $95
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
- Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paracas $24Arequipa $18
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ballestas Islands Tour: Discover the Magic: $17
- From Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour: $18
- From Scenic Boat Tour to Ballestas Island: $20
- Paracas National Reserve by Tourist Bus: $20
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour: $20
- Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour: $20
- Boat Tour of the Ballestas Islands in Paracas: $20
- Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
- Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
- Paracas Boat Tour at Islas Ballestas The Galapagos of Peru: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.64
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Salsa Class$2.64
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Movie Ticket$2.88
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Hot Springs$2.64
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Tour: Route of Sillar with Trek in Culebrillas: $12
- Sillar Route Tour.: $13
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- Tour por la Ruta del Sillar, el Origen de Arequipa: $16
- Countryside Tour with Volcano Views: $17
- Tour through the Countryside of Arequipa in Panoramic Bus: $18
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Ticket for Planetarium and Star Observatory: $19
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- Arequipa City tour in panoramic bus: $20
- City tour with panoramic bus: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParacas $11Arequipa $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paracas and Arequipa, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas than you might in Arequipa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paracas Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paracas or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 700 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Paracas and Arequipa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.