Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Paracas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paracas or Cusco?
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 Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Paracas or Cusco?
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.
Cusco
Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.
Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.
The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.
Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.
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 $61Cusco $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Paracas is $61, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $50. 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 Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParacas $22Cusco $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParacas $44Cusco $44
Compare Hotels in Paracas and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Paracas or Cusco? 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 Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paracas $18Cusco $9.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $80
- 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
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $89
- Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
- Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $166
- Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $179
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
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Taxi Ride$1.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Arrival Transfer & Cusco City Tour (Private Service): $80
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Private Departure Transfer: $18
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer with large Van: $45
- Cusco Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer: $15
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Cusco to Ollantaytambo: One-Way Private Transfer: $55
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour w/ Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
- Full-Day Trip to Machu Picchu with Hotel Transfers: $335
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Paracas or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco 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 $22Cusco $13
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.11
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Mango$0.53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Small-Group Virtual Peruvian Cooking Experience: $25
- Short Peruvian Cooking Class - by Pete: $30
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $35
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- CUSCO COOKING CLASS DINNER - Short & Immersive Cooking Class: $53
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails, Market Tour in Cusco: $55
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco and Market Tour : $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour: $65
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paracas $24Cusco $29
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 Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
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Salsa Class$2.64
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cusco Inkas Walking City Tour: $2.00
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Around Free Walking Tour Cusco Historic Center: $2.00
- Cusco Walking tour in English : $5.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Cusco City Half-Day Tour: $12
- Mirabus tour of the city | Panoramic view: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Explore Cuzco with a sightseeing tour by open top bus.: $12
- Cusco's Street and San Pedro Market Walking Adventure: $13
- Historical Tour with Pisco Sours and Local Music: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParacas $11Cusco $9.30
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience : $18
- Cusco Pub Crawl - Bar Tour Cusco : $19
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paracas and Cusco, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco 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 Cusco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paracas Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paracas or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Paracas and Cusco, 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.