A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pereira vs. Castro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pereira or Castro?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and Castro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pereira or Castro?

Pereira

Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.

The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.

Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.

Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Castro or Pereira?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $66, while the average daily cost in Castro is $88. 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 Pereira and Castro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $27
    Castro $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $54
    Castro $74
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Castro

Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Castro? 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 Pereira


Hotels in Castro


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: Pereira Hotel Prices and Castro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $21
    Castro $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $46
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $12
  • Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Castro?

Prices for flights to both Castro and Pereira 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
    Pereira $23
    Castro $36
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:


  • Hamburger
    $1.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pereira

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pereira.

  • Private Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Pereira: $82

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $19
    Castro $21

Tours and Activities in Pereira

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

  • Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
  • City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
  • Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $48
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $57
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $93
  • Paratrike experience over the sky of Colombia: $95
  • Coffee Heritage, A multisensory experience: $100
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Tour: $100
  • Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $104
  • Private Tour of Chocolate Plantation and Processing: $113

Tours and Activities in Castro

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

  • Private Half Day Tour in Patrimonial Castro: $30
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
  • From Puerto Varas: Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
  • Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $123
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $156
  • Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $164
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route" : $179
  • Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $189

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Castro $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and Castro, we can see that Castro is more expensive. And not only is Pereira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pereira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pereira 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 Castro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Castro than you might in Pereira.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Castro?

Pereira has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Castro, 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.