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

Should you visit Pereira or Huaraz?

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 Huaraz. 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 Huaraz?

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.

Huaraz

Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Pereira?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $81, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $66. 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 Huaraz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $26
    Huaraz $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $52
    Huaraz $42
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Huaraz

Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz


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 Huaraz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $20
    Huaraz $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
  • Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
  • PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.29

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Huaraz?

Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $40
    Huaraz $32
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

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


  • Hamburger
    $1.66

Typical Food Prices in Huaraz

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


  • Lunch
    $6.31
  • Chips
    $1.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $18
    Huaraz $21

Tours and Activities in Pereira

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

  • PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
  • Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $84
  • Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
  • Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
  • Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
  • Tour Santa Rosa hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $116
  • Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
  • Tour to San Vicente hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $132
  • Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
  • Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
  • Salento, Cocora and Filandia Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $160

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz

Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Climbing Gear
    $18

Tours and Activities in Huaraz

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

  • Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
  • Pastoruri Glacier - Day Tour - Ice and Adventure: $28
  • Pastoruri Glacier | Nevado Snowy Full Day Tour: $29
  • Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $30
  • From Tour to the Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi: $32
  • From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $33
  • From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $34
  • Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
  • Paron Lake Full Day Tour: $35
  • From Paron Lake Hiking Tour: $35
  • From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
  • Full day tour to the Parón Lagoon: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Huaraz $16


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Huaraz?

Pereira has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Huaraz, 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.