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

Should you visit Pereira or Tilcara?

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 Tilcara. 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 Tilcara?

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.

Tilcara

Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Pereira?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $64, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $8.37. 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 Tilcara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $26
    Tilcara $3.30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $52
    Tilcara $6.60
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Tilcara

Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara


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 Tilcara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $20
    Tilcara $2.23
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:

  • Pereira Airport (PEI) to Santa Rosa Cabal - Round-Trip Transfer: $128
  • Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $64
  • Pereira Airport(PEI)to Santa Rosa Cabal- Arrival Private Transfer: $64
  • Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $45
  • One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $12

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tilcara

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.01

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Tilcara?

Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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
    Tilcara $3.46
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

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


  • Hamburger
    $1.67

Typical Food Prices in Tilcara

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:


  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Burger
    $0.01
  • Fruit
    $0.01
  • Sandwich
    $0.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara

For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $18
    Tilcara $1.98

Tours and Activities in Pereira

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

  • Chocolate Tour - Wonders of the Cacao: $188
  • City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Tour with Horseback Ride: $147
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Filandia Full-Day Private Tour: $246
  • Cocora, Salento and Coffee Experience: $262
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $151
  • Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
  • Coffee Tour, Sighting Pereira: $125

Tours and Activities in Tilcara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.

  • Purmamarca Night Experience: $18
  • 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
  • Serranías del Hornocal + Citytour Humahuaca: $30
  • Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
  • Half day mountain bike tour with lunch: $35
  • Private Full Day Tour to Salinas de Grandes and Barrancas: $130
  • Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $162

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Tilcara $1.08


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and Tilcara, we can see that Pereira is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Tilcara.

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


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Tilcara?

Pereira has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Tilcara, 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.