A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or El Chalten?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Piriapolis or El Chalten?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Piriapolis or El Chalten?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Piriapolis or El Chalten in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and El Chalten.

In the summer, Piriapolis is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Piriapolis or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as El Chalten.

In April, Piriapolis is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than El Chalten. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or El Chalten in the Winter?

Both El Chalten and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Piriapolis is much colder than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than El Chalten. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Piriapolis or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Piriapolis during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Piriapolis is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F).

In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Piriapolis. In the spring, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than El Chalten. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in October than El Chalten. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Piriapolis