A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Piriapolis?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Piriapolis and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $27
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $54
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Piriapolis


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $31
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $207
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
  • Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Piriapolis 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
    Piriapolis $23
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.89
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
  • Sillustani / 4-hour tour from Puno: $25
  • Walking City tour Puno: $25
  • Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
  • Uros Floating Island Tour: $26
  • Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $26
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
  • Full Day Tour Uros and Taquile (Speed Boat): $40
  • Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $40
  • Lake Titicaca Day Tour from Puno: $44
  • Uros and Taquile Islands Full Day Tour with lunch: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $8.11
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.