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

Should you visit Piriapolis or Pucon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Pucon, 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 Pucon?

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.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Pucon?

Pucon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and Pucon, 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.

When is the best time to visit Piriapolis or Pucon?

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 Pucon in the Summer?

Both Pucon and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In the summer, Piriapolis is a little warmer than Pucon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Pucon averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Pucon. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pucon during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Pucon in the Autumn?

Both Pucon and Piriapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In April, Piriapolis is generally much warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.

Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Pucon in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Pucon.

Piriapolis is a little warmer than Pucon in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.

Pucon receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Pucon in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Pucon.

In the spring, Piriapolis is a little warmer than Pucon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In the spring, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pucon. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in October than Pucon. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pucon and Piriapolis