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

Should you visit Piriapolis or Puerto Varas?

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

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

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.

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Puerto Varas?

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

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 Puerto Varas in the Summer?

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

In January, Piriapolis is generally a little warmer than Puerto Varas. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 23°C (73°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Puerto Varas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?

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

Piriapolis is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun.

Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Varas in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Puerto Varas.

In the winter, Piriapolis is a little warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Piriapolis in July average around 10°C (50°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.

Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Varas in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Puerto Varas.

In October, Piriapolis is generally much warmer than Puerto Varas. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 16°C (61°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°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 Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Varas. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Piriapolis