A Travel Price Comparison for Chile Pucon vs. Iquique for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pucon or Iquique?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pucon and Iquique can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Pucon or Iquique?

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.

Iquique

Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.

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


Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Pucon?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pucon is $98, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $94. 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 Pucon and Iquique in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pucon $42
    Iquique $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pucon $84
    Iquique $84
Compare Hotels in Pucon and Iquique

Looking for a hotel in Pucon or Iquique? 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 Pucon


Hotels in Iquique


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pucon $19
    Iquique $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique

Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Pucon or Iquique?

Prices for flights to both Iquique and Pucon 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
    Pucon $37
    Iquique $33

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pucon $36
    Iquique $27

Tours and Activities in Pucon

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

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93

Tours and Activities in Iquique

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

  • City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $50
  • Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $60
  • City Tour in Iquique: $89
  • Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $140

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pucon $26
    Iquique $20


When comparing the travel costs between Pucon and Iquique, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Pucon or Iquique?

Iquique has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Pucon and Iquique, 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.