Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Pucon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pucon or La Serena?
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 La Serena 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPucon $100La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Pucon is $100, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPucon $43La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPucon $86La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Pucon and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Pucon or La Serena? 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.
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: La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pucon $19La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Pucon or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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
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Food Meals for one dayPucon $38La Serena $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pucon $37La Serena $24
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 La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPucon $27La Serena $22
When comparing the travel costs between Pucon and La Serena, 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pucon or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Pucon and La Serena, 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 Pucon or La Serena?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Pucon or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pucon as well as La Serena.
Pucon is cooler than La Serena in the summer. The daily temperature in Pucon averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pucon this time of the year. In the summer, Pucon often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Pucon gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Pucon usually gets more rain in January than La Serena. Pucon gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPucon 16°C (61°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Pucon or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Pucon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Pucon is cooler than La Serena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pucon in April average around 11°C (52°F), and La Serena averages at about 15°C (59°F).
Pucon usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Pucon gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Pucon. In April, Pucon usually receives more rain than La Serena. Pucon gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPucon 11°C (52°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Pucon or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Pucon during the winter are popular places to visit.
In July, Pucon is generally much colder than La Serena. Daily temperatures in Pucon average around 7°C (45°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the winter, Pucon often gets less sunshine than La Serena. Pucon gets 66 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. Pucon usually gets more rain in July than La Serena. Pucon gets 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPucon 7°C (45°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Pucon or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pucon and La Serena.
Pucon is cooler than La Serena in the spring. The daily temperature in Pucon averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Pucon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during spring. Pucon gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pucon usually receives more rain than La Serena. Pucon gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPucon 11°C (52°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Pucon
| Pucon | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.