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

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 2-Week Tours in Chile, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile, The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Typical Weather for La Serena and Pucon