Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
Cafayate
Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.
Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Argentina.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesCafayate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $57Cafayate $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $57, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $54. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Cafayate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $41Cafayate $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $82Cafayate $70
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Cafayate
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.10Cafayate $5.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
- Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $98
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
- Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
- Private Transfer from Iguazú (IGR) Airport to Puerto Iguazú: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate?
Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.35Cafayate $6.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $211
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $34Cafayate $40
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $275
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $160
- Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $96
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
- City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- Fly Park Iguazú: Extreme Adventure in the Misiones Jungle: $75
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- Foz do Iguaçu: Iguazu Falls Argentina Side Guided Tour: $301
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- From Salta: The Calchaqui Valley Winery Tour in Cafayate: $46
- Hot Air Balloon Experience - Cafayate Salta: $250
- Scenic Horseback Adventure to El Toldito All Levels Welcome: $139
- Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.92Cafayate $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Cafayate
Also in Cafayate, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-day Wine Tour: $100
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Cafayate, we can see that Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Cafayate?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Cafayate, 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.
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.