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

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Guayaquil?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil?

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.

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Puerto Iguazu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $8.41, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $3.34
    Guayaquil $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $6.68
    Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Guayaquil

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Guayaquil? 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 Puerto Iguazu


Hotels in Guayaquil


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 Guayaquil Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.58
    Guayaquil $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Transfers IGR (ARG) from IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $90
  • Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $15
  • Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
  • Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $6.85
  • Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $14
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $98
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $14
  • Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $51
  • Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Transfers from Guayaquil Airport to the hotel: $10
  • Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
  • Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
  • Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
  • Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
  • Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil to Cuenca : $104
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $100
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $100
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $90

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Guayaquil?

Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $3.09
    Guayaquil $29

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:

  • El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu: $46
  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $58
  • Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $60
  • Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $69
  • Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $76
  • Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $107
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
  • Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $115
  • The Argentine Experience: wine & dinner experience: $118
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
  • From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $123

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $131
  • Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.75
    Guayaquil $21

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
  • Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $142
  • Argentine Falls Full-Day Guided Tour One of the 7 Wonders of the World: $31
  • Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $200
  • Argentine Gastronomy Experience in Iguazú: $105
  • Argentinean Side Iguassu Falls - Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú Exclusive: $140
  • Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $31
  • Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $120
  • Brazilian Side Falls: Brazilian Falls Tour with Parque Das Aves:: $120
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $78
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $41
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $55

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Navigation through Mangroves forest/ Beach time/ Chocolate experience: $250
  • 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Cocoa Biking Tour: $180
  • Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
  • Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
  • Exclusive private luxury cocoa experience: $187
  • From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour: $255
  • Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $169

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $1.32
    Guayaquil $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:

  • Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $52
  • Taste and discover the factory of a craft brewery: $65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil than you might in Puerto Iguazu.

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 Guayaquil Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Guayaquil?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Guayaquil, 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.