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

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Huaraz?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz?

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.

Huaraz

Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Huaraz 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $68. 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 Huaraz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $42
    Huaraz $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $84
    Huaraz $44
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Huaraz

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz


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 Huaraz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $3.22
    Huaraz $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $98
  • Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
  • Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
  • Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
  • Private Transfer between Airport and Downtown Iguazu: $39
  • Private Transfer from Iguazú (IGR) Airport to Puerto Iguazú: $45
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
  • Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.35

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Huaraz?

Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $6.59
    Huaraz $33

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

Typical Food Prices in Huaraz

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:


  • Lunch
    $6.47
  • Chips
    $1.62

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $35
    Huaraz $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:

  • Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
  • Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
  • Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
  • From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
  • Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls: $49
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
  • Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
  • Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
  • Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
  • Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz

Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Climbing Gear
    $18

Tours and Activities in Huaraz

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

  • 1Day-Full day Tour in Nevado Mateo Summit Cordillera Blanca: $100
  • 2-Day Hatun Machay Tour: $439
  • 3-Day Tour Laguna Llanganuco, Parón Lagoon, & Trek to Laguna 69: $150
  • 3D2N Parón Lake, Pastoruri Glacier and Lake 69 Trek Adventure: $105
  • 3Days 2Nights Classic Huaraz Tour The Best of the Best Daily Tour: $105
  • 5DTop Tours from Huaraz Chavin-Llanganuco-Paron-Pastoruri: $200
  • Chavín de Huántar Full-Day Cultural Tour from Huaraz: $41
  • Discover Peru's Ancient Civilization at Chavín de Huántar Tour: $25
  • From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi 4D/3N: $197
  • From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz 2D/1N: $92
  • From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
  • From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $8.22
    Huaraz $17


When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Huaraz, we can see that Huaraz 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 Huaraz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Huaraz?

Huaraz has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Huaraz, 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.