Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Humahuaca?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Humahuaca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Humahuaca
Located in the northwest region of Argentina, Humahuaca is a town nearly 3000m high in elevation, found on the border of the rio Grande. It is the largest settlement with the biggest population along the famous quebrada de Humahuaca gorge, but it has managed to keep its authenticity with its cobblestoned streets, adobe houses, quaint plazas filled with inhabitants of Andean traits and handicraft shops. If you have the chance to visit Humahuaca in February, during the carnival, you will appreciate how traditions are kept alive in this part of Argentina. Humahuaca has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting next to the spectacular Serranía de Hornocal (colored mountains). While most visitors rapidly make their way through Humahuaca before continuing to the other two main Quebrada towns, Pumamarca and Tilcara, some enjoy spending a night or two there. Indeed, the town offers a perfect starting point to visit the region and has a few interesting landmarks not to miss, such as the historic church and Soto Avendano's Independence Monument. If you decide to stay in Humahuaca, remember that nights get chilly and ask the tourist office for any information (in the Cabildo, on the main square, opened Monday to Friday from 7h to 21h and Saturday from 9h to 12h and 13h to 16h and only Sunday mornings).
Which city is cheaper, Humahuaca or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $57, while the average daily cost in Humahuaca is $47. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Puerto Iguazu and Humahuaca in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $46 in Puerto Iguazu For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $34 in Humahuaca For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Puerto Iguazu for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in Humahuaca can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $18 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $21
Humahuaca $18
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:
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El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show:
$27
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Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú:
$30
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Foz do Iguacu: 2-Hour Rafain Churrascaria Show with Dinner:
$55
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Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket:
$59
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Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria:
$63
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Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$69
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Tio Querido Ranch Dinner and Show:
$69
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Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls:
$85
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Creative Cooking Class and Dinner with Wine in Iguazu:
$87
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Tio Querido Dinner and Folk Show in Puerto Iguazú:
$90
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Skip the Line: Dinner Samba Show Ticket in Rafain (brazilian side):
$99
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Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Tango Show (no dinner):
$110
Local Transportation
To get around in Puerto Iguazu, the average visitor spends $18 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Humahuaca's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $14 per person, per day on transportation in Humahuaca.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour:
$245
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Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side:
$110
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Private One-Way Airport Transfer:
$98
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Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side:
$95
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Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers:
$65
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Iguazu Airport Private Transfer:
$63
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Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: Downtown Foz do Iguaçu:
$39
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Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$30
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Iguassu Falls Argentina Airport R/T Transfer to Hotels:
$21
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Humahuaca?
Prices for flights to both Humahuaca 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.
Entertainment
In Puerto Iguazu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Humahuaca can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Night Iguassu Falls Sightseeing Tour:
$150
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2-Night Iguazu Rainforest Experience at Yacutinga Lodge:
$608
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2-day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + City Tour with 3 frontiers landmark:
$115
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Adventure: Brazil and Argentina:
$363
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour:
$172
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Self Guided Exploring Tour:
$213
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3-Day Tour: Exploring Iguazu Falls in Private Service:
$544
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3-Days Iguazu Falls Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Side:
$491
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3-Days Private Experience at Iguazu:
$790
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4-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls by Air from Buenos Aires:
$1,058
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5-Day Adventure Trip in Iguazu:
$538
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6-Day Iguazu Falls & Ibera Marshlands Luxury Tour:
$1,800
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $8.98 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Humahuaca, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $8.10.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Humahuaca, we can see that Puerto Iguazu is more expensive. And not only is Humahuaca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Humahuaca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Humahuaca 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 Puerto Iguazu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Iguazu than you might in Humahuaca.
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