Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
Which city is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $49, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $42. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $40 in Puerto Iguazu For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $40 for a double occupancy room in Lake Titicaca (Puno).
Local Transportation
To get around in Puerto Iguazu, the average visitor spends $15 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.
The average price of local transportation around Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $8.09 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Puerto Iguazu $15
Lake Titicaca (Puno) $8.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$4.98
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Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$30
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Iguazu Airport Private Transfer:
$63
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Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side:
$95
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Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side:
$110
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Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour:
$245
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
The average traveler spends about $18 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.
On average, meal and food prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno) cost around $12 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.80.
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Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $18
Lake Titicaca (Puno) $12
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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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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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
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Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + Dinner Tango Show:
$125
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Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain:
$134
Typical Food prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
Entertainment
In Puerto Iguazu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)'s costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $23 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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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Iguazú Biocenter Tour:
$10
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Guira Oga Wild Animals Shelter Admission Ticket:
$10
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Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour:
$17
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Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú:
$20
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From Foz do Iguaçu: Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour:
$20
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Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour:
$21
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Sightseeing Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Sides of Iguassu Falls:
$23
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Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full Day Tour with optional Boat Ride:
$24
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Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side Half Day Trip with Itaipu Dam Tour Option:
$24
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Parque Das Aves from Puerto Iguazu with optional Iguazú Falls Tour:
$26
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Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú:
$29
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Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Argentine Side:
$32
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $7.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $9.87 on alcoholic beverages in Lake Titicaca (Puno) per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.
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