Which place is cheaper, Paracas 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 Paracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Paracas? 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 Paracas?
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.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesParacas Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Paracas $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $86. 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 Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Paracas $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Paracas $48
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Paracas? 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: Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.05Paracas $20
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: $97
- 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: $66
- Iguazu Falls in 2 Days: Argentina & Brazil with Transfers: $99
- Private Transfer between Airport and Downtown Iguazu: $39
- 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
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $215
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $215
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- National Reserve Guided Tour with Transfers: $22
- Candelabro Geoglyph Kayak Tour with hotel transfer: $130
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $24
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas 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 $6.26Paracas $43
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: $39
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.
- Hidden Gems of Pisco: Food Tour & Tuk-Tuk Adventure: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Paracas $27
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
- Iguazu Falls: Complete Argentine Side Experience: $28
- 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
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour: $57
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $59
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 day tour to Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve: $40
- 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
- 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
- ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $35
- Adventure in Ballestas Islands and Quad bike in Paracas: $55
- Adventure in the Paracas National Reserve in private: $30
- All-Inclusive Tour of the Uros Islands + Taquile + Amantaní (2D/1N): $97
- BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
- Ballestas & Paracas Reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $100
- Ballestas & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
- Ballestas Island Boat tour from Paracas: $16
- Ballestas Island Tour Sightseeing Boat: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.81Paracas $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Paracas
Also in Paracas, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tour Ballestas Islands Wine Tasting and Pisco Tubulars Huacachina: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Paracas, we can see that Paracas 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas 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 Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Paracas?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Paracas, 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.