Which city is cheaper, Tilcara or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Puerto Iguazu vs. Tilcara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Tilcara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara?
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.
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $28Tilcara $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $28, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $29. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Puerto Iguazu and Tilcara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $11Tilcara $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $22Tilcara $22
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Tilcara
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Tilcara? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Tilcara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $8.72Tilcara $7.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour: $245
- Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side: $110
- Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side: $95
- Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $63
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $30
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $4.98
Typical Local Transportation prices in Tilcara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Tilcara?
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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 $10Tilcara $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:
- El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú: $30
- Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket: $59
- Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria: $63
- Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $69
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls: $85
- Creative Cooking Class and Dinner with Wine in Iguazu: $87
- Tio Querido Dinner and Folk Show in Puerto Iguazú: $90
- Skip the Line: Dinner Samba Show Ticket in Rafain (brazilian side): $99
- Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Tango Show (no dinner): $110
- Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + Dinner Tango Show: $125
- Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain: $134
Typical Food prices in Tilcara
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
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Sandwich$0.03
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Burger$0.05
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Fruit$0.04
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Sandwich$0.05
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $9.30Tilcara $6.74
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Night Iguassu Falls Sightseeing Tour: $150
- 2-Night Iguazu Rainforest Experience at Yacutinga Lodge: $608
- 2-day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + City Tour with 3 frontiers landmark: $115
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Adventure: Brazil and Argentina: $363
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour: $172
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Self Guided Exploring Tour: $213
- 3-Day Tour: Exploring Iguazu Falls in Private Service: $544
- 3-Days Iguazu Falls Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Side: $491
- 3-Days Private Experience at Iguazu: $790
- 4-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls by Air from Buenos Aires: $1,058
- 5-Day Adventure Trip in Iguazu: $538
- 6-Day Iguazu Falls & Ibera Marshlands Luxury Tour: $1,800
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $135
- Half-Day Mountain Bike Tour to Juella from Tilcara: $58
- Salinas Granes, Purmamarca & Humahuaca Tour from Salta: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $4.47Tilcara $3.70
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Tilcara, we can see that Tilcara 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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