Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia? 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.
Valdivia
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
Which city is cheaper, Valdivia 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 Valdivia is $61. 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 Valdivia 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $72 in Valdivia For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
To get around in Valdivia, the average visitor spends $7.24 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.
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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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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valdivia
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Valdivia Airport Private Transfer:
$64
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia?
Prices for flights to both Valdivia 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.
Valdivia food costs typically run travelers around $19 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $18
Valdivia $19
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
-
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
-
Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$69
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Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls:
$85
-
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
-
Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain:
$134
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.
In Valdivia, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
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
-
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 Valdivia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
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City tour in Valdivia & Niebla:
$100
-
Kayak Experience in Valdivia:
$151
-
Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia:
$74
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $7.73 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 Valdivia, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $4.29.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Valdivia, we can see that Valdivia 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 Valdivia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valdivia than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
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