Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or Cusco?
Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Situated in the Golfo Dulce, Puerto Jiminez has grown from a logging and gold mining town in the 1960s to become the largest town on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Today, it serves as a main gateway to Corcovado National Park, a last stopping point before visitors enter the park. Puerto Jiminez also has a lively night life, a beach, and easy access to a number of outdoors activities.
Cusco
Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.
Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.
The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.
Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $115Cusco $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is $115, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $51. 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 Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $49Cusco $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $98Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or Cusco? 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 Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
-
Taxi Ride$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $5.40
- Transfers in Cusco: $6.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Private 1-Way Transfer to Velasco Astete Airport: $9.00
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Transfer Hotel to Airport in Cusco | Private Service |: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPuerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $35Cusco $13
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) are as follows:
-
Dinner at Finca Exotica$54
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
-
Sandwich$2.17
-
Mango$0.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $15
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
- Awamaki Cooking Class: $68
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $70
- The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $77
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $119Cusco $29
Tours and Activities in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) are as follows:
- Bio-Luminescence and Sunset Kayak Tour: $62
- Kayak experience on Playa Blanca in Puerto Jiménez: $65
- 4 Hour Private Guided Tour in Osa Jungle : $120
- One Day Tour To Caño Island From Drake Bay: $125
- Day tours Corcovado Total Adventure: $150
- Corcovado day tour- Sirena Station With Lunch- Small Group : $160
- 30-minute Corcovado National Park Tour by Plane: $256
- One Day Tour to Corcovado (La Leona Station) From Puerto Jiménez: $299
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
-
Salsa Class$2.71
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Cusco Walking Tour: A Journey Through Ancient Streets: $5.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- City tours Cusco: $12
- Mirabus City Tour | Panoramic View: $12
- Open Bus Tour of the City’s Wonder’s: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $13
- City Tour in Cusco: $14
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -Cusco $9.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and Cusco, we can see that Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is in Central America and Cusco is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco 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 Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) than you might in Cusco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
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.