A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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 San Carlos de Bariloche can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) Prices
    Costa Rica Prices
    San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $140
    San Carlos de Bariloche $86

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is $140, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $49
    San Carlos de Bariloche $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $98
    San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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.

Hotels in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
  • Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
  • Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $39
  • Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer Bariloche Center Cerro Catedral or vice versa: $48
  • Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Moreno: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 day
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $60
    San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11
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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.

  • Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $119
    San Carlos de Bariloche $33

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:

  • Gold Panning Private Adventure in Puerto Jimenez: $35
  • Puerto Jimenez Birdwatching Tour Osa Peninsula Golfo Dulce: $60
  • Kayak experience on Playa Blanca in Puerto Jiménez: $65
  • Bio-Luminescence and Sunset Kayak Tour: $67
  • Corcovado La Leona Day Tour from Puerto Jimenez - All Inclusive: $120
  • Isla del Caño snorkel tour from Drake Bay (Cano island) : $125
  • Sirena Day Tour - Corcovado NP All Inclusive from Puerto Jimenez: $145
  • One Day Tour To Caño Island From Drake Bay: $145
  • Corcovado National Park - Day Tour from Drake Bay: $145
  • 4 Hour Private Guided Tour in Osa Jungle : $163
  • Corcovado National Park - Private Siren Day Tour: $190
  • Scuba Diving Tour at Cano Island (Isla del Caño) from Drake Bay: $195

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $25
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
  • Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
  • Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
  • Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
  • Cerro Lopez Zipline Adventure from Bariloche: $56
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
  • Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -
    San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76

Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
  • Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
  • Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
  • Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is in Central America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.

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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.