Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Puerto Madryn?
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 Madryn or Cafayate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Cafayate? 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 Madryn or Cafayate?
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
Cafayate
Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.
Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesCafayate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $76Cafayate $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $76, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $67. 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 Madryn and Cafayate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $51Cafayate $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $102Cafayate $86
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Cafayate
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Cafayate? 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 Madryn Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.17Cafayate $6.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $215
- View of the whales: transfer to El Doradillo beach: $150
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $49
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Cafayate?
Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Puerto Madryn 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 Madryn $9.51Cafayate $8.08
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $56Cafayate $50
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $110
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Lunch Included: $130
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $189
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (penguins): $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - From Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $120
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Dolphin Watching Adventure: $105
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $55
- Exclusive Peninsula Valdes Nature & Wildlife for Cruise Guests: $120
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
- Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $106
- From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
- From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $15Cafayate $24
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Madryn and Cafayate, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Madryn Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Cafayate?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Cafayate, 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.