Which place is cheaper, Castro or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Castro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Castro? 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 Castro?
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.
Castro
The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Castro $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Castro is $88. 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 Castro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25Castro $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11Castro $74
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Castro
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Castro? 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 Castro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28Castro $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $197
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
- Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Castro?
Prices for flights to both Castro 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 $5.69Castro $36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77Castro $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Tour in the City of Puerto Madryn and Punta Loma Natural Reserve: $50
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- 3 Hour Snorkeling Experience in a Sunken Ship: $65
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Private Diving Experience with Sea Lions in Punta Loma: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Punta Tombo Full Day Tour, Walking among Penguins - Regular service SIB: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Half Day Tour in Patrimonial Castro: $30
- Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
- From Puerto Varas: Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
- Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
- Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $123
- Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $156
- Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $164
- Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
- Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route" : $179
- Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.13Castro $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Castro, we can see that Castro is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Castro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Castro than you might in Puerto Madryn.
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 Castro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Castro?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Castro, 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.