A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Madryn vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Cochabamba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Cochabamba? 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 Cochabamba?

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.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Puerto Madryn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $63. 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 Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Cochabamba? 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 Madryn


Hotels in Cochabamba


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 Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.28
    Cochabamba $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28
  • Airport - Hotels transfer Service 24/7: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Madryn $5.69
    Cochabamba $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.77
    Cochabamba $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:


  • 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:

  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
  • From City and Punta Loma Tour: $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
  • Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $87
  • Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
  • Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
  • Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $72
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.13
    Cochabamba $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Cochabamba, 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.