Which place is cheaper, Copacabana 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 Copacabana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Copacabana? 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 Copacabana?
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.
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesCopacabana Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $83Copacabana $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $83, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $54. 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 Copacabana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $55Copacabana $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $110Copacabana $22
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Copacabana
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Copacabana? 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 Copacabana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.46Copacabana $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $215
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $49
- View of the whales: transfer to El Doradillo beach: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Copacabana?
Prices for flights to both Copacabana 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 $10Copacabana $30
Typical Food Prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch$3.60
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Sandwich$1.15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $61Copacabana $19
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $55
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour: $55
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $82
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $90
- Punta Cuevas Bike Tour for Cruise Passengers: $90
- walking tour along beaches and canyons: $90
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
- City Tour, Trekking, Marine Fauna and Argentinean Empanadas: $95
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
- Island of the Sun: and Copacabana Full Day Tour, from La Paz: $40
- From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
- Isla del Sol and Moon Island Day Tour: $115
- Sun and Moon tour: $115
- Copacabana, Sun Island 1 day private tour: $160
- CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $198
- Private Tour Cholets, Andean Architecture of El Alto from La Paz: $278
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $17Copacabana $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
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Wine$2.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Copacabana, we can see that Puerto Madryn is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Madryn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Madryn than you might in Copacabana.
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 Copacabana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Copacabana?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Copacabana. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Copacabana, 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.