Which place is cheaper, El Calafate 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 El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Calafate? 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 El Calafate?
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.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $60El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $60, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $40El Calafate $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $80El Calafate $72
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or El Calafate? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $2.51El Calafate $4.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Transfer Trelew Airport Puerto Madryn: $40
- Transfer El Tehuelche Airport Puerto Madryn: $15
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Calafate: Airport Transfer: $12
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $16
- Transfer from your hotel to El Calafate airport: $16
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $16
- One Way Transfer from Airport-Hotel downtown(Calafate) vice versa: $16
- Shared Transfer Airport - Hotel in El Calafate: $18
- Airport Transfer Calafate Regular Bus or Private Car: $20
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $25
- Transfers from the Airport to El Calafate with City Tour: $29
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $32
- Airport Transfer - Downtown: $35
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate 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 $7.55El Calafate $6.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $179
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $44El Calafate $52
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 3 hour 4x4 tour around Puerto Madryn: $100
- All Included Península Valdés Experience Shore Tour: $169
- Bike Tour Whales in Playa Doradillo: $64
- Bike Tour to El Doradillo: Whales from the Coast: $75
- Cruise Passengers: Peninsula Valdés With Ticket Included: $170
- Cruise Passengers: Puerto Madryn City Tour & Punta Loma: $115
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Box Lunch Incl.: $179
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $179
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (Penguins): $115
- Cruise Shore Excursion Puerto Madryn City Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Calafate History Museum Tour: $15
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Yeti Ice Bar: An Icy Adventure in the Heart of El Calafate: $33
- Guided Tour of the National Park + Perito Moreno Glacier + Boat Cruise (optional): $48
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Expedition with optional Cruise: $60
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $60
- Round Trip Ticket-Bus to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $61
- Bus ticket to Puerto Natales, Chile: $62
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with Optional Boat Safari: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $12El Calafate $8.26
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Madryn and El Calafate, 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 El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or El Calafate?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and El Calafate, 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.