Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten? 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 Chalten?
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 Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28El Chalten $2.37
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $5.69El Chalten $3.66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77El Chalten $2.66
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:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $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 Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.13El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and El Chalten, we can see that Puerto Madryn is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
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 Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In the summer, Puerto Madryn is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Puerto Madryn in January average around 22°C (71°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and Puerto Madryn during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In April, Puerto Madryn is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in April than El Chalten. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and El Chalten.
Puerto Madryn is much colder than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as El Chalten.
In the spring, Puerto Madryn is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Puerto Madryn in October average around 14°C (58°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in October than El Chalten. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.