A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Puerto Madryn vs. Humahuaca for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Humahuaca?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Humahuaca? 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 Humahuaca?

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.

Humahuaca

Located in the northwest region of Argentina, Humahuaca is a town nearly 3000m high in elevation, found on the border of the rio Grande. It is the largest settlement with the biggest population along the famous quebrada de Humahuaca gorge, but it has managed to keep its authenticity with its cobblestoned streets, adobe houses, quaint plazas filled with inhabitants of Andean traits and handicraft shops. If you have the chance to visit Humahuaca in February, during the carnival, you will appreciate how traditions are kept alive in this part of Argentina. Humahuaca has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting next to the spectacular SerranĂ­a de Hornocal (colored mountains). While most visitors rapidly make their way through Humahuaca before continuing to the other two main Quebrada towns, Pumamarca and Tilcara, some enjoy spending a night or two there. Indeed, the town offers a perfect starting point to visit the region and has a few interesting landmarks not to miss, such as the historic church and Soto Avendano's Independence Monument. If you decide to stay in Humahuaca, remember that nights get chilly and ask the tourist office for any information (in the Cabildo, on the main square, opened Monday to Friday from 7h to 21h and Saturday from 9h to 12h and 13h to 16h and only Sunday mornings).

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.


Which place is cheaper, Humahuaca 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $61, while the average daily cost in Humahuaca is $56. 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 Humahuaca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $41
    Humahuaca $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $82
    Humahuaca $86
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Humahuaca

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Humahuaca? 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 Humahuaca


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $2.53
    Humahuaca $3.51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $216
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Humahuaca

Also for Humahuaca, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • From Salta: 2-Day Cachi and Humahuaca Tour with Transfer: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Humahuaca?

Prices for flights to both Humahuaca 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 $7.60
    Humahuaca $4.82

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $45
    Humahuaca $24

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: $110
  • Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Lunch Included: $159
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $159
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (penguins): $105
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - From Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $120
  • Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
  • Day trip in an all-terrain vehicle: 4x4 adventure + lunch at a Patagonian ranch: $160
  • Dolphin Watching Adventure: $105
  • El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Exclusive Full Day Tour Penguin Colony in Punta Tombo from Madryn: $200

Tours and Activities in Humahuaca

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Humahuaca.

  • Hornocal: Full-Day Tour to the Hill of Seven Colors: $65
  • Tilcara: Humahuaca Tour + Hornocal + Quebrada de las Señoritas (Triple Combo): $95

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $12
    Humahuaca $5.71


When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Madryn and Humahuaca, 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 Humahuaca Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Humahuaca?

Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Humahuaca. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Humahuaca, 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.