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.
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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 Serranía 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.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesHumahuaca Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $60Humahuaca $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $60, 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $40Humahuaca $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $80Humahuaca $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.
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 $2.51Humahuaca $3.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport: $100
- Transfer Trelew Airport Puerto Madryn: $40
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Transfer El Tehuelche Airport Puerto Madryn: $15
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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Madryn $7.55Humahuaca $4.78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $44Humahuaca $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: $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 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 + Hornocal + Quebrada de las Señoritas Tour (Triple Combo): $88
- Sightseeing tour to Hornocal with a view of Purmamarca and a ride on the Humahuaca Solar Train: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $12Humahuaca $5.67
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.
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.