Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon? 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 Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28Pucon $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $5.69Pucon $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77Pucon $37
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 Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.13Pucon $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Pucon, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon than you might in Puerto Madryn.
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 Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Pucon?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Pucon, 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.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon?
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 Pucon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Pucon.
In the summer, Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Pucon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Puerto Madryn in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Pucon averages at about 16°C (61°F).
In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Pucon. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Pucon.
In April, Puerto Madryn is generally a little warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Pucon. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in April than Pucon. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Puerto Madryn is around the same temperature as Pucon in the winter. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Madryn. Puerto Madryn usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Pucon. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Pucon in the Spring?
Both Pucon and Puerto Madryn during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Pucon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Puerto Madryn in October average around 14°C (58°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in October than Pucon. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.