Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas? 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 Puerto Varas?
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.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Puerto Varas $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $110. 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 Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.17Puerto Varas $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $10Puerto Varas $136
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas? 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 Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.22Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $124
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 $5.59Puerto Varas $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.68Puerto Varas $19
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$0.34
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
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $97
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $62
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.08Puerto Varas $6.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Puerto Varas, 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 Puerto Varas?
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 Puerto Varas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Puerto Varas.
In January, Puerto Madryn is generally a little warmer than Puerto Varas. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 22°C (71°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)Puerto Varas 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Puerto Varas.
Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Puerto Varas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Varas. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas in the Winter?
Both Puerto Varas and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Puerto Madryn is around the same temperature as Puerto Varas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Puerto Madryn in July average around 7°C (45°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 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 Puerto Varas during winter. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)Puerto Varas 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Varas in the Spring?
Both Puerto Varas and Puerto Madryn during the spring are popular places to visit.
In October, Puerto Madryn is generally a little warmer than Puerto Varas. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Varas. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | Puerto Varas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.