Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
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 Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28Punta Arenas $1.80
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 Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $5.69Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77Punta Arenas $6.44
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:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.13Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Punta Arenas.
Puerto Madryn is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenas. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Puerto Madryn is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto Madryn in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In April, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Punta Arenas. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Puerto Madryn during the winter are popular places to visit.
Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. In July, Puerto Madryn is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 7°C (45°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, Puerto Madryn often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in July than Punta Arenas. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas.
Puerto Madryn is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In October, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Punta Arenas. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.