A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Madryn vs. Saint Croix for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix?

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.

Saint Croix

Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.

This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Puerto Madryn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $236. 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 Saint Croix in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
    Saint Croix $149
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Saint Croix

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix


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 Saint Croix Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.28
    Saint Croix $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:

  • Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
  • St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
  • Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
  • Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
  • Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $217
  • St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $217

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix?

Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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 $5.69
    Saint Croix $56

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.

  • A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
  • Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129
  • C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.77
    Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:


  • 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
  • Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
  • Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
  • Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
  • Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100

Tours and Activities in Saint Croix

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:

  • Grange Estate History and Heritage Private Tour and Luncheon : $60
  • Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
  • St Croix Island Tour: $100
  • Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
  • 30 Minute Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands: $150
  • Horseback Riding Experience: $160
  • 1 Hour Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands : $250

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.13
    Saint Croix $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Madryn is in South America and Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix?

Puerto Madryn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix in the Summer?

Both Saint Croix and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Puerto Madryn is generally cooler than Saint Croixin July. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 22°C (71°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Saint Croixin July. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F) 
    Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix in the Autumn?

Both Saint Croix and Puerto Madryn during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.

Puerto Madryn is much colder than Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.

Saint Croix gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in April than Saint Croixin October. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Saint Croix. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Puerto Madryn is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Puerto Madryn in July average around 7°C (45°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.

In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Saint Croixin January. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F) 
    Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint Croix in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Saint Croix. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.

In October, Puerto Madryn is generally much colder than Saint Croixin April. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in October than Saint Croixin April. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn Saint Croix
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 22°C (71°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 21°C (69°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 14°C (58°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 10°C (51°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 7°C (45°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 7°C (45°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 11°C (53°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 14°C (58°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 18°C (64°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 20°C (68°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)