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

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Temuco?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Temuco? 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 Temuco?

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.

Temuco

Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Temuco 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 Temuco is $80. 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 Temuco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
    Temuco $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Temuco $88
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Temuco

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Temuco? 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 Temuco


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 Temuco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.28
    Temuco $23

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 Temuco

Also for Temuco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers from or to Temuco - Araucanía Airport: $35
  • Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
  • Transfer Araucanía Airport - Temuco: $50
  • Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Thermal Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
  • Transfer from Temuco Airport to Pucon: $140

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Temuco?

Prices for flights to both Temuco 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
    Temuco $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.77
    Temuco $7.85
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:

  • 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 Temuco

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Temuco.

  • Tour Mapuche Community Araucanía: $582

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.13
    Temuco $5.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Temuco, we can see that Temuco 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 Temuco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Temuco 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 Temuco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Temuco?

Temuco has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Temuco, 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 Temuco?

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 Temuco in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Temuco.

Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Temuco in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and Temuco fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in January than Temuco. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F) 
    Temuco 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Temuco in the Autumn?

Both Temuco and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Temuco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto Madryn in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Temuco averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In April, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Temuco. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Temuco 12°C (53°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Temuco in the Winter?

Both Temuco and Puerto Madryn during the winter are popular places to visit.

In July, Puerto Madryn is generally cooler than Temuco. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 7°C (45°F), and Temuco fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, Puerto Madryn often gets more sunshine than Temuco. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Temuco receives 78 hours of full sun.

Temuco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in July than Temuco. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F) 
    Temuco 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Temuco in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Temuco.

Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Temuco in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Temuco fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In October, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Temuco. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Temuco 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Temuco and Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn Temuco
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 22°C (71°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 17°C (62°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 21°C (69°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 15°C (59°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 14°C (58°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
May 10°C (51°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 176 mm (6.9 in)
Jun 7°C (45°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 9°C (47°F) 177 mm (7 in)
Jul 7°C (45°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 8°C (46°F) 169 mm (6.7 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Sep 11°C (53°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Oct 14°C (58°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 18°C (64°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 14°C (57°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Dec 20°C (68°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 16°C (61°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)