Which place is cheaper, Valdivia or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Valdivia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Valdivia? 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 Valdivia?
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.
Valdivia
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Valdivia $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Valdivia is $69. 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 Valdivia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25Valdivia $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11Valdivia $80
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Valdivia
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Valdivia? 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 Valdivia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28Valdivia $8.08
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 Valdivia
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Valdivia Airport Private Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Valdivia?
Prices for flights to both Valdivia 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 $5.69Valdivia $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77Valdivia $13
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 Valdivia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
- Valdivia SUP Cruises for 6 People with Transportation Included: $35
- Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia : $76
- Private City Tour: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $3.13Valdivia $4.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Valdivia, we can see that Valdivia 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 Valdivia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valdivia 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 Valdivia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Valdivia?
Valdivia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Valdivia, 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 Valdivia?
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 Valdivia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Valdivia.
In the summer, Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Puerto Madryn in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Valdivia averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in January than Valdivia. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)Valdivia 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Valdivia in the Autumn?
Both Valdivia and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Puerto Madryn is generally a little warmer than Valdivia. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. In April, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Valdivia. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Valdivia 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Valdivia in the Winter?
Both Valdivia and Puerto Madryn during the winter are popular places to visit.
Puerto Madryn is around the same temperature as Valdivia in the winter. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and Valdivia fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, Puerto Madryn often gets more sunshine than Valdivia. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun.
Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in July than Valdivia. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)Valdivia 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Valdivia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Valdivia.
In the spring, Puerto Madryn is a little warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Puerto Madryn in October average around 14°C (58°F), and Valdivia averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Valdivia. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Valdivia 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Valdivia and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | Valdivia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.