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

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Valparaiso?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Valparaiso? 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 Valparaiso?

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.

Valparaiso

Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.

Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.

Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.

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


Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso is $65. 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 Valparaiso in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.33
    Valparaiso $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Valparaiso $70
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Valparaiso

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Valparaiso? 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 Valparaiso


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 Valparaiso Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.33
    Valparaiso $4.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $92
  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $36

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:

  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Port to Santiago Airport (SCL): $66
  • Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $76
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago hotels: $82
  • Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $107
  • Transfers from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to Santiago: $120
  • Private Transfer from San Antonio Port to Valparaiso or Viña del Mar.: $133
  • Small group transfer from Valparaiso/S.Antonio+Tour in Santiago: $140
  • Valparaiso Airport Private Transfer: $156
  • Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
  • Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $239
  • World Biggest Organic Winery Emiliana, Valparaiso & Transfer : $250

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Valparaiso?

Prices for flights to both Valparaiso 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 $5.78
    Valparaiso $22

Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:


  • Empanada
    $1.84

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso

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

  • Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class with Traditional Market Tour: $72
  • Learn to Cook Like a Local: Private Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.86
    Valparaiso $18
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
  • Nautical tour with dolphin search in Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • Private Diving Experience with Sea Lions in Punta Loma: $70
  • Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
  • From City Tour and Punta Loma Tour: $70
  • City Tour and Sea Lions at Punta Loma from Puerto Madryn: $75
  • Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
  • Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
  • Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $87
  • Punta Tombo Full Day Tour, Walking among Penguins - Regular service SIB: $88

Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso

Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Boat Tour
    $4.10

Tours and Activities in Valparaiso

Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Walking Tour Valparaiso: $30
  • Valparaiso Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $32
  • Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $35
  • Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $35
  • 2 Hour Walking Tour in Valparaiso: $35
  • Walking Tour of Valparaiso and the House of Neruda La Sebastiana: $39
  • Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Valparaiso: $50
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour along the Coast of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso: $55
  • Private walking tour in Valparaíso: $55
  • Gastronomic Tour Valparaiso Visit Mani Restorans Ceviche Empanada: $60
  • Valpo in 1 day: Authentic + Famous! Semi-private walking tour & public transport: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.18
    Valparaiso $7.61

Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:


  • Beer
    $0.97

Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:

  • Private Wine Tour in Valparaíso: $166
  • Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $255
  • Isla Negra Museum Tour & CasaBlanca Wine Tour: $289


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


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Valparaiso?

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