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

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island? 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 Vieques Island?

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.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

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, Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island is $170. 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 Vieques Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
    Vieques Island $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Vieques Island $184
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Vieques Island

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island? 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 Vieques Island


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.28
    Vieques Island $30

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 Vieques Island

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

  • Taxi Transfer From San Juan Airport to El Conquistador Hotel: $115
  • Private Transfer Fajardo or Ceiba to San Juan Airport: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island?

Prices for flights to both Vieques Island 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
    Vieques Island $54

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.77
    Vieques Island $34
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 Vieques Island

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

  • Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $45
  • El Yunque Waterfalls and Waterslide River Tour: $50
  • Overnight Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Vieques Island: $56
  • Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $65
  • Bioluminescent Bay Night Kayaking Tour in Laguna Grande Fajardo: $65
  • Isla de Vieques Beach Sightseeing Day Tour: $70
  • Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $72
  • Private Tour to the East Side of Puerto Rico: $95
  • Snorkeling Tour to Vieques Island: $100
  • Fajardo Afternoon Snorkeling Boat Tour: $110
  • Mosquito Bay Kayak Experience in Vieques: $115
  • Icacos Island All-Inclusive Snorkel and Boat Tour : $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.13
    Vieques Island $30


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


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island?

Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Vieques Island. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and Vieques Island, 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 Vieques Island?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Vieques Island. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vieques Island throughout the year.

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

Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in January than Vieques Islandin July. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island in the Autumn?

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

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vieques Island. In April, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Vieques Islandin October. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island in the Winter?

Both Vieques Island and Puerto Madryn during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vieques Island year-round.

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

In Vieques Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, Puerto Madryn often gets less sunshine than Vieques Islandin January. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 240 hours of full sun.

Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in July than Vieques Islandin January. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Vieques Island in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Vieques Island. Vieques Island attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

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

In October, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Vieques Islandin April. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Vieques Island and Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn Vieques Island
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)