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

Should you visit Puerto Natales or Copacabana?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Natales and Copacabana can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Puerto Natales or Copacabana?

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

Copacabana

Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Copacabana or Puerto Natales?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Natales is $82, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $42. 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 Natales and Copacabana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Natales $37
    Copacabana $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Natales $74
    Copacabana $22
Compare Hotels in Puerto Natales and Copacabana

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Natales or Copacabana? 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 Natales


Hotels in Copacabana


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 Natales Hotel Prices and Copacabana Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Natales $19
    Copacabana $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $65
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Natales or Copacabana?

Prices for flights to both Copacabana and Puerto Natales 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 Natales $27
    Copacabana $17
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

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


  • Cake
    $1.02
  • Dinner
    $18
  • Coke
    $1.02

Typical Food Prices in Copacabana

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


  • Lunch
    $3.63
  • Sandwich
    $1.16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Natales $28
    Copacabana $19

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

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

  • Bus ticket to El Calafate, Argentina: $44
  • City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $58
  • Puerto Natales Sightseeing Bike Tour: $62
  • Cerro Dorotea 8x8 Tour with Panoramic Views: $70
  • Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full-Day Guided Tour: $75
  • From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $80
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $87
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine + Milodon cave: $88
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $89
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $90
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $93

Tours and Activities in Copacabana

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

  • Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
  • From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
  • Full day tour of Copacabana and Sun Island: $90
  • Full Day Tour of Sun Island in Copacabana from La Paz: $100
  • CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $300

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Natales $17
    Copacabana $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $12

Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $2.91


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Natales and Copacabana, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Puerto Natales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Natales than you might in Copacabana.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Natales Expensive? and Is Copacabana Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Natales or Copacabana?

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