Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Puerto Varas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Varas or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Varas and Ponce can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Puerto Varas or Ponce?
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Varas $109Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Varas is $109, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Varas and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Varas $67Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Varas $134Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Puerto Varas and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Varas or Ponce? 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 Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Varas $21Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Varas or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Puerto Varas 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 Varas $25Ponce $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Varas $19Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $62
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Varas $6.51Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Varas and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Varas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Varas is in South America and Ponce 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 Varas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Varas 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Puerto Varas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Varas Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Varas or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Varas and Ponce, 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 Varas or Ponce?
Puerto Varas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Puerto Varas or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Varas and Ponce. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Varas is much colder than Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto Varas averages around 16°C (60°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Puerto Varas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Puerto Varas usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Puerto Varas gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Puerto Varas usually receives around the same amount of rain as Poncein July. Puerto Varas gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPuerto Varas 16°C (60°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Puerto Varas or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Puerto Varas as well as Ponce. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the autumn, Puerto Varas is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto Varas in April average around 11°C (51°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the autumn, Puerto Varas often gets less sunshine than Poncein October. Puerto Varas gets 104 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Puerto Varas usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Poncein October. Puerto Varas gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPuerto Varas 11°C (51°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Puerto Varas or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Puerto Varas are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Puerto Varas is generally much colder than Poncein January. Daily temperatures in Puerto Varas average around 7°C (45°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Puerto Varas usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Puerto Varas gets 67 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. In July, Puerto Varas usually receives more rain than Poncein January. Puerto Varas gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPuerto Varas 7°C (45°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Puerto Varas or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Puerto Varas during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Puerto Varas is much colder than Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto Varas averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Puerto Varas often gets less sunshine than Poncein April. Puerto Varas gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. Puerto Varas usually gets more rain in October than Poncein April. Puerto Varas gets 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPuerto Varas 11°C (51°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Puerto Varas
| Puerto Varas | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.