A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta Arenas vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten?

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

Should I visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten? 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: Punta Arenas or El Chalten?

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Punta Arenas?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $62, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $10. 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 Punta Arenas and El Chalten in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta Arenas $31
    El Chalten $4.49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta Arenas $62
    El Chalten $8.98
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and El Chalten

Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or El Chalten? 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 Punta Arenas


Hotels in El Chalten


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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta Arenas $1.76
    El Chalten $2.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas

Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $34
  • Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) - Departure Transfer: $50
  • Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $50
  • Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or El Chalten?

Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Punta Arenas 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
    Punta Arenas $20
    El Chalten $3.72
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    $1.02
  • Dinner
    $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta Arenas $6.29
    El Chalten $2.70

Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.

  • City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $42
  • Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $64
  • Regular city cruise tour: $65
  • Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
  • Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
  • Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $157
  • Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $172
  • Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180

Tours and Activities in El Chalten

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:

  • 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
  • Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
  • Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta Arenas $4.75
    El Chalten $1.24
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    $7.17


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten?

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 Punta Arenas or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Punta Arenas during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Punta Arenas is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Punta Arenas in January average around 11°C (52°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F) 
    El Chalten 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and El Chalten.

In April, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F) 
    El Chalten 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as El Chalten.

The weather in Punta Arenas can be very cold. Punta Arenas is much colder than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 1°C (35°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Punta Arenas usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as El Chalten. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F) 
    El Chalten 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Punta Arenas or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Punta Arenas is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Punta Arenas in October average around 7°C (44°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. Punta Arenas usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Punta Arenas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In October, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F) 
    El Chalten 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas El Chalten
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 11°C (52°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 11°C (52°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Mar 9°C (48°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 21°C (70°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
May 4°C (39°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 19°C (66°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 2°C (35°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 17°C (63°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 1°C (35°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 3°C (37°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 5°C (40°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 7°C (44°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 9°C (48°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 24°C (75°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Dec 11°C (51°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)