A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta del Este vs. Castro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta del Este or Castro?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Castro, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Punta del Este or Castro?

Punta del Este

Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Castro or Punta del Este?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $101, while the average daily cost in Castro is $86. 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 del Este and Castro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta del Este $56
    Castro $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta del Este $112
    Castro $72
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Castro

Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or Castro? 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 del Este


Hotels in Castro


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 del Este Hotel Prices and Castro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta del Este $22
    Castro $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este

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

  • Montevideo Hotels to Carrasco Airport MVD Departure Transfer: $50
  • Montevideo hotels to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) - Departure Transfer: $50
  • Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $86
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo City to Montevideo Cruise Port: $55
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $30
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $73
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $86
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $86
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $73
  • Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
  • Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Castro?

Prices for flights to both Castro and Punta del Este 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 del Este $31
    Castro $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta del Este $11
    Castro $20

Tours and Activities in Punta del Este

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

  • La Vista 360 ticket de admisión: $11
  • Skip the Line: Casapueblo Museum Admission Ticket in Punta del Este: $15
  • Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $18
  • Punta del Este Classic City Tour with Sunset in Casapueblo: $30
  • Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
  • Half-Day City Tour: $47
  • Half Day City Tour in Punta del Este: $47
  • Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $50
  • Punta del Este, City Tour: $50
  • Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
  • City Tour Punta del Este: $95
  • Private - Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $120

Tours and Activities in Castro

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

  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $51
  • Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $110
  • Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $169
  • From Puerto Varas: Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
  • Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route" : $179
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $146
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $140
  • Private Half Day Tour in Patrimonial Castro: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta del Este $7.91
    Castro $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:

  • Wine Tasting: $42
  • Half Day Private Canelones Wine Tour from Montevideo : $160


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

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


Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Castro?

Castro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and Castro, 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.