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

Should you visit Punta del Este or El Chalten?

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 El Chalten, 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 El Chalten?

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.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Chalten 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 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 del Este and El Chalten in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta del Este $56
    El Chalten $4.49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta del Este $112
    El Chalten $8.98
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and El Chalten

Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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 del Este


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 del Este Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta del Este $22
    El Chalten $2.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este

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

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or El Chalten?

Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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
    El Chalten $3.72

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta del Este $11
    El Chalten $2.70

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 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 del Este $7.91
    El Chalten $1.24

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 El Chalten, we can see that Punta del Este 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 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 El Chalten.

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 El Chalten Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Punta del Este 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 del Este or El Chalten in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Punta del Este is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Punta del Este in January average around 23°C (73°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Punta del Este usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Punta del Este 23°C (73°F) 
    El Chalten 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Punta del Este or El Chalten in the Autumn?

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

In April, Punta del Este is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 17°C (63°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Punta del Este 17°C (63°F) 
    El Chalten 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Punta del Este or El Chalten in the Winter?

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

Punta del Este is much colder than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Punta del Este usually gets more rain in July than El Chalten. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Punta del Este 10°C (50°F) 
    El Chalten 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Punta del Este or El Chalten in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Punta del Este is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Punta del Este in October average around 16°C (61°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Punta del Este. Punta del Este usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Punta del Este gets 248 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 del Este usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Punta del Este 16°C (61°F) 
    El Chalten 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Punta del Este

Punta del Este El Chalten
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 23°C (73°F) 75 mm (3 in) 27°C (81°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 21°C (70°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 19°C (66°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 10°C (50°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 16°C (61°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)