Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Recife or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Puerto Madryn 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: Recife or Puerto Madryn?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Recife Prices
Brazil PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $209Puerto Madryn $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $209, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $61. 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 Recife and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $84Puerto Madryn $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $168Puerto Madryn $82
Compare Hotels in Recife and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Puerto Madryn? 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.13Puerto Madryn $2.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $111
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $42
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $216
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Recife 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 dayRecife $117Puerto Madryn $7.60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Puerto Madryn $45
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Madryn Bike Tours. Punta Loma: sea lions, shipwrecks, and cliffs: $55
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- Shore Tour Punta Loma & city tour cruise passengers Puerto Madryn: $65
- Punta Loma & City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
- Puerto Madryn Punta Loma Shore Tour with Craft Beer Tasting: $70
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Solo Ballenas - Share-Based Whale Watching and Guided Tour: $83
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $90
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Puerto Madryn $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Puerto Madryn?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Puerto Madryn, 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 Recife or Puerto Madryn?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Recife or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
Both Puerto Madryn and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Recife for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Recife is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F).
It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRecife 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Recife or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Madryn and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Recife in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In April, Recife is generally much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Puerto Madryn. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRecife 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Recife or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Puerto Madryn. Most visitors come to Recife for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Recife is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Madryn this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Madryn during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRecife 24°C (76°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Recife or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Puerto Madryn. The spring months attract visitors to Recife because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Recife is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F).
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madryn. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to December in Recife is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRecife 25°C (77°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Recife
| Recife | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.