A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rosario Islands vs. Puerto Varas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rosario Islands or Puerto Varas?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Rosario Islands and Puerto Varas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Rosario Islands or Puerto Varas?

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Rosario Islands?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario Islands is $89, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $109. 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 Rosario Islands and Puerto Varas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rosario Islands $34
    Puerto Varas $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rosario Islands $68
    Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Rosario Islands and Puerto Varas

Looking for a hotel in Rosario Islands or Puerto Varas? 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 Rosario Islands


Hotels in Puerto Varas


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: Rosario Islands Hotel Prices and Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rosario Islands $47
    Puerto Varas $21

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario Islands or Puerto Varas?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and Rosario Islands 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
    Rosario Islands $28
    Puerto Varas $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rosario Islands $14
    Puerto Varas $19

Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands

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

  • One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $45

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: $50
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rosario Islands $6.12
    Puerto Varas $6.51


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rosario Islands Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.