A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rosario Islands vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rosario Islands or San Pedro de Atacama?

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 San Pedro de Atacama can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Rosario Islands or San Pedro de Atacama?

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.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Rosario Islands?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Rosario Islands Prices
    Colombia Prices
    San Pedro de Atacama Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rosario Islands $108
    San Pedro de Atacama $69

The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario Islands is $108, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $69. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rosario Islands $33
    San Pedro de Atacama $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rosario Islands $66
    San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Rosario Islands and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in Rosario Islands or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama


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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rosario Islands $46
    San Pedro de Atacama $9.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer: $224
  • Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail.: $53
  • Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $88
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
  • Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
  • Puritama Hot Springs Experience with Transfer and Entrance: $90
  • Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $45
  • Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario Islands or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $48
    San Pedro de Atacama $25

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.26
  • Lunch
    $10
  • Dinner
    $11
  • Drink
    $0.94
  • Empanada
    $5.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rosario Islands $14
    San Pedro de Atacama $21

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: $50
  • Tour to Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid Plus: $67

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $56

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Shared Moon Valley Tour: $32
  • Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $35
  • Astronomical Guided Tour in San Pedro: $35
  • Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
  • Stargazing Experience: $35
  • Stargazing Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $36
  • Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert: $36
  • Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $37
  • Rainbow Valley Tour + Petroglyphs (Yerbas Buenas): $37
  • Shared Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $38
  • Moon Valley Tour: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rosario Islands $5.98
    San Pedro de Atacama $4.93

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $25


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

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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.