Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Salento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Salento
Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalento $33Lake Titicaca (Puno) $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $33, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Salento and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalento $11Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalento $22Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Salento and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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: Salento Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salento $14Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
-
Taxi$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $201
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Salento 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 daySalento $9.56Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.
- Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
-
Tamales$1.49
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salento $12Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Tours and Activities in Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- City tour + Nature: $25
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
- Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $49
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $64
- Private Colombian Coffee Farm Tour with Tastings in Armenia: $78
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso: $84
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Private birding tour for beginners and intermediate: $90
- Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $92
- Pereira: Cocora Valley and Salento Guided Hiking Tour: $92
- Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $98
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
- Sillustani / 4-hour tour from Puno: $25
- Walking City tour Puno: $25
- Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
- Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $26
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Full Day Tour Uros and Taquile (Speed Boat): $40
- Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
- Lake Titicaca Day Tour from Puno: $44
- Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $45
- Uros and Taquile Islands Full Day Tour with lunch: $49
- 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySalento $12Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) than you might in Salento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salento Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salento or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Salento and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.
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.