A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salento vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salento or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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

Should I visit Salento or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?

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.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Salento?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $32, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.52. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salento $11
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salento $22
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.44
Compare Hotels in Salento and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Salento or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 Salento


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salento $14
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • Private transfer Bariloche Airpot- Hotels: $13
  • Transfers in Bariloche: $22
  • Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
  • Shared Transfer One Way - Bariloche Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $26
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
  • Cerro Catedral to Bariloche Airport (BRC) - Departure Transfer: $28
  • Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $36
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Hotel Catedral: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 day
    Salento $9.38
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.83

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 San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salento $12
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.10

Tours and Activities in Salento

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:

  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
  • City tour + Nature: $32
  • Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $49
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $63
  • 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: $91
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Guided Hiking Tour: $91
  • Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $96

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $20
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • German Footprint Tour: $29
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
  • Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $60
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salento $11
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.86

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.01


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salento Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salento or San Carlos de Bariloche?

San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Salento and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.