Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 San Fernando and El Chalten in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or El Chalten? 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.
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and San Fernando 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.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and El Chalten, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both El Chalten and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than El Chaltenin January. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.
San Fernando is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as El Chalten. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, San Fernando is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Fernando in January average around 26°C (78°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in January than El Chaltenin July. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both El Chalten and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.
In April, San Fernando is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In April, San Fernando usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
San Fernando | El Chalten | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |