Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
San Fernando
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.
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 The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $153Lake Titicaca (Puno) $55
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, 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 San Fernando and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $296
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $285
- Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $249
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $209
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $205
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $202
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $193
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Fernando $48Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
- 2-Day Tour Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands: $98
- 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
- 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
- 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
- 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
- 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Bus Day Tour along the Ruta del Sol from Puno to Cusco: $62
- Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
- Chucuito Bike Tour: $194
- Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno).
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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.