A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Ignacio or El Chalten?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio 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.

Where Should I go: San Ignacio or El Chalten?

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

El Chalten

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 Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and El Chalten, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio is in Central America 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 Ignacio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Ignacio 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 Ignacio Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit San Ignacio or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Ignacio experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Ignacio or El Chalten in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.

In July, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit San Ignacio or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as El Chalten. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Ignacio is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Ignacio or El Chalten in the Winter?

Both El Chalten and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.

In the winter, San Ignacio is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Ignacio in January average around 24°C (74°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit San Ignacio or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, San Ignacio is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 27°C (80°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Ignacio usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and San Ignacio