Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
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!
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Ignacio and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn? 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $21Puerto Madryn $5.69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Puerto Madryn $5.77
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Puerto Madryn, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio is in Central America and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Puerto Madryn, 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.
When is the best time to visit San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.
In the summer, San Ignacio is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Ignacio in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F)in January.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin January. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Puerto Madryn. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, San Ignacio is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin April. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 26°C (80°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn 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.
San Ignacio is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. San Ignacio usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Madryn during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin July. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn 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 the spring, San Ignacio is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Ignacio in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in October.
San Ignacio usually gets more rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.