Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
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!
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Punta Arenas $1.80
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 Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $21Punta Arenas $21
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
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $120
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $125
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San Ignacio: $144
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Deluxe Cave Tubing combo Adventure: $125
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When comparing the travel costs between San Ignacio and Punta Arenas, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Ignacio is in Central America and Punta Arenas is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and San Ignacio during the summer 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 summer, San Ignacio is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Ignacio in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the summer, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenasin January. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.
In October, San Ignacio is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 26°C (80°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Punta Arenas. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. San Ignacio is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.
In the winter, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.
In the spring, San Ignacio is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Ignacio in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin October. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.