Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or San Pedro de Atacama?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro de Atacama or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Pedro de Atacama and Lake Titicaca (Puno). We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Pedro de Atacama or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, 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 Pedro de Atacama $59Lake Titicaca (Puno) $55
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro de Atacama is $59, 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 Pedro de Atacama and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro de Atacama $32Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro de Atacama $64Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro de Atacama 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: San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro de Atacama $9.15Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29
- Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $39
- Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
- Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
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):
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $201
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro de Atacama or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama $14Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
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 Pedro de Atacama $21Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Stargazing Tour with Astronomer in San Pedro de Atacama: $33
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39
- Valle de la Luna: The unmissable tour: $40
- Astronomical Experience with Astrophotography in Atacama: $42
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $42
- Tour to Vallecito and Magic Bus: $42
- Etno-Astronomical Experience: $43
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $44
- Valle de la Luna Guided Tour: $44
- 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44
- Guided Atacama Desert Stargazing Tour: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Experience: $44
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
- 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
- 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 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
- 3-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $226
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Aymara's route 1 day tour in Puno: Inca Uyo, Aramu Muru, Molloco: $90
- Bus Day Tour along the Ruta del Sol from Puno to Cusco: $62
- Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro de Atacama $4.94Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When comparing the travel costs between San Pedro de Atacama and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that San Pedro de Atacama 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro de Atacama or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro de Atacama 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.