A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro La Laguna vs. Temuco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco?

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

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco?

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

Temuco

Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Temuco or San Pedro La Laguna?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Temuco is $80. 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 La Laguna and Temuco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.23
    Temuco $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
    Temuco $88
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Temuco

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco? 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.

Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in Temuco


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: Temuco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Temuco $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Temuco

Also for Temuco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers from or to Temuco - Araucanía Airport: $35
  • Transfer from Temuco Airport to Pucon: $140
  • Transfer Araucanía Airport - Temuco: $50
  • Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Thermal Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
  • Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco?

Prices for flights to both Temuco and San Pedro La Laguna 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $11
    Temuco $22
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $21
    Temuco $7.85
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Authentic local experience with a community of women.: $68
  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $83
  • Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $152
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51

Tours and Activities in Temuco

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Temuco.

  • Tour Mapuche Community Araucanía: $582

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58
    Temuco $5.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Temuco, we can see that Temuco is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro La Laguna is in Central America and Temuco 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 San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Temuco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Temuco than you might in San Pedro La Laguna.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive? and Is Temuco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Temuco?

Temuco has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Temuco, 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.