Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Tilcara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara?
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.
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $36Tilcara $8.25
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $8.25. 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 Tilcara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.23Tilcara $3.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $16Tilcara $6.50
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Tilcara
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Tilcara? 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: Tilcara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Tilcara $2.19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tilcara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Tilcara?
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $11Tilcara $3.41
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:
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Lemonade$2.06
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Cake$1.29
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Ice cream$0.39
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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
Typical Food Prices in Tilcara
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
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Sandwich$0.01
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Burger$0.01
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Fruit$0.01
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Sandwich$0.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $21Tilcara $1.95
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:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.93
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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 Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $162
- Private Full Day Tour to Salinas de Grandes and Barrancas: $130
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $30
- Serranías del Hornocal + Citytour Humahuaca: $30
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- Half day mountain bike tour with lunch: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.58Tilcara $1.07
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Tilcara, we can see that San Pedro La Laguna is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro La Laguna is in Central America and Tilcara 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 Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Pedro La Laguna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro La Laguna than you might in Tilcara.
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 Tilcara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Tilcara?
San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Tilcara, 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.