Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Huaraz?
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 Santa Elena and Huaraz. 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: Santa Elena or Huaraz?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Huaraz $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $50. 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 Santa Elena and Huaraz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Huaraz $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Huaraz $40
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Huaraz
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Huaraz? 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Huaraz $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Huaraz?
Prices for flights to both Huaraz and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24Huaraz $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.97
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Chips$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Huaraz $19
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$17
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-day tour to Parón, Llanganuco and Laguna 69 from Huaraz: $150
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Ancash: Adventure and Climbing to Mountain Alpamayo |6D-5N|: $3,303
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Ancash: Trek and Adventure to Quillcayhuanca |3Days-2Nights|: $410
- From Ancash: Fantastic tour Huaraz/Nevado Pastoruri |4D-3N|: $192
- From Ancash: Huaraz Adventure with meals |3Days-2Nights|: $142
- From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi |4Days-3Nights|: $197
- From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz |2Days-1Night|: $92
- From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with tickets and Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
- From Huaraz | Live an adventure between mountains and lakes: $214
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Huaraz $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Huaraz, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Huaraz 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 Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena than you might in Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Huaraz Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Huaraz?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Santa Elena or Huaraz in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Huaraz. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in July than Huaraz. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Huaraz can get quite cold in the summer. In the summer, Santa Elena is much warmer than Huaraz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Huaraz averages at about 3°C (37°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Huaraz 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Huaraz in the Autumn?
Both Huaraz and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In October, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Huaraz. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Huaraz can be very cold during autumn. In October, Santa Elena is generally much warmer than Huaraz. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Huaraz fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Huaraz 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Huaraz in the Winter?
Both Huaraz and Santa Elena during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz year-round.
Huaraz gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santa Elena usually gets less rain in January than Huaraz. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Santa Elena is much warmer than Huaraz in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Huaraz fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Huaraz 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Huaraz in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Huaraz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Huaraz. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Santa Elena is much warmer than Huaraz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Huaraz averages at about 6°C (43°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Huaraz 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Huaraz and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Huaraz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 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.