A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Marta vs. Machu Picchu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santa Marta or Machu Picchu?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Santa Marta and Machu Picchu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Santa Marta or Machu Picchu?

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Santa Marta?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $32, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $102. 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 Marta and Machu Picchu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santa Marta $14
    Machu Picchu $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santa Marta $28
    Machu Picchu $84
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and Machu Picchu

Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta or Machu Picchu? 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 Santa Marta


Hotels in Machu Picchu


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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santa Marta $5.17
    Machu Picchu $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:


  • Gas
    $5.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta

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

  • Cartagena / Santa Marta Transfer: $335
  • Barranquilla / Santa Marta Transfer: $241
  • Private transfer between Santa Marta and Barranquilla (or viceversa): $180
  • Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $144
  • Private Transfer Santa Marta to Palomino (or vice versa): $121
  • Private Transfer: From Santa Marta to Tayrona Park (Palomino): $110
  • Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $86
  • Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $77
  • Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $77
  • Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $69
  • Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $69
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to city: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or Machu Picchu?

Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Santa Marta 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
    Santa Marta $9.82
    Machu Picchu $19
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $3.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
  • Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $76

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santa Marta $14
    Machu Picchu $74

Tours and Activities in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day -- Santa Marta: $115
  • "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
  • 1-Hour Pirate Ship Experience from Santa Marta: $28
  • 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $192
  • 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
  • 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $337
  • Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
  • Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
  • Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
  • Ancestral Thought Tour two days and one night: $200

Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu

For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gardens of Mandor
    $2.72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santa Marta $6.58
    Machu Picchu $6.92
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.57
  • Beer
    $2.31


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Santa Marta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.