A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Temuco vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Temuco or El Chalten?

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 Temuco and El Chalten. 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: Temuco or El Chalten?

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.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Temuco and El Chalten, we can see that Temuco is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.

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

When is the best time to visit Temuco or El Chalten?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Temuco or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Temuco during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Temuco is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Temuco in January average around 17°C (62°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Temuco usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Temuco gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Temuco or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Temuco and El Chalten.

In April, Temuco is generally much colder than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Temuco average around 12°C (53°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Temuco usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Temuco gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Temuco or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Temuco as well as El Chalten.

Temuco is much colder than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Temuco averages around 8°C (46°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Temuco receives a lot of rain in the winter. Temuco usually gets more rain in July than El Chalten. Temuco gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Temuco or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Temuco are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Temuco is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Temuco in October average around 12°C (54°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. Temuco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as El Chalten during spring. Temuco gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In October, Temuco usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Temuco gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Temuco