A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Temuco vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Temuco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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 Lake Titicaca (Puno). 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

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 Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Temuco?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Temuco is $80, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Temuco and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Temuco $44
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Temuco $88
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Temuco and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Temuco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Temuco


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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 and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Temuco $23
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $207
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
  • Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Temuco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Temuco 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
    Temuco $22
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Temuco $7.85
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29

Tours and Activities in Temuco

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

  • Tour Mapuche Community Araucanía: $582

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
  • 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $65
  • 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
  • 2-Day Tour Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands: $98
  • 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
  • 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
  • 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
  • 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
  • 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
  • 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Temuco $5.13
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Temuco Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Temuco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Temuco has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Temuco and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.