A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tena vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tena or Cafayate?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tena and Cafayate 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: Tena or Cafayate?

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Tena?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tena is $61, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $53. 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 Tena and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tena $23
    Cafayate $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tena $46
    Cafayate $68
Compare Hotels in Tena and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Tena or Cafayate? 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 Tena


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tena $16
    Cafayate $5.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $46
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Tena or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Tena 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
    Tena $26
    Cafayate $6.46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tena $14
    Cafayate $40

Tours and Activities in Tena

Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
  • Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
  • Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
  • Medellin Paragliding Tour : $65
  • Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
  • Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
  • Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Private Guided Tour to Hanging Stone Susa Cundinamarca: $55
  • Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

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

  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Day Tour of the Argentina and Brazil Sides: $96
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $127
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tena $10
    Cafayate $19


When comparing the travel costs between Tena and Cafayate, we can see that Tena is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Tena or Cafayate?

Cafayate has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Tena and Cafayate, 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.