A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten?

Terre-de-Haut

Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.

Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and El Chalten, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten 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 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 Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten?

El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Terre-de-Haut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten in the Summer?

Both El Chalten and Terre-de-Haut during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Terre-de-Haut is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round.

Terre-de-Haut is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as El Chalten. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Terre-de-Haut is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in January average around 24°C (76°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.

Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year.

In April, Terre-de-Haut is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 26°C (78°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 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. It's quite rainy in Terre-de-Haut. In April, Terre-de-Haut usually receives around the same amount of rain as El Chaltenin October. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 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 Terre-de-Haut