Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Tilcara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tilcara or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tilcara and Puerto Madryn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Puerto Madryn?
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $97Puerto Madryn $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $97, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $76. 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 Tilcara and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $79Puerto Madryn $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $158Puerto Madryn $102
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Puerto Madryn? 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.
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: Tilcara Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.87Puerto Madryn $3.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara
Also for Tilcara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $215
- View of the whales: transfer to El Doradillo beach: $150
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $49
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Tilcara 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
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Food Meals for one dayTilcara $9.27Puerto Madryn $9.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $28Puerto Madryn $56
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $30
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $228
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $110
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Lunch Included: $130
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $189
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (penguins): $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - From Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $120
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Dolphin Watching Adventure: $105
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $55
- Exclusive Peninsula Valdes Nature & Wildlife for Cruise Guests: $120
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $6.10Puerto Madryn $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Tilcara is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Tilcara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tilcara than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tilcara Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Puerto Madryn, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.