Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales 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 Natales?
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 Natales can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Puerto Natales?
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 Natales
Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesPuerto Natales Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $97Puerto Natales $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $97, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $107. 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 Natales in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $79Puerto Natales $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $158Puerto Natales $78
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Puerto Natales
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Puerto Natales? 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 Natales Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.87Puerto Natales $20
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 Natales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:
- Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422
- Private Transfer Airport x Hotels inside the TORRES DEL PAINE Park: $100
- Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
- Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Puerto Natales?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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 Natales $49
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
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:
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Cake$1.07
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Dinner$18
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Coke$1.07
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $28Puerto Natales $30
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 Natales
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Imperdible Tours Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno: $280
- Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers Boat Tour and traditional lunch.: $240
- Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales: $271
- City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $64
- From Grey Glacier Tour: $251
- From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $110
- Full Day Land of Sheep Experience Tourism: $199
- Full Day Patagonia Tour from Puerto Natales: $95
- Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99
- Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
- Full day Torres del Paine Shared Tour From Puerto Natales only: $199
- Full day Torres del Paine Tour from Puerto Natales: $200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $6.10Puerto Natales $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:
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Alcohol$13
When comparing the travel costs between Tilcara and Puerto Natales, we can see that Puerto Natales 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 Tilcara Expensive? and Is Puerto Natales Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Puerto Natales?
Puerto Natales has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Puerto Natales, 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.