A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ushuaia vs. Paracas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ushuaia or Paracas?

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

Should I visit Ushuaia or Paracas? 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: Ushuaia or Paracas?

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.

Paracas

Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Ushuaia?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. 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 Ushuaia and Paracas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ushuaia $5.64
    Paracas $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ushuaia $11
    Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Paracas

Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or Paracas? 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 Ushuaia


Hotels in Paracas


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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ushuaia -
    Paracas $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia

Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
  • Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
  • Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
  • Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
  • Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
  • Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
  • Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:

  • Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
  • Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163
  • Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
  • Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
  • Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
  • Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
  • Bus Station Private Transfer: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Paracas?

Prices for flights to both Paracas and Ushuaia 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
    Ushuaia $2.18
    Paracas $23
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:


  • Lunch for Two
    $0.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia

For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.

  • From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ushuaia $13
    Paracas $25

Tours and Activities in Ushuaia

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

  • Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
  • Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
  • Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
  • Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
  • Ushuaia City Tour: $26
  • Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
  • An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
  • City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
  • Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
  • End of the World Train Ticket: $45
  • Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
  • Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60

Tours and Activities in Paracas

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

  • 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
  • 2D: Tour Ica, Huacachina, Sandboarding, Ballestas Islands: $215
  • 3-Day Paracas Tour Package: $235
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
  • 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
  • ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $45
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
  • Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
  • Ballestas Islands Tour Boat with roof: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ushuaia -
    Paracas $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Wine
    $0.05
  • Beer
    $0.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Paracas, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas than you might in Ushuaia.

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


Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Paracas?

Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and Paracas, 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.