Is Valdivia expensive to visit?
In Valdivia, budget travelers spend $36 (CL$35,140) per day on average, mid-range travelers spend $83 (CL$80,321) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $159 (CL$153,484) per day. These costs are calculated from the reported expenses of previous travelers to Valdivia.
Valdivia is a smaller spot that entices a mix of tourists, showcasing various travel styles, financial habits, and budget considerations. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels to high-end luxury properties.
If you're not cautious, Valdivia can become costly, but you can save with strategies like looking for discounts and coupons.
Within South America, Valdivia is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Paracas or Tilcara.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Valdivia Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Valdivia?
The average Valdivia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Valdivia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Valdivia cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
It's important to be realistic about your travel budget when visiting Valdivia. Although some travelers believe they can get by on a shoestring budget, most people aren't comfortable with that type of travel. Consider what you enjoy on vacation and how you've traveled in the past. Do you like staying in resorts, hotels, vacation rentals, or hostels? Are dining out and visiting attractions a priority? Your preferences will affect your overall budget and itinerary.
Who are Budget Travelers?
You might consider yourself a budget traveler, but if you're not ready to give up some comforts, prepare to spend a lot more than the $36 per day that younger budget travelers manage.
Backpackers will usually stick to this shoestring budget by staying in hostel dorms, dining at the cheapest spots such as fast food places, using public transit, and mostly visiting free attractions.
Fortunately, Valdivia has plenty of hostels such as Kapai Hostel. At hostels like these, you can find cheap accommodation in a dorm as well as a social atmosphere, but with very little amenities.
Could You Be an Average Traveler?
If you're a couple or family taking a fun trip, you'll probably prefer a mid-range hotel, enjoy meals at favorite restaurants, and visit the main museums and attractions that require entry fees. A trip to Valdivia wouldn't be complete without visiting its major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks. Most activities have costs involved. Thus, it's realistic to expect your daily budget to be closer to $83 per person, per day.
Want to Experience a Luxurious Trip?
If you're looking for a high-end escape with every amenity and high-quality service, be prepared for daily expenses around $159. Staying in upscale hotels, enjoying meals at award-winning restaurants, indulging in lavish excursions, and utilizing taxis or private drivers in the destination will entail a more premium price tag. Many high-end visitors also prefer unique experiences such as Valdivia Airport Private Transfer - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Valdivia
In Valdivia, the price of hotels can really surprise you. Some are much more expensive, offering higher luxury and amenities. Peak season rates soar, with off-season averages around $87 and peak season rising to an average of $162. Prices typically range from $51 to $259, but hostels remain cheaper, especially in dorms. To save money, book during the low season or take advantage of special promotions and advance deals.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Valdivia for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $80 (CL$76,431). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $40 (CL$38,215) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Valdivia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Valdivia include:
- Hotel Di Torlaschi starting at $92
- Hostal Rio de Luna starting at $74
If you plan your trip outside of and during the low or shoulder season, you'll find better accommodation rates and fewer tourists.
Transportation Budget in Valdivia
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $8.08 (CL$7,714) per person, per day, on local transportation in Valdivia. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Valdivia is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$8.08
CL$7,714
Aerodromo Pichoy is the city's main airport and is located 32 kilometers to the north. Direct flights connect on a daily basis with Santiago via JetSmart, Latam Airlines and Sky Airline. For other destinations, including Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt, you need to fly via Santiago. Shuttle buses travel regularly between the city and airport for around US$10. An alternate way to get here from Santiago is to take a 10-hour bus ride for US$23. If you ride on the overnight service then you can save yourself the cost of one night at a hotel. The buses have reclining seats, toilet facilities and serve drinks, snacks and meals. There's also an overnight service to San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina. Getting here by car is relatively easy as the route follows a section of the Pan-American Highway (Ruta 5) through central Chile. Those with a car can travel the well-maintain roads out of the city to the beach towns of Niebla and Pilolcura plus the Reserva Costera Valdiviana.
A few of the typical transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Valdivia Airport Private Transfer for $50 details
How much does it cost to go to Valdivia? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Valdivia will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Valdivia
Food is a major reason many people explore new destinations, so don't skip the chance to try local delicacies.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Valdivia can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Valdivia is $37 (CL$35,132) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$37
CL$35,132
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Valdivia is around $36 (CL$35132) per person, with previous travelers spending from $16 to $69. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Valdivia are as follows:
- Breakfast: $4 to $11
- Lunch: $5 to $15
- Dinner: $11 to $25
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $5
Restaurants ranging from fine dining options to family-friendly fast food joints abound in the city center and on the Costanera Arturo Prat. The city's riverside setting means that fish dishes dominate the menus. Don't miss the bustling fresh produce market called Feria Fluvial. Market vendors set up stalls every day with fruits and vegetables, meats and copious amounts of fish and seafood to create a sensory overload. Within the market are food stands that serve bowls of ceviche to go at affordable prices. A typical dish of the city is a German-Chilean fusion called crudo. It is raw beef (similar to the French steak tartare) served on bread and topped with lemon juice, onion and a mayonnaise-type dressing. You'll find it on the menu of almost every cafe and restaurant. Wash it all down with a locally-brewed Kunstmann beer or brews from other cervecerias such as Calle-Calle, Cuello Negro and Valtor. Staying on the drinking theme, many places serve chicha, a fermented alcoholic beverage made from maize. The Valdivian version - chicha de manzana - originates in the nearby town of Punucapa and is blended with apples to produce a cider-style drink. It's common to drink chicha during September's Fiestas Patrias festival of Chilean independence.
Many hotels include breakfast in their pricing structure, while some charge additional fees for it. The quality and cost can vary significantly by hotel. Knowing this in advance can help you decide whether to allocate more money. It might be worth paying for the delicious hotel buffet, or you could go to a local bakery or cafe that's less expensive.
Pack a water bottle to save on drinks. It's also a way to help protect the environment.
While planning your tour, it's essential to know which meals are included. You may find yourself paying for some meals, which can add to your travel budget.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Valdivia
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Valdivia typically cost an average of $13 (CL$12,465) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$13
CL$12,465
Start your tour of Valdivia with a leisurely stroll around the picturesque historic center, which spreads back from the southern shores of Calle-Calle River. There's many free sights to see in the area. Plaza de la Republic, overlooked by the modern Catedral de Valdivia, is the main square and a social gathering point for locals. Snap photos of Torreon de los Canelos and Torreon del Barro, two defensive towers that date back to 1600s and 1700s respectively. Iglesia San Francisco de Valdivia is the city's oldest surviving monument and has amazingly resisted three earthquakes since building started in 1586. For something different, the Museo Naval Submarino O'Brien presents the chance to step aboard a military submarine. It's open from Tuesday to Sunday and the admission fee is about US$5. Another place worth checking out is the free Centro Cultural El Austral, set inside an historic house. The lower floor is set up to represent how the house looked in the 19th century and the upper floor has traveling art exhibitions.
Across the river from the city center is Teja Island, where you'll find Parque Prochelle. A walking trail runs along the park's riverfront and then weaves inland to a wetland area called Laguna de Lotos. Glimpse into the multi-ethnic heritage of the Valdivia region at the Museo Historico y Antropologico Mauricio Van de Maele (US$2.50/adults and US$0.50/children). The museum has exhibits from pre-Colombian times and highlights everything from the Mapuche tribespeople to German immigration. Adjacent to here is the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (US$2.50/adults and US$0.50/children). It puts on rotating exhibitions of works by South and Central American artists such as Mario Carreno and Nemesio Antunez.
Partake in a traditional city pastime by going for a relaxed walk along the waterfront promenade Costanera Arturo Prat. Here it's common to see a colony of sea lions basking on the banks and boat jetties. To get an alternative perspective of the city you can take a ferry cruise from the piers. Some tours take in the city sights while others continue on the Valdivia River to the pretty fort town of Corral. Back on the dry land, the Jardin Botanico UACh is another great free activity. Visitors of all ages will have fun walking amid tall trees in an arboretum and spotting collections of brightly colored exotic plants.
Beer enthusiasts should definitely set aside time for a guided tour of the Kunstmann Brewery. There's two tours to choose from and both include samples of beers brewed onsite. The Experiencia Kunstmann (US$17, 50 minutes) retraces the brewery's German history and evolution. The Experiencia Elaboracion (US$25, 90 minutes) follows every step of the brewing process from fermentation to drinking. In September the brewery sponsors the Bierfest (from US$7.50/day), a celebration of beer, food and German culture. This is just one of many annual events in Valdivia. Also in February is La Noche Valdiviana, a free event with riverboat parades, firework displays and street performers. The parades are a particular highlight as you can observe fishing boats and passenger ferries decorated flamboyantly by the owners. If music is your thing then you can attend performances by national and international acts at November's Fluvial music festival. FICValdivia is an international film festival held in October and regarded among the most important of its kind in Latin America.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Valdivia. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Valdivia SUP Cruises for 6 People with Transportation Included for $35 details
- Huilo Huilo Reserve Tour from Valdivia with Lunch for $68 details
- Huilo Huilo Hot Springs Tour from Valdivia with Lunch for $80 details
Valdivia, Chile
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.