Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Buzios?
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 Buzios or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Puerto Varas? 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: Buzios or Puerto Varas?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesPuerto Varas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91Puerto Varas $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $127. 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 Buzios and Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Puerto Varas? 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: Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $40Puerto Varas $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $11
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $27
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $46
- Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chiloe Island - Puñihuil Tour: $90
- From Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
- Guided Tour to Termas del Sol and Cochamo with Transportation Included: $56
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $162
- Petrohue Falls and Osorno Volcano Private Full Day Tour: $200
- Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $230
- Premium Full day Tour to Osorno Volcano and Petrohue in Puerto Varas: $240
- Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
- Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Puerto Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in Buzios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Puerto Varas?
Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Puerto Varas, 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.