Which place is cheaper, Tilcara 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 Tilcara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Camping Tours in Argentina.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesTilcara Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91Tilcara $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $78. 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 Tilcara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36Tilcara $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72Tilcara $126
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Tilcara
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Tilcara? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18Tilcara $3.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
- Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $182
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Rio de Janeiro Transfer from Buzios to Airport (GIG)(SDU): $73
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Tilcara?
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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 $40Tilcara $7.41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25Tilcara $22
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $120
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $93
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $58
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Tilcara $4.87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Tilcara, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Tilcara?
Buzios has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Tilcara, 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.