A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cajamarca vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cajamarca or La Paz?

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 Cajamarca and La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cajamarca or La Paz?

Cajamarca

Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.

La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Cajamarca?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $95, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 Cajamarca and La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $26
    La Paz $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $52
    La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or La Paz? 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 Cajamarca


Hotels in La Paz


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: La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cajamarca $18
    La Paz $9.45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

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

  • Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
  • Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
  • Private Transfer from El Alto Airport to La Paz, Bolivia Hotels: $28
  • Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
  • Airport Transfer In_night: $47
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
  • Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz and Cajamarca 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
    Cajamarca $52
    La Paz $29

Typical Food Prices in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Fruit
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

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

  • La Paz : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $28
    La Paz $16

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:

  • Cajamarca : Sulluscocha extreme adventure.: $63
  • Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
  • Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
  • City Tour: $67
  • Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
  • La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
  • Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
  • Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Activities Full-Day Adventure: $65
  • Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
  • Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
  • From City Tour Cajamarca: $47

Tours and Activities in La Paz

For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets: $5.00
  • City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
  • City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
  • La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
  • Walking tour La Paz city: $14
  • El Alto Tour: Andean Spirituality, the Chola, and Cable Car Views: $16
  • Half Day Guided Tour in El Alto City: $19
  • La Paz City Tour Essential: $23
  • Cholet Tour - Andean Architecture and Culture - El Alto: $26
  • La Paz Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
  • La Paz Guided Sightseeing Tour on Bus and Cable Car: $30
  • Smells like La Paz spirit: Walking & artistic city tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $17
    La Paz $11


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

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


Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca and La Paz, 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.