Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Cajamarca?
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 Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?
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 Puerto Varas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?
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.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Cajamarca Prices
Peru PricesPuerto Varas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $95Puerto Varas $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $95, 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 Cajamarca and Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCajamarca $26Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $52Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca 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.Cajamarca $18Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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
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Food Meals for one dayCajamarca $52Puerto Varas $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $28Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
- From Porcón Farm and Huambocancha Workshops Tour: $28
- Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
- La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
- Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
- Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
- Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
- Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $45
- From City Tour Cajamarca: $47
- Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scenic Catamaran Tour on Llanquihue lake: $8.50
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $36
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $41
- Sightseeing Tour in Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt: $45
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- Guided Tour to Termas del Sol and Cochamo with Transportation Included: $56
- Shared Full Day Tour to Chiloé Island with Penguins: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $17Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Cajamarca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cajamarca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cajamarca Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Puerto Varas?
Cajamarca has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca 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.