A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cartagena vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cartagena or Cafayate?

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 Cartagena and Cafayate can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cartagena or Cafayate?

Cartagena

The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Cartagena?

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 Cartagena is $55, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $53. 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 Cartagena and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cartagena $27
    Cafayate $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cartagena $54
    Cafayate $68
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Cafayate? 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 Cartagena


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cartagena $7.46
    Cafayate $5.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • Cartagena Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $276
  • Cartagena to Santa Marta Private Transfer Service: $268
  • Private transfer from Cartagena to Santa Marta or viceversa: $250
  • Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG) to Santa Marta Port: $220
  • Private Transfer from Cartagena hotels to Santa Marta Cruise Port: $220
  • Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $211
  • Private Transfer from Cartagena Hotels to Santa Marta Cruise Port: $210
  • Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG) to Santa Marta Port: $210
  • Cartagena to or from Palomino Private Transfer: $198
  • Cartagena Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $197
  • Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $188
  • Cartagena to or from Minca Private Transfer: $178

Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Cartagena 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
    Cartagena $17
    Cafayate $6.46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.

  • Cartagena Fritters Cooking Class – by Lunático Experience: $23
  • Street food tour Cartagena: $40
  • Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
  • Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $44
  • Traditional cooking class in a restaurant in the historic center: $45
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $47
  • Flavors of Colombia: Cooking Class with Chef Andrés: $52
  • Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $52
  • Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
  • Food Tour of the Old City Flavors and Culture: $59
  • Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
  • Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cartagena $21
    Cafayate $40

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cartagena City Tour & Convento de la Popa (AM): $40
  • Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
  • Palmarito Tour with Private Beach, Pools and Full Food: $66
  • Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $43
  • Private city tour: $197
  • Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $170
  • Walking Tour of Cartagena Including a Colombian Cup of Coffee: $160
  • 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
  • 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $30
  • 2-Hour Cartagena Bay Tour: $30
  • 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $65
  • 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $65

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Day Tour of the Argentina and Brazil Sides: $96
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $127
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cartagena $9.17
    Cafayate $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena

Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Open Bar Sunset Cruise with Bar Crawl After Party: $16
  • Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $21
  • Getsemaní Pub Crawl with Shots and Dance Class: $22
  • Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $24
  • Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
  • Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
  • Centro Histórico Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $29
  • Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
  • Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club) : $50
  • Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $60


When comparing the travel costs between Cartagena and Cafayate, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Cafayate?

Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and Cafayate, 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.