Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Cartagena?
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 Cartagena or El Chalten?
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 El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Argentina.
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Cartagena Prices
Colombia PricesEl Chalten Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $55El Chalten $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $55, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $65. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27El Chalten $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54El Chalten $100
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or El Chalten? 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.46El Chalten $2.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $9.29
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $9.29
- Transfer airport - old city (walled city /center): $9.53
- Transfers from the Airport to Hotels in Cartagena: $10
- Airport Transfer to Cartagena Hotels: $10
- Transfer from Cartagena hotels to the airport: $10
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $10
- Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG): $11
- Private Transfer to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $11
- Private Airport Transfers in air conditioning buses: $12
- Airport Private Transfer to Hotel in the urban City : $12
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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
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Food Meals for one dayCartagena $17El Chalten $6.48
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $21El Chalten $27
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $10
- Self Guided Audio Tour The Great Battle Fort of San Felipe: $11
- Shared Walking Tour of the Colonial Old Town: $11
- CITY TOUR OVERVIEW of the city Boots castle chiva: $11
- CITYTOUR of Cartagena Monuments, Walls and Castles : $11
- Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena : $12
- Cartagena Sunset Walking Tour: $12
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $100
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $100
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.17El Chalten $5.80
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 El Chalten would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Chalten than you might in Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cartagena Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cartagena or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In July, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 29°C (84°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Cartagena usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin January. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCartagena 29°C (84°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as El Chalten. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cartagena usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as El Chaltenin April. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCartagena 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the winter, Cartagena is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cartagena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.
In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin July. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCartagena 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Cartagena during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Cartagena is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cartagena. In the spring, Cartagena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as El Chaltenin October. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCartagena 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Cartagena
| Cartagena | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.