Which place is cheaper, Paracas or El Calafate?
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 El Calafate or Paracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Calafate or Paracas? 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: El Calafate or Paracas?
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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El Calafate Prices
Argentina PricesParacas Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Calafate $58Paracas $84
The average daily cost (per person) in El Calafate is $58, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $84. 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 El Calafate and Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Calafate $37Paracas $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Calafate $74Paracas $48
Compare Hotels in El Calafate and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in El Calafate or Paracas? 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: El Calafate Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Calafate $4.20Paracas $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "Todo Glaciares" Boat Tour + optional transfers from El Calafate : $205
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $441
- Private Airport Transfer: $296
- Punta Walichu Reserve W Lunch & Transfer: $18
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $220
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $220
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into El Calafate or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas and El Calafate 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 dayEl Calafate $6.69Paracas $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $115
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Calafate $52Paracas $26
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Guided Tour National Park+Perito Moreno Glacier+Sailing (optional): $47
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $67
- From Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional): $70
- Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $71
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $79
- Tour to Walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier: $83
- Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
- From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $89
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $90
- Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour: $92
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with optional Navigation : $96
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Ballestas Islands Tour by modern boat: $20
- 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
- 3-Day Classic Paracas Tour Package: $245
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
- ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $35
- Adventure in the Paracas National Reserve in private: $30
- BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
- Ballestas & Paracas Reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $100
- Ballestas & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
- Ballestas Islands & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
- Ballestas Islands Boat Tour for Pisco Cruise Travelers: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Calafate $8.33Paracas $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Calafate and Paracas, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Calafate Expensive? and Is Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Calafate or Paracas?
El Calafate has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of El Calafate and Paracas, 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.