A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pedasi vs. El Calafate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pedasi or El Calafate?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pedasi or El Calafate, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Pedasi or El Calafate?

Pedasi

Pedasi is in the Los Santos province of the Pacific West region of Panama. It's on the edge of the Azuero Peninsula and has a population of just over 2000 people. The town is predominantly a fishing village and is set on a beautiful, rocky coastline, making it a dramatic place to visit. The town is small, but you'll find a few restaurants around town that are worth eating at. The area is well known for having some great carnivals and most travelers visit with the plan to enjoy some sport fishing, diving, snorkeling, or surfing. There are also some great national parks and preserves nearby.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Pedasi?

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 Pedasi is $51, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 Pedasi and El Calafate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pedasi $13
    El Calafate $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pedasi $26
    El Calafate $74
Compare Hotels in Pedasi and El Calafate

Looking for a hotel in Pedasi or El Calafate? 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 Pedasi


Hotels in El Calafate


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pedasi $5.43
    El Calafate $4.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $441
  • Private Airport Transfer: $296
  • "Todo Glaciares" Boat Tour + optional transfers from El Calafate : $205
  • Transfer from El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $190
  • Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $149
  • FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
  • Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
  • Transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
  • Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
  • Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
  • Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Pedasi or El Calafate?

Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Pedasi 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
    Pedasi $32
    El Calafate $6.69

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pedasi -
    El Calafate $52

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

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

  • Argentine Cuisine Experience in El Calafate: $130
  • 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
  • Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $140
  • CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,500
  • CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $194
  • Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $210
  • Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $207
  • DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $240
  • Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
  • Discover La Leona Petrified Forest: Guided Hiking Tour: $224
  • EL CALAFATE Native experience lakes and caverns: $214
  • "Perito Moreno Glacier with the Tour - Blue Safari".: $319

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pedasi $2.86
    El Calafate $8.33


When comparing the travel costs between Pedasi and El Calafate, we can see that El Calafate 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. Even though Pedasi is in Central America and El Calafate is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Pedasi or El Calafate?

El Calafate has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Pedasi. When comparing the sizes of Pedasi and El Calafate, 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.