A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pereira vs. Cajamarca for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pereira or Cajamarca?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and Cajamarca. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pereira or Cajamarca?

Pereira

Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.

The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.

Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.

Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Pereira?

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 Pereira is $81, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $95. 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 Pereira and Cajamarca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $26
    Cajamarca $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $52
    Cajamarca $52
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Cajamarca

Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Cajamarca? 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 Pereira


Hotels in Cajamarca


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: Pereira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $20
    Cajamarca $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
  • One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
  • PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Cajamarca?

Prices for flights to both Cajamarca and Pereira 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
    Pereira $40
    Cajamarca $52
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:


  • Hamburger
    $1.66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $18
    Cajamarca $28

Tours and Activities in Pereira

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

  • PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
  • Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $84
  • Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
  • Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
  • Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
  • Tour Santa Rosa hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $116
  • Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
  • Tour to San Vicente hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $132
  • Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
  • Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
  • Salento, Cocora and Filandia Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $160

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Cajamarca $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and Cajamarca, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is Pereira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pereira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pereira 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 Cajamarca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cajamarca than you might in Pereira.

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


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Cajamarca?

Pereira has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Cajamarca, 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.