Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Puerto Viejo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Puerto Viejo? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Puerto Viejo?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesPuerto Viejo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $57Puerto Viejo $169
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $57, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $169. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $41Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $82Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Puerto Viejo? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.07Puerto Viejo $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers IGR from the (ARG) to IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $80
- Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Iguazu Airport (IGR) Private Transfer to Puerto Iguazu: $27
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $100
- Private Transfers Full Day Iguazú Falls: $130
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $78
- Iguazu Falls 2-Day Tour with Airport Transfer: $348
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In Transfer: $79
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport to Puerto Viejo Limon: $320
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.30Puerto Viejo $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Madero Tango Iguazú - Premium Dinner (Foz do Iguaçu/Puerto Iguazú): $30
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
- El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu: $44
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $65
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $65
- Iguazu: The Argentine Experience Dinner with Wine Pairing: $69
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $98
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $117
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Puerto Viejo $78
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 day- Tour on both sides of the waterfalls: $111
- 1-Day Private Tour In the Iguacu Falls of Brazil and Argentina : $106
- 2-Day Private Tour Both Waterfalls ARG/BRA: $182
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $590
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil: $299
- Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $142
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $250
- Argentine Side Iguassu Falls Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú: $140
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $238
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $32
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $135
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $130
Tours and Activities in Puerto Viejo
For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kayaking Tour in Gandoca Lagoon throug mangrove forest: $58
- Dolphin Watching & Netflix Featured Organic Jungle Farm Tour: $88
- Epic Manzanillo Combo Tour: Snorkel, Dolphins & Farm Tour: $119
- Night Adventure in the Wild Talamanca: $85
- Puerto Viejo Limón: Best Canopy Tour / Ziplines: $83
- Puerto Viejo Limón: Birdwatching Tour at Nativo Park: $50
- Puerto Viejo Talamanca: Quad Tour with 2 Waterfalls: $310
- Puerto Viejo&Cahuita: Tour of 3 Waterfalls, Talamanca, Limón: $149
- Canoe Adventure & Caribbean Family Experience: $47
- Indigenous Experience & Chocolate Tour: $74
- Wildlife Night Tour in the Jungle: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.86Puerto Viejo $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu is in South America and Puerto Viejo is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
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.