A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rosario Islands vs. Puerto Natales for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rosario Islands or Puerto Natales?

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 Rosario Islands and Puerto Natales can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Rosario Islands or Puerto Natales?

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales or Rosario Islands?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Rosario Islands Prices
    Colombia Prices
    Puerto Natales Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rosario Islands $108
    Puerto Natales $105

The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario Islands is $108, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $105. 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 Rosario Islands and Puerto Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rosario Islands $33
    Puerto Natales $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rosario Islands $66
    Puerto Natales $76
Compare Hotels in Rosario Islands and Puerto Natales

Looking for a hotel in Rosario Islands or Puerto Natales? 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 Rosario Islands


Hotels in Puerto Natales


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: Rosario Islands Hotel Prices and Puerto Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rosario Islands $46
    Puerto Natales $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • Private Transfer Airport x Hotels inside the TORRES DEL PAINE Park: $100
  • Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422
  • Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario Islands or Puerto Natales?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales and Rosario Islands 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
    Rosario Islands $48
    Puerto Natales $48

Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

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


  • Cake
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $18
  • Coke
    $1.05

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rosario Islands $14
    Puerto Natales $29

Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands

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

  • One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $50
  • Tour to Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid Plus: $67

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

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

  • City Bike Tour through Puerto Natales: $65
  • Historical Tour: $65
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $77
  • Full Day Guided Tour in Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave: $80
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $80
  • Cerro Dorotea 8x8 Tour with Panoramic Views: $80
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $83
  • Torres del Paine : Full day Panoramic Tour: $83
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $85
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $86
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Torres del Paine & Milodon cave day tour from Puerto Natales : $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rosario Islands $5.98
    Puerto Natales $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $13


When comparing the travel costs between Rosario Islands and Puerto Natales, we can see that Rosario Islands 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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