A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tena vs. Huaraz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tena or Huaraz?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tena and Huaraz can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Tena or Huaraz?

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

Huaraz

Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Tena?

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 Tena is $61, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $66. 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 Tena and Huaraz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tena $23
    Huaraz $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tena $46
    Huaraz $42
Compare Hotels in Tena and Huaraz

Looking for a hotel in Tena or Huaraz? 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 Tena


Hotels in Huaraz


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: Huaraz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tena $16
    Huaraz $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $46
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.29

Is it cheaper to fly into Tena or Huaraz?

Prices for flights to both Huaraz and Tena 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
    Tena $26
    Huaraz $32

Typical Food Prices in Huaraz

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


  • Lunch
    $6.31
  • Chips
    $1.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tena $14
    Huaraz $21

Tours and Activities in Tena

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

  • Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
  • 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
  • Private Guided Tour to Hanging Stone Susa Cundinamarca: $55
  • Medellin Paragliding Tour : $65
  • Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
  • Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
  • Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
  • Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz

Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Climbing Gear
    $18

Tours and Activities in Huaraz

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

  • Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
  • Pastoruri Glacier - Day Tour - Ice and Adventure: $28
  • Pastoruri Glacier | Nevado Snowy Full Day Tour: $29
  • Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $30
  • From Tour to the Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi: $32
  • From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $33
  • From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $34
  • Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
  • Paron Lake Full Day Tour: $35
  • From Paron Lake Hiking Tour: $35
  • From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
  • Full day tour to the Parón Lagoon: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tena $10
    Huaraz $16


When comparing the travel costs between Tena and Huaraz, we can see that Huaraz 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 Tena Expensive? and Is Huaraz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tena or Huaraz?

Huaraz has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Tena and Huaraz, 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.