Patagonia is one of the most expensive regions in South America. The remote location and harsh weather conditions are the reasons for the high Patagonia travel cost. It doesn’t mean you can’t travel the region on a tight budget. It’s possible you just have to be flexible and sometimes creative.
If you ask “Is it worth visiting Patagonia?” My answer will be Yes! The region is one of the best places for adventure traveling on the entire continent.
Different areas of Patagonia
Patagonia is a vast region with diverse landscapes and ecosystems. It occupies a large part of Chile and Argentina. Patagonia travel cost varies greatly. The northern part of Patagonia is traditionally cheaper than the southern part. The more south you go the more expensive it gets. Tierra del Fuego the southernmost point of Patagonia is one of the most costly areas.
In this post, I give costs of transportation, accommodation, food, etc. for the most popular areas of Patagonia such as Bariloche, El Chalten, El Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier), and Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and Carretera Austral and Torres del Paine in Chile. Depending on how much time you have you can include all of them or only a few in your Patagonia itinerary.
Patagonia map
Argentinian peso and inflation in 2024
Inflation in Argentina for this year is predicted to be over 120%. Prices change constantly. The peso keeps losing its value compared to the major world currencies.
- October 2023 – 1 USD = 700 ARS
- October 2024 – 1 USD = 970 ARS
The Blue Dollar is an unofficial exchange rate for USD. It’s 30% higher than the official rate. You can exchange USD cash and get ARS 1220 for 1 USD.
If you don’t want to carry a lot of cash use your international VISA card. When paying choose to pay in Argentinian pesos then you get a special exchange rate which is called MEP (Mercado Electrónico de Pagos). MEP is higher than the official exchange rate.
Master Card doesn’t work the same way. They charge you according to the official exchange rate and then reimburse the difference. A lot depends on your bank some people had a good exchange rate when paying by card some say it was almost as low as the official rate.
It works the same way with euros, and some other currencies e.g. pound, Canadian dollar, etc.
If you arrive in Buenos Aires before going to Patagonia it’s better to exchange money there. You can find some recommendations on where and how in this post.
Drawing money at an ATM is the last resort in Argentina. The withdrawal limit is ridiculous (something like US$20 per transaction) and you can almost US$10 commission.
Things change quickly in Argentina. I suggest finding out about the current situation from your hotel/hostel once there.
Factors that influence the cost of traveling
Your travel style
If you camp, make food, hitchhike, and hiking is your main activity, your expenses will be relatively low.
If you stay in hostels, eat out sometimes, and use buses/ferries your spending will be higher.
Staying in hotels and lodges, eating out, renting a car/flying, and doing tours will push your Patagonia budget quite high.
How much time you have
First of all, even if you have as little as 5 days for Patagonia, it’s better to come than not. Even in a few days you can see incredible places and do exciting things.
If you’re a backpacker and have almost unlimited time in Patagonia you can take your time, spend a couple of days in the same place waiting for a ride, visiting off-the-beaten-path places, and camping whenever you can. We did so when visited Patagonia for the first time (we spent there 2 months there) and they turned out to be some of our cheapest months in South America.
Having a week or two to explore the region and see the main highlights will increase your budget dramatically. Limited time means you have to fly, rent a car, or use shuttles. The entrance fees to the main Patagonia National Parks are quite high as well. You might spend just as much money in two weeks as in two months of slow traveling through Patagonia.
How many places you visit
If you want to visit most of the highlights of Patagonia e.g. Bariloche, Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier, and Ushuaia expect to spend a lot (especially if your time is limited) as these places are quite far apart. To quickly get around you’ll have to fly or do tours.
Tours and excursions are pricey throughout the region. Doing many tours will significantly increase your Patagonia travel cost.
The cost of getting to Patagonia
Flying
It’s the fastest and one of the most expensive ways of traveling to Patagonia. Several airports can be found in the region. It’s cheaper to fly within one country than internationally, e.g., from Buenos Aires to a town in Argentinian Patagonia.
Prices of the flights
- Buenos Aires to Bariloche – from US$45 one way (FlyBondi, JetSmart)
- Buenos Aires to El Calafate – from US$45 (JetSmart, FlyBondi, Aerolineas Argentinas)
- Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) – from US$80 (FlyBondi, Aerolineas Argentinas)
- Santiago de Chile to Puerto Natales (Torres del Paine) – from US$60 (Sky Airline, LATAM)
Taking ferries
These are expensive and more like cruise ships than budget ferries. The ferry option is available only in Chilean Patagonia.
Ferry prices
Puerto Montt to Chaiten (Pumalin Park, Carretera Austral) – CLP 35 000/US$38* per person, CLP 165 000/US$190 per car. It leaves on Tue at noon, on Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat at 11 pm. The journey is 9 hours.
Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales – from US$500 per person. It leaves every Friday at 4 pm. The cruise takes 4 days and 3 nights.
Driving
Renting a car might be cheaper than taking long-distance buses if you’re more than 2 people splitting the cost.
Driving is the best way to explore the region. You can get to places that are not accessible by public transport. Driving in Argentinian Patagonia is easier because the road is mostly paved and no ferry crossing is involved. You can comfortably get from Bariloche to El Calafate (1400 km) in 2 days, 18 hours of driving.
Driving on the Carretera Austral in Chile takes more time for two reasons. First, the roads are not all paved. Second, in several places, driving involves ferry crossing. To get from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins (1200 km) you need at least 24 hours of driving at least 3 days to visit places along the route. It might take longer if you don’t make it in time for ferries.
Car rental prices
Rental prices of a 5-seat sedan with unlimited mileage if renting for 3 days. The longer the rental period is the cheaper it gets per day.
- Bariloche – from US$33* per day
- Puerto Montt (the beginning of the Carretera Austral) – from US$28 per day.
- El Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chalten) – from US$66 per day
- Puerto Natales (Torres del Paine) – from US$65 per day
- Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) – from US$58 per day
*The prices are for November 2024. They might change depending on the month (cheaper offseason, more expensive in the peak season).
Taking buses
You can get to Patagonia by bus from both capitals but it’ll take several days and might cost you more than flying.
Bus prices
Patagonia travel cost (different areas)
Bariloche (Argentina) travel cost
Bariloche is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Patagonia.
Transport expenses
- Local buses from Bariloche to the nearby attractions (2-hour ride) are from ARS 6000/US$6 one way.
Park entrance fees
Accommodation
You can find plenty of accommodation options in Bariloche from hostels to luxury spa hotels.
- A dorm bed in a hostel – US$10-15.
- A budget double room in a hotel – from US$25
- A room in a hotel – from US$40
The cost of food
Bariloche is a big town with many supermarkets and shops. Overall prices are comparable to the rest of the country. Doing grocery shopping and making food is the way to go if you want to save money. You spend around US$10 per person per day on shopping.
- Breakfast at a cafe – ARS 4000/US$4 – ARS 6000/US$6
- Lunch at a restaurant – from ARS 9000/US$9
- Dinner at a restaurant – from ARS 15 000/US$15
Prices of tours and activities
The cost of traveling the Carretera Austral (Chile)
The Carretera Austral or the Southern Road is a fantastic area with many outdoor activities. It stretches for 1200 km from Puerto Montt in the north to Villa O’Higgins in the south. The highlights of the Carretera are Pumalin Park, Queulat National Park, Cerro Castillo Circuit, hiking in Futaleufu, and exploring the marble caves of General Carrera Lake. In this part, you can find some of the best hikes in Patagonia.
Transport expenses
The average price of a bus ride on the Carretera Austral is between CLP 10 000/US$11 and CLP 15 000/US$17 depending on the distance. For long-distance buses e.g. from Puerto Montt you pay from CLP 20 000/US$23.
Park entrance fees
If you travel to the Carretera Austral visit some of the parks.
Accommodation
Campsites are everywhere on the Carretera Austral from towns to National Parks. It’s the cheapest accommodation option.
- Camping with your gear costs CLP 10 000/US$11 per tent
- In bigger towns, you can find hostels. Expect to pay around CLP 21 000/US$20 per bed in a dormitory or single room with shared facilities.
- Staying in a hotel/guesthouse will cost you on average between US$50 and US$100 for a double room.
The cost of food
Groceries are more expensive in Patagonia than in other parts of Chile and Argentina. Fresh fruit and vegetables are quite pricey. Canned food, pasta, and rice are some of the best value foods to buy in Patagonia. In towns, you can find freshly baked bread and pies. Expect to spend CLP 10 000/US$11 on groceries per person daily.
Eating out on the Carretera Austral is more expensive. For breakfast/brunch in a cafe, you pay between CLP 5000/US$5 and CLP 10 000/US$11. A lunch in a restaurant costs between CLP 15 000/US$16 and CLP 20 000/US$22 per person. Dinner with wine from CLP 25 000/US$27 per person.
Prices of tours and activities
El Chalten and El Calafate (Argentina) travel cost
The cost of traveling in El Chalten and El Calafate is different.
El Chalten is considered the adventure capital of Argentina. There you can find many amazing hiking trails and great campsites. El Chalten is overall cheaper it’s more of a backpacker destination. If you’re on a budget, spending more time in El Chalten is better.
El Calafate is a gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the highlights of South America. El Calafate is an expensive town with high prices for everything including transport. If you’re after a luxurious holiday El Calafate is a perfect place.
Transport expenses
- Bus El Calafate to El Chalten – ARS 30 000/US$30
- Bus El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier – ARS 43 000/US$43
Park entrance fees
Accommodation
- Camping is the most budget accommodation option. There are many great campsites in El Chalten. For camping with your gear, you pay from ARS 11 000/US$11
- A bed in a hostel – from US$27
- A double room – from US$60
The cost of food
- Grocery shopping is from ARS 10 000/US$10 per person per day.
- Breakfast – from ARS 5000/US$5
- Empanadas (traditional small pies) – ARS 10 000/US$10 for 10 pies
- Dinner at a restaurant – from ARS 25 000/US$25 per person
Prices of tours and activities
The cost of traveling to Torres del Paine (Chile)
The National Park is one of the highlights of Patagonia. The scenery in Torres del Paine is truly spectacular; it’s a fantastic place for hiking.
Transport expenses
- Bus Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – CLP 14 000/US$15, one way.
- Bus Hotel Las Torres – Laguna Amarga – US$6, one way.
- Catamaran Pudeto – Paine Grande – CLP 26 000/US$30, one way.
You can find detailed information on transportation in our post How to get to Torres del Paine?
Torres del Paine entrance fees
- Less than 3 days in the park (day hikes in Torres del Paine) – adults – CLP 31 200/US$33 pp., children (13-17 yo) – CLP 16 000/US$17, children under 12 yo – free.
- More than 3 days in the park (W trek, O circuit) adults – CLP 44 500/US$47 pp., children (12-17 yo) – CLP 44 500/US$47, children under 12 yo – free.
Accommodation
- Camping in Torres del Paine – US$11 (Vertice Patagonia) and US$40 (Las Torres Patagonia)
- Hostels inside the park – between US$40 and US$80 per bed
- Hotels in the park – from US$130 to US$350 for a double room
The cost of food
- The cheapest way is to buy food and Puerto Natales and cook meals using the camping stove. This way you’ll spend US$10-12 per person per day.
- Full-board – CLP 88 000/US$95 (Vertice Patagonia) and US$110 (Las Torres Patagonia) per person daily.
- Breakfast – CLP 27 000/US$29
- Lunch/box lunch – CLP 28 000/US$30
- Dinner – CLP 43 000/US$46
Prices of tours and activities
Ushuaia (Argentina) travel cost
Ushuaia is the ultimate place for adventure lovers in Patagonia especially if you decide to go on a cruise to Antarctica.
Transport expenses
- Shuttle bus Ushuaia to Tierra del Fuego National Park – ARS 12 000/US$12
- Ushuaia to Vale de Lobos – ARS 10 000/US$10
- Ushuaia to Laguna Esmeralda – ARS 10 000/US$10
- Tourist train from Ushuaia to Tierra del Fuego National Park – ARS 50 000/US$50
Park entrance fees
Accommodation
- A dorm bed in a hostel – from US$20
- A budget double room – from US$30
- A standard double room – from US$50
The cost of food
- Buying food in a supermarket and cooking is the cheapest way to eat in Ushuaia. If you buy pasta, chicken, canned food, bread, and basic vegetables and fruit expect to spend US$15 per person per day.
- Breakfast in a cafe – from ARS 5000/US$5
- A burger at a takeaway place – from ARS 7000/US$7
- A medium pizza – from ARS 10 000/US$10
- Dinner at a restaurant – from ARS 20 000/US$20 per person
Prices of tours and activities
Money-saving tips to reduce your Patagonia travel cost
Bring or buy second-hand camping gear. Campsites can be found everywhere in Patagonia including National Parks. It’s by far the cheapest accommodation option. You can rent gear but if you plan to camp a lot it’s cheaper to bring your gear or buy second-hand.
Cooking. Eating out is expensive in Patagonia, especially considering what you get. The food is not bad it’s basic for the price. Stay in places with a kitchen or use a camping stove for making food. Fresh vegetables and fruit are quite expensive too. Canned food, pasta, etc. are reasonably priced.
Hitchhiking. It will work if you are not too limited with time. Many people ask for rides so you might have to wait for a while to be picked up.
Go in the shoulder season when the prices are lower and the weather is good for hiking. The peak touristy months in Patagonia are December, January, and February
The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
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