Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)?
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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and La Fortuna 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: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or La Fortuna?
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Puerto Plata, nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, is a captivating destination known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and vibrant culture. Whether you're arriving via the bustling Amber Cove cruise port or planning an extended stay, Puerto Plata offers a diverse range of experiences for every traveler.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Prices
Dominican Republic PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $244La Fortuna $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $244, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $138. 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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $149La Fortuna $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $298La Fortuna $114
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or La Fortuna? 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: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.52La Fortuna $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Santiago de los Caballeros Airport (STI): $22
- Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Sosua / Cabarete - Arrival Transfer: $29
- Transfer to/from Puerto Plata Airport to/from Surrounding Areas: $30
- Cibao International Airport (STI) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Santiago to Cibao International Airport (STI) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Cabarete or Sosua: $35
- Transfer of Gregorio Luperón International to Puerto Plata: $37
- Private Transfer from or to Puerto Plata Airport: $44
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Santiago Caballeros Airport (STI): $45
- Puerto Plata Airport(POP)to Puerto Plata/Cofresi-Arrival Transfer: $53
- Transfer Private Santiago Airport (STI) to Hotel in the City: $54
- Puerto Plata Express Airport to Hotels Private Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $500
- Private Transfer: San José Airport (SJO) ↔ La Fortuna: $300
- Private VIP Transfer La Fortuna to Tamarindo, Flamingo & Conchal: $299
- Private Transfer to Manuel Antonio & Crocodiles: $295
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $295
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
- From Private Transfer to Tamarindo & Conchal: $279
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $270
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Bijagua: $265
- Private Transfer from Bijagua to Liberia Airport: $265
- Private Transfer from Arenal La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: $255
Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) 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 dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $80La Fortuna $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Traditional cooking lesson with a local family: $37
- Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class: $38
- Traditional cooking class with Tica family: $40
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $45
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Arenal Boat Tour & Pirate Hot Springs Dinner: $69
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $43La Fortuna $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
For Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
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Banana Boat Ride$6.29
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Paragliding$53
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1 Hr Kayak Rental$13
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Water Skiing$19
Tours and Activities in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata).
- Damjagua Waterfalls Tickets: $19
- City Tour puerto Plata jhensy: $30
- Half Day City Tour in Puerto Plata: $35
- puerto plata city tours privado guiado: $40
- Walking tours of Puerto Plata from Taino bay cruise port: $40
- Puerto Plata Fort de San Felipe and Beach City Tour: $40
- Puerto Plata History & Culture Experience: $45
- Damajagua experience: $45
- Half Day City Tour in Puerto Plata: $45
- Best Puerto Plata City Tour with beach: $47
- Shared City Tour in Puerto Plata and Countryside: $48
- Puerto Plata City Tour Amber Cove Taino Bay Hotels: $50
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- 2-in-1 Arenal Coffee and Chocolate Tour: $75
- 3 Hours Rainforest Experience in Arenal: $24
- 5-Day Pura Vida Adventure: Volcano and Jungle in Costa Rica: $1,099
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Adventure: Fly Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $84
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $95
- A day of Arenal Adventure 1968 and Spring: $96
- ARENAL FORTUNA CITY TOUR .: $30
- ATV Tour near Arenal Volcano, Jungle, and River Crossing: $165
- ATV Tour: Adventure tour in La Fortuna: $161
- ATV adventure Tour in La Fortuna: $105
- Adventure Pass: $167
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $14La Fortuna $12
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and La Fortuna, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or La Fortuna?
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and La Fortuna, 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.
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.