A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Antigua Guatemala vs. La Fortuna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Antigua Guatemala or La Fortuna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or La Fortuna, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Antigua Guatemala or La Fortuna?

Antigua Guatemala

Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.

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.

Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Antigua Guatemala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $62, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $100. 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 Antigua Guatemala and La Fortuna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antigua Guatemala $21
    La Fortuna $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antigua Guatemala $42
    La Fortuna $98
Compare Hotels in Antigua Guatemala and La Fortuna

Looking for a hotel in Antigua Guatemala 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.

Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


Hotels in La Fortuna


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: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $12
    La Fortuna $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:

  • Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 11 to 15 passengers: $489
  • Private Transfer From Cahuita To Arenal La Fortuna: $435
  • Private One Way Transfer from Arenal, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio : $350
  • One Way Transfer from La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio/Quepos: $350
  • One-Way Private Transfer: La Fortuna to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $347
  • Arenal or Fortuna transfer to LIR Liberia Airport up to 5 passengers (One way): $344
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 11 to 15 passengers: $341
  • Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Tamarindo: $336
  • Private Ground-Transfer in a 4x4 car From San Jose Airport to La Fortuna : $325
  • Transfer private from Arenal & Fortuna to Jaco Beach: $320
  • Transfer from Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio : $320
  • Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 7 to 10 passengers: $312

Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or La Fortuna?

Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Antigua Guatemala 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
    Antigua Guatemala $14
    La Fortuna $27
Typical Food prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.18
  • Lunch
    $7.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala

For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • From Guatemala City: Guatemala Cooking Class Tour: $100

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.

  • Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $38
  • Farm-To-Table Cooking Class : $45
  • Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
  • Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
  • Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
  • Baldi Hot Springs Day Pass with lunch or dinner included: $57
  • Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $59
  • 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $62
  • Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
  • Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
  • Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $73
  • Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $15
    La Fortuna $42

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $18
  • Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
  • Morning Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Gastronomic and Cultural Half-Day Tour: $50
  • Antigua ATV Coffee tour: $50
  • Antigua ATV cultural adventure: $56
  • Antigua Half-Day Lost Cities of the Almolonga Bike Tour: $59
  • Antigua Sip 'n Cycle Half-Day Bike Ride and Coffee Tour: $59
  • Antigua Full-Day Guided City Tour: $60
  • Antigua Atv sunset tour: $63
  • Antigua Villages Atv Tour: $63
  • Antigua Atv Mountain Adventure: $63

Tours and Activities in La Fortuna

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:

  • Hiking Experience to Volcano Base Arenal Park: $23
  • Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $205
  • 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
  • 12 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls!: $95
  • 2-Hour Chachagua Rainforest - Birdwatching Tour: $45
  • 2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: Hanging Bridges + La Fortuna Waterfall: $164
  • 2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: River Safari Float and La Fortuna Waterfall: $170
  • 2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $145
  • 3-Hour Arenal Lake Flexi Pass Adventure In Costa Rica: $62
  • 3-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall & Volcano Hike: $215
  • 3-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: River Safari Float with La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $186
  • 4 in 1 Rain forest, Sloth sanctuary, Blue river and Volcanoes Private Tour: $325

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antigua Guatemala $11
    La Fortuna $11

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antigua Guatemala and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna than you might in Antigua Guatemala.

Which is Bigger, Antigua Guatemala or La Fortuna?

Antigua Guatemala is bigger, and its population is about 13.1 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the population of Antigua Guatemala vs. 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Antigua Guatemala vs. La Fortuna Travel Comparison

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