Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or La Fortuna?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151La Fortuna €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is €98. 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 Basse-Terre and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90La Fortuna €49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180La Fortuna €98
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00La Fortuna €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- White Water Tubing Tour with Guide and Transfers: $55
- Scenic Transfer to Monteverde via Arenal Lake: $56
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- Arenal lake boat transfer from to Monteverde from La Fortuna: $60
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $63
- Sloth Watching Tour with Transfer and Snacks: $68
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $70
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $90
- One Way Private Transfer - La Fortuna to your Selected Location: $128
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $187
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €46La Fortuna €26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
- Costa Rican Cooking Class+Dinner+Night Frog Tour: $90
- Arenal Volcano Lava Trail and Baldi Hot Springs with Dinner: $149
- Show + Dinner V.i.p ... Folk show ... Latin show.: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47La Fortuna €42
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $213
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Two Destinations Tour - La Fortuna Top Destinations : $20
- Arenal Observatory Trails Admission Ticket: $29
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $30
- arenal fortuna city tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Ticket to Rio Celeste Waterfall & Tenorio Volcano National Park: $32
- Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Admission Ticket: $32
- Arenal 1968 Trail Park Admission Ticket: $35
- Sloth Tour in Arenal Volcano Park & Local Snack: $39
- La Fortuna Eden Chocolate Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13La Fortuna €11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and La Fortuna, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or La Fortuna?
Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre 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.
When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
Both La Fortuna and Basse-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in October than La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Basse-Terre is cooler than La Fortuna in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or La Fortuna in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as La Fortuna. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Basse-Terre is cooler than La Fortuna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.