Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Cabarete?
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 Cabarete or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete 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: Cabarete or La Fortuna?
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
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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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $179La Fortuna $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $179, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $124. 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 Cabarete and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $73La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $146La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete 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: Cabarete Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $41La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Puerto Plata Airport to Sosua: $13
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua : $30
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Monteverde up to 5 passengers. (One Way): $295
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM San Jose city to Arenal - Fortuna Area. Private: $210
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $210
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $230
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $260
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private Transfer to/from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Area (Arenal Volcano): $250
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $246
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tabacón Arenal: $39
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Cabarete 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 dayCabarete $71La Fortuna $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class: $35
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $45
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican Breakfast & Cooking Experience in La Fortuna: $50
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $52La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $75
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $78
- 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Two-hour adventure on a TUBING along the Yasica River.: $95
- Puerto Plata City Tour with Lunch on the Beach: $95
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $123
- Monkey Enconter & Zip line Adventure: $125
- Super Buggy Tour in Puerto Plata Shore/hotel + Lunch: $169
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano Hike Experience (not guide included): $23
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $260
- Sloth Discovery Tour in La Fortuna Wildlife: $60
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $111
- 3-Hour Arenal Lake Flexi Pass Adventure In Costa Rica: $73
- 6 Course Tropical Rainforest Foodie Adventure: $199
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $91
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (1): Volcano Hike, Waterfall & Lunch: $179
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (3):Hanging Bridges, Waterfall & Lunch: $191
- ARENAL FUSION ADVENTURE (1): Volcano,Waterfall & Hanging Bridges: $238
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and La Fortuna, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete 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 Cabarete Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or La Fortuna?
Cabarete has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete 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.