Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Copan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Copan vs. La Fortuna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Copan 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 Copan 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: Copan or La Fortuna?
Copan
If you are a lover of history, or just really want to tap into your inner Indiana Jones, a trip to Copan, Honduras is right up your alley. Located in western Honduras, the cobblestone lined streets and white adobe buildings topped with red roofs provide the beautiful backdrop to this once powerful city.
Occupied by the Maya for 2,000 years, Copan was the ruling city in the southern Mayan kingdom. Settled nicely in a fertile river valley among rolling hills, this city is absolutely fascinating and the perfect place to explore history.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCopan $90La Fortuna $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Copan is $90, 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 Copan and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCopan $23La Fortuna $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCopan $46La Fortuna $98
Compare Hotels in Copan and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Copan 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Copan $78La Fortuna $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $63
- Arenal lake boat transfer from to Monteverde from La Fortuna: $60
- Arenal or Fortuna transfer to LIR Liberia Airport up to 5 passengers (One way): $344
- Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) -Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $153
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $75
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- La Fortuna - SJO Int'l Airport Private Ground Transfer Out: $208
- La Fortuna Private Transfer to San Jose Airport : $231
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Guapiles: $213
Is it cheaper to fly into Copan or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Copan 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 dayCopan $21La Fortuna $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $35
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $43
- Farm-To-Table Cooking Class : $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- 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.Copan $25La Fortuna $42
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: $18
- Hiking Experience to Volcano Base Arenal Park: $20
- Two Destinations Tour - La Fortuna Top Destinations : $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- Hiking Experience to Volcano Base Arenal Park: $23
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $25
- Sloth Tour: $25
- Arenal Observatory Trails Admission Ticket: $25
- Wildlife day and night tours: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour from La Fortuna: $30
- Lecanto Organic Coffee Tour: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCopan $7.23La Fortuna $11
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:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown La Fortuna: $55
When comparing the travel costs between Copan and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Copan or La Fortuna?
Copan is bigger, and its population is about 2.1 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the population of Copan 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.
Related Articles for Copan
Related Articles for La Fortuna
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.
More City Comparisons
Ocho Rios vs. CopanOcho Rios vs. La Fortuna
Negril vs. Copan
Negril vs. La Fortuna
Montego Bay vs. Copan
Montego Bay vs. La Fortuna
Mandeville vs. Copan
Mandeville vs. La Fortuna
Kingston vs. Copan
Kingston vs. La Fortuna
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) vs. Copan
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) vs. La Fortuna
Havana vs. Copan
Havana vs. La Fortuna
Fort-de-France vs. Copan
Fort-de-France vs. La Fortuna
Nassau vs. Copan
Nassau vs. La Fortuna
Freeport vs. Copan
Freeport vs. La Fortuna
Warwick Parish vs. Copan
Warwick Parish vs. La Fortuna
San Fernando vs. Copan
San Fernando vs. La Fortuna
Port-of-Spain vs. Copan
Port-of-Spain vs. La Fortuna
Saint John's vs. Copan
Saint John's vs. La Fortuna
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.