Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Flores?
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 Flores 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 Flores 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: Flores or La Fortuna?
Flores
The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.
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 Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Flores Prices
Guatemala PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlores $43La Fortuna $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $43, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $136. 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 Flores and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlores $8.78La Fortuna $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlores $18La Fortuna $112
Compare Hotels in Flores and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Flores 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: Flores Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Flores $8.01La Fortuna $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer : Mayan World Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
- Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
- Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $90
- Same day Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $230
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $200
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $230
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $220
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private Transfer: La Fortuna Costa Rica: $235
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $43
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to SJO Airport San Jose Hotels: $230
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santamaria Airport area: $220
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $249
- Private Transfer from Arenal La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: $255
Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Flores 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 dayFlores $23La Fortuna $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican family: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
- Rainforest Night Walk in La Fortuna with Authentic Dinner: $92
- Fresh From the Farm: Cooking Class at the Volcano: $105
- Rio Celeste & Hot Springs Dinner Experience: $130
- Arenal Volcano Hike plus Baldi Hot Springs and Dinner: $140
- Arenal Hanging Bridges with Hotsprings, Lunch and Dinner: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Flores $20La Fortuna $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Flores
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Tikal Entrance (for 2)$39
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Map of Tikal$3.28
Tours and Activities in Flores
For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
- From Flowers Sunset Tour in Tikal: $25
- Shared Guided Sunset Tour in Yaxhá from Flores: $25
- Shared tour to Tikal from Flores Island: $30
- Tikal Ruins Day Tour from Flores: $31
- Full Day Tikal Sunrise Tour from Flores and Archaeological Tour: $38
- Tikal National Park Full-Day Guided Tour from Flores: $65
- From Flowers Eco Tour to Blue Crater All Inclusive: $70
- All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores or Mayan World Airport: $78
- Tikal Sunset Tour from Flores: $85
- Tour to Tikal (Awesome): $85
- Tikal Sunset Tour from Flores with tickets included: $95
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $115
- 2-in-1 Arenal Coffee and Chocolate Tour: $75
- 3-Hour Arenal Lake Flexi Pass Adventure In Costa Rica: $73
- 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
- ATV Tour near Arenal Volcano, Jungle, and River Crossing: $165
- ATV adventure Tour in La Fortuna: $105
- Adventure Pass: $167
- Arenal 12 Zipline Cables Experience Fly over La Fortuna Waterfall: $107
- Arenal 1968 Trail Park Admission Ticket: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlores $21La Fortuna $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
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Two Margaritas$2.62
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 Flores and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Flores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Flores would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flores 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 Flores.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Flores Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Flores or La Fortuna?
Flores has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Flores 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.