A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. Arica for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fortaleza or Arica?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and Arica 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: Fortaleza or Arica?

Fortaleza

A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.

Arica

A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Fortaleza?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $83, while the average daily cost in Arica 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 Fortaleza and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $29
    Arica $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $58
    Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Arica? 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 Fortaleza


Hotels in Arica


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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $20
    Arica $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer to Beach Park: $11
  • Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $28
  • Transfer from Fortaleza Airport to Hotels in Orla Marítima: $8.62
  • Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $90
  • Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
  • Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $17
  • Round trip transfer to Jericoacoara: $56
  • Private Transfer from Praia das Fontes to Fortaleza (FOR) Airport : $87
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza Port to Fortaleza Airport (FOR): $79
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza Hotels to Fortaleza Cruise Port: $87
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza Cruise Port to Fortaleza hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza Cruise Port to Fortaleza city: $61

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica

Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arica Airport Private Transfer: $95
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $83
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $83
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $69
  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $69
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Fortaleza 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
    Fortaleza $39
    Arica $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    Arica $20

Tours and Activities in Fortaleza

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

  • Águas Belas Tour: $14
  • 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $12
  • Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $23
  • City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $25
  • Fortaleza Historical & Cultural Discovery Private Tour: $178
  • Fortaleza Panoramic City Tour with visit to Cumbuco Beach: $19
  • Fortaleza Private Walking Tour with a Local: $31
  • Full Day Beach Tour In Cumbuco: $37
  • Full Day Premium Tour in Jericoacoara: $61
  • Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $12
  • Full Day Tour to Cumbuco from Fortaleza: $36

Tours and Activities in Arica

For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $152
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $148
  • City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197
  • Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $285

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.58
    Arica $19


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Arica?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Arica, 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.