Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza or La Fortuna?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, 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 dayFortaleza $69La Fortuna $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $104. 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 La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.97
- Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.58
- Transfer to Beach Park: $12
- Beach Park Round-Trip Transfer: $13
- Fortaleza to Pinto Martins Airport (FOR) - Departure Transfer: $16
- Pinto Martins Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza-Arrival Private Transfer: $16
- Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $16
- Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $18
- Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Fortaleza City: $25
- Private transfer: Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza: $26
- Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
- Private One-Way Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $310
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Tamarindo: $307
- Private Transfer from la Fortuna to Puerto Viejo & Cahuita Limon: $299
- VIP Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo Beach: $299
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers: $297
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Monteverde up to 5 passengers. (One Way): $295
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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
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Food Meals for one dayFortaleza $24La 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.
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $38
- 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
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- 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
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fortaleza $15La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $11
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Lagoinha Beach Tour: $14
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Lagoinha Beach Tour: $17
- Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $18
- One Day Bus Tour of Fortaleza and Cumbuco Beach: $18
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- The colorful sands of Morro Branco beach - Full Day Tour: $22
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
- Rio Celeste Tubing Experience: $54
- Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $260
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- 12 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls!: $101
- 2-Hour Chachagua Rainforest - Birdwatching Tour: $60
- 2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: River Safari Float and La Fortuna Waterfall: $170
- 2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $170
- 6 Course Tropical Rainforest Foodie Adventure: $199
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $2,000
- 7 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall!: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fortaleza is in South America 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 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 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 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 La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or La Fortuna?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 800 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza or La Fortuna?
Fortaleza has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but La Fortuna experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Fortaleza or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Fortaleza during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
Fortaleza is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the summer. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the summer, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than La Fortunain July. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually gets less rain in January than La Fortunain July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFortaleza 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and La Fortuna. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Fortaleza in April average around 27°C (80°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during autumn. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than La Fortunain October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFortaleza 27°C (80°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as La Fortuna. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
In July, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as La Fortunain January. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 26°C (79°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fortaleza this time of the year. In the winter, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortunain January. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
Fortaleza usually gets more rain in July than La Fortunain January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFortaleza 26°C (79°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Fortaleza is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the spring. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during spring. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than La Fortunain April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFortaleza 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Fortaleza
| Fortaleza | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.