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

Should you visit Fortaleza or Puerto Iguazu?

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 Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu?

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.

Puerto Iguazu

Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Iguazu 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 $88, while the average daily cost in Puerto Iguazu is $59. 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 Puerto Iguazu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $30
    Puerto Iguazu $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $60
    Puerto Iguazu $84
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Puerto Iguazu

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Puerto Iguazu? 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 Puerto Iguazu


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 Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $21
    Puerto Iguazu $3.22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • Transfer to Beach Park: $12
  • Transfer from hotels in Orla Marítima to Fortaleza Airport: $18
  • Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $31
  • Transfer from Fortaleza Airport to Hotels in Orla Marítima: $9.06
  • Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $90
  • Transfer 4x4 Fortaleza x Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara x Fortaleza: $211
  • Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $120
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $240
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $117
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $106
  • Round trip transfer to Jericoacoara: $62
  • Private transfer in 4X4 Fortaleza A Jeri or Jeri A Fortaleza: $219

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
  • Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
  • Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
  • Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
  • Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) + Biocenter with Transfers: $113
  • Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $112
  • Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
  • Iguazú Falls Argentine and Brazilian Sides with Airport Transfers: $86
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
  • Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Puerto Iguazu?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Iguazu 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 $42
    Puerto Iguazu $6.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu

For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
  • Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
  • ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
  • Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
  • Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
  • Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
  • Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
  • Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
  • Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    Puerto Iguazu $35

Tours and Activities in Fortaleza

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

  • Águas Belas Tour: $15
  • 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
  • Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
  • Beach of Beautiful Waters + Barra Nova (including Buggy Tour): $52
  • Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $24
  • City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $26
  • City Tour and Praia Futuro Beach: $163
  • City-Tour Private in Fortaleza learn about acity and its history: $89
  • Cumbuco Beach Tour: $11
  • Cumbuco in 1 Day: Unforgettable Tour: $31
  • Exploring Cumbuco: 1-Day Adventure: $31

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
  • 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil: $289
  • Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $275
  • Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
  • Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $96
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
  • Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
  • City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
  • Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
  • Fly Park Iguazú: Extreme Adventure in the Misiones Jungle: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $10
    Puerto Iguazu $8.22


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

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


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Puerto Iguazu?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Puerto Iguazu, 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.