A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fortaleza or San Pedro de Atacama?

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 San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama?

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.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

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


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Fortaleza?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $30
    San Pedro de Atacama $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $60
    San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama


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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $21
    San Pedro de Atacama $9.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • Transfer to Beach Park: $12
  • Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $9.03
  • Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
  • Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
  • Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $155
  • Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $75
  • Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $104
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $49
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $88
  • Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.63
  • Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
  • Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
  • Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
  • Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
  • Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
  • Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
  • Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $39
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
  • Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
  • Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $24
    San Pedro de Atacama $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fortaleza

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

  • Thematic Show with Rotation of Pizzas in Aquiraz: $28

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.26
  • Lunch
    $10
  • Dinner
    $11
  • Drink
    $0.94
  • Empanada
    $5.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    San Pedro de Atacama $21

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
  • Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
  • City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $26
  • City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $57
  • Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
  • Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
  • Fortaleza City Tour : $26
  • Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
  • Half-Day City Tour: $25

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $56

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Moon Valley Tour, the Best Seller: $49
  • 1-Day Tour Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa: $70
  • 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
  • 23km downhill bike tour + trekking among giant cacti: $70
  • 3 Days and 4 Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $199
  • 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
  • 3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $210
  • 4 Tour in 2 Days, in San Pedro de Atacama: $240
  • 4 Tours in the Atacama Desert: $230
  • 4 Tours to Discover Atacama (3 days): $219
  • 4-Hour Puritama Hot Springs Tour with Pick Up in Atacama: $88
  • 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.97
    San Pedro de Atacama $4.94

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that Fortaleza is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama.

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


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or San Pedro de Atacama?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 1200 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.