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

Should you visit Fortaleza or Tena?

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 Tena 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 Tena?

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.

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.


Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 Tena is $51. 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 Tena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $30
    Tena $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $60
    Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Tena

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Tena? 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 Tena


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $21
    Tena $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • 4x4 Private Transfer Service : $181
  • 4x4 Transfer Private Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $261
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Minivan: $117
  • Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza: $16
  • Cumbuco Private Transfer From Fortaleza: $58
  • Cumbuco Shared Transfer From Fortaleza: $51
  • Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Minivan: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Sedan Car: $88
  • Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $16
  • Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Fortaleza Airport Private Transfer: $40
  • Fortaleza Airport Shared Transfer: $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
  • San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Tena?

Prices for flights to both Tena 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
    Tena $15

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    Tena $15

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
  • Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $14
  • Águas Belas Tour: $15
  • Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
  • Lagoinha Beach Tour: $17
  • 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
  • Tour 3 Beaches in 1 day (Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes and Canoa Quebrada): $22

Tours and Activities in Tena

Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
  • Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
  • Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
  • Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
  • Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
  • Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
  • Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
  • Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.97
    Tena $10


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

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


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Tena?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 3450 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Tena, 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.