Should you visit Fortaleza or Tena?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Fortaleza and Tena can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Which city 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 $54, while the average daily cost in Tena is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Fortaleza and Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $46 for a double occupancy room in Fortaleza If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Tena is $38. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The price of a meal in Fortaleza can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $19 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Tena food costs typically run travelers around $12 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fortaleza $19
Tena $12
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Fortaleza than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $16 on transportation in Fortaleza on average per day.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $13 per day to get around in Tena.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Minivan:
$51
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Sedan Car:
$41
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Jericoacoara by Minivan:
$336
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Jericoacoara by Sedan Car:
$253
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Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza:
$20
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Cumbuco Private Transfer From Fortaleza:
$36
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Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Minivan:
$51
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Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Sedan Car:
$41
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Fortaleza Airport Private Transfer:
$28
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Fortaleza Airport Shared Transfer:
$19
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Fortaleza Round-Trip Airport Transfers:
$97
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Fortaleza Roundtrip Airport Transfers:
$38
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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Fortaleza, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Tena. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
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Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza:
$14
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Tour to Cumbuco Beach:
$17
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Fortaleza City Tour:
$18
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2-Hour Morning City Tour:
$21
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Fortaleza & Cumbuco Beach Full Day Tour:
$21
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Tour to Morro Branco & Fontes Beach:
$21
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Tour to Lagoinha Beach:
$22
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Tour to Aguas Belas Beach:
$24
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Tour to Canoa Quebrada Beach:
$29
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Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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From Full-Day City and Beach Park Tour:
$35
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Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza:
$35
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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3 or 4 Day Amazon Napo Adventure:
$392
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Fortaleza, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.78.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Tena may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.26 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
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