Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or La Fortuna, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Jaco is a popular, touristy, and laid back town. And you can't forget about the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Jaco travel costs.
La Fortuna is a popular, stunning, and scenic town. With stunning beauty, La Fortuna attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the hiking, nightlife, and food. See La Fortuna travel costs.
Tourists will generally find more to do in La Fortuna. Although Jaco and La Fortuna are both popular with visitors, La Fortuna has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. La Fortuna is more popular for its museums and attractions, resorts, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Jaco is known for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. Jaco is popular for its surfing, nightlife, and beaches. La Fortuna is popular for its hot springs, luxury resorts, and volcanic views. It is also home to Arenal Volcano.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Fortuna and Jaco. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
La Fortuna is a decent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.
While most people don't head to La Fortuna specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time outdoors exploring the area, but there are also some museums that highlight local art and culture.
Jaco offers a few options for museum-goers. Most people spend their time outside or partying while they're in town.
Foodies will find both Jaco and La Fortuna both to be good destinations.
Jaco is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There's a range of restaurants around town that include hamburger joints, pizza shops, and other casual favorites. You'll find a variety of options along the main strip as well.
La Fortuna offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. It's a touristy mecca, and there are a number of decent restaurants around town. The area has some of the freshest local ingredients and the food reflects that. You'll find restaurants both in the center of town and along the road between the town and the hot springs.
Jaco is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.
Jaco is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. What was once a quiet surfing town is now one of the most famous party destinations in Costa Rica. There are a constantly growing number of bars and clubs around town and you'll find tons of young tourists and backpackers looking for a party.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Fortuna. The larger resorts usually have a couple of bars onsite. There are also local bars and pubs throughout the town. While things often quiet down by 9:00, you will probably be able to find a laid back place to enjoy a drink with friends.
La Fortuna is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Jaco is not a resort destination.
La Fortuna offers an unforgettable resort vacation. There are many larger international resorts in the area. Many offer spectacular views, spas, and beautifully maintained pools that take advantage of the area's hot springs.
Jaco is not a resort destination.
Jaco is a good destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, La Fortuna is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Jaco. You can't really snorkel at Jaco Beach because of the waves and water conditions, but there are a number of snorkeling tours that leave from town and take you to better spots.
La Fortuna is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Jaco is a good destination for the beach. However, La Fortuna is not a beach destination.
Jaco offers a nice beach destination. Jaco Beach is a great spot for swimming and surfing. It's lost some of its original charm, but there's still golden sand and nearby horseback riding.
La Fortuna is not a beach destination.
La Fortuna is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Jaco is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting La Fortuna. The area is filled with stunning hikes that take you through different landscapes and ecosystems. You'll likely see some wildlife, visit spectacular waterfalls, and, of course, catch views of the impressive Arenal Volcano.
Jaco is not a hiking destination.
Jaco is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, La Fortuna is a mediocre town for its shopping areas.
Jaco offers some nice shopping areas. Many of the shops are found along the main street. There are a number of souvenir stores and a few art galleries that are worth checking out.
La Fortuna has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find a couple of good souvenir shops around town where you can pick up some locally made items.
La Fortuna is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Jaco is not a destination known for its beauty.
With stunning beauty, La Fortuna attracts visitors from all around. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, lush rainforests, and dramatic views of the volcano. There are countless hikes and a plenty of opportunities to soak up the natural setting.
Jaco is not a destination known for its beauty.
La Fortuna is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in La Fortuna. Kids will love exploring the outdoors and seeing some of Costa Rica's best environments. There are plenty of hiking trails, but if you're looking for short and simple, head to Ecocentro Danaus, which has a half mile flat walking loop and a butterfly garden. Another good option is Bogarin Trail, where you might see a sloth. And of course you have to check out Arenal Volcano National Park.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Jaco. Nearby you'll find horseback riding, monkey tours, and other fun kid-friendly activities. Kids will enjoy the beaches in the area as well.
La Fortuna is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.
La Fortuna has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. There are amazing resorts and spas in the area that make for a truly luxurious and romantic holiday. Many couples visit for their honeymoon, and whether you enjoy exploring nature or pampering yourself in a five star setting, there really is something for everyone.
Jaco is a nice destination for couples. It's one of the more touristy parts of Costa Rica, but if you enjoy surfing and beach life, then you'll find a lot to do in the area.
Jaco and La Fortuna are both great destinations for backpackers.
Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Jaco. It's a touristy town with a bit of a party reputation. There are plenty of hostels and other backpackers around so you shouldn't have trouble meeting people.
Backpackers come from all over to visit La Fortuna. As one of the top places to visit in Costa Rica, this town has a number of hostels that cater to the backpacker crowds.
La Fortuna is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its public transit.
La Fortuna has some public transit options. There are public buses throughout the area as well as private transportation services, taxis, and car sharing.
Public transit is generally limited in Jaco. Most people walk or get around by bicycle.
Jaco is notable for its high level of walkability. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its ease of walking around.
Jaco is a very walkable town. The town is compact and walkable. You'll find many of the restaurants and shops along the main street, and it's easy to reach the beach on foot.
La Fortuna is a somewhat walkable town. While the town itself is very walkable, many of the area's attractions can only be reached by car.
For even more information, also check out Is Jaco Worth Visiting? and Is La Fortuna Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Jaco or La Fortuna. In our opinion, La Fortuna has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in La Fortuna than Jaco. In general, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Jaco, and 2-4 days is enough time in La Fortuna.
Families should spend more time in La Fortuna than Jaco. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Fortuna, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in La Fortuna than Jaco. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Fortuna that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Jaco than La Fortuna if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Jaco.
With shopping and nightlife around the touristy town of Jaco, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of La Fortuna. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Jaco, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
La Fortuna is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Jaco, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find food and nightlife around the scenic destination of La Fortuna. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Jaco is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
The scenic town of La Fortuna offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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 Jaco is $119, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $123. 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 Jaco and La Fortuna in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco 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.
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Jaco 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.
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Jaco and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Jaco has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Jaco 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as La Fortuna. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 28°C (82°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both La Fortuna and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Jaco is November to May. The hurricane season in Jaco is June to October. The dry season in La Fortuna is December to April. The hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November. It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives around the same amount of rain as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during autumn. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Jaco is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both La Fortuna and Jaco during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
Jaco usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the winter, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Jaco is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jaco in January average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Jaco is the dry season. June to October is the hurricane season in Jaco. December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. In April, Jaco usually receives around the same amount of rain as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 29°C (85°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Jaco | La Fortuna | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |