Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for La Fortuna and Guayaquil. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: La Fortuna or Guayaquil?
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Guayaquil $95
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. 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 La Fortuna and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Guayaquil? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: La Fortuna Hotel Prices and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- VIP Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo Beach: $299
- Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Monteverde up to 5 passengers. (One Way): $295
- Transfer TO or FROM San Jose city to Arenal - Fortuna Area. Private: $210
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $250
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $226
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private transfer from SJO Airport to La Fortuna / Van A/C & WiF: $199
- Private Transfer to/from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Area (Arenal Volcano): $213
- Private Transfer from la Fortuna to Puerto Viejo & Cahuita Limon: $299
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Nosara: $278
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Liberia Intl Airport LIR area: $215
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
- Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and La Fortuna 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
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Food Meals for one dayLa Fortuna $27Guayaquil $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $38
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano Hike Experience (not guide included): $23
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- Rio Celeste Tubing Experience: $54
- Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $260
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- 12 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls!: $101
- 2-Hour Chachagua Rainforest - Birdwatching Tour: $60
- 2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: River Safari Float and La Fortuna Waterfall: $170
- 2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $170
- 6 Course Tropical Rainforest Foodie Adventure: $199
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $2,000
- 7 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall!: $80
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $18
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- Guayaquil City Tour: $40
- Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
- Private Experience of Flavors and Wine Pairing in Guayaquil: $52
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
When comparing the travel costs between La Fortuna and Guayaquil, 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. Even though La Fortuna is in Central America and Guayaquil is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Fortuna Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 650 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Guayaquil, 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.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil?
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.
Should I visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil in the Summer?
Both Guayaquil and La Fortuna during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in July than Guayaquil. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, La Fortuna is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Fortuna in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Guayaquil. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Guayaquil. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, La Fortuna is generally a little warmer than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Guayaquil. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. La Fortuna usually gets less rain in January than Guayaquil. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the winter. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In April, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Guayaquil. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Fortuna in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.