Which place is cheaper, Manaus or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Manaus?
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 Manaus. 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 Manaus?
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.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, while the average daily cost in Manaus 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 La Fortuna and Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Manaus? 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 Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Manaus $7.94
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 Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $15
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Transfer Privativo 24h aeroporto -> hotel em Manaus: $18
- Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus 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 $27Manaus $12
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 Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Manaus -
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 Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $70
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $70
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Manaus $2.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Manaus, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna is in Central America and Manaus is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna than you might in Manaus.
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 Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 530 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Manaus, 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 Manaus?
Manaus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but La Fortuna experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Fortuna or Manaus in the Summer?
Both Manaus 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.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Manaus in the summer. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Manaus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
In the summer, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Manausin January. La Fortuna gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 114 hours of full sun.
Manaus 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 less rain in July than Manausin January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Manaus in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Manaus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In the autumn, La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Manaus. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Fortuna in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus averages at about 28°C (82°F)in April.
La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during autumn. La Fortuna gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 112 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Manaus receives a lot of rain in the autumn. La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Manausin April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Manaus in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Manaus. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, La Fortuna is generally around the same temperature as Manausin July. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Manaus. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In the winter, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Manausin July. La Fortuna gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 214 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna usually gets less rain in January than Manausin July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Manaus in the Spring?
Both Manaus 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.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Manaus in the spring. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Manaus fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during spring. La Fortuna gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. In April, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Manausin October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.