Which place is cheaper, Pucon or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Pucon?
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 Pucon. 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 Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Pucon $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $63
- Arenal lake boat transfer from to Monteverde from La Fortuna: $60
- Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) -Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $153
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $90
- From Monteverde: 2 Day Hike in Fortuna with Hotel Transfer: $160
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Guapiles: $213
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $187
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $27Pucon $38
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Pucon $37
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Two Destinations Tour - La Fortuna Top Destinations : $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Arenal Volcano Hike Experience (not guide included): $23
- Arenal Observatory Trails Admission Ticket: $29
- San Carlos: The Art of Chocolate Making Tour at Don Olivo: $30
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- Private Sloth and Monkey Wildlife Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $30
- arenal fortuna city tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Sloth Tour: $30
- Night tour through the Tropical Forest at Tifakara : $32
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Pucon $27
When comparing the travel costs between La Fortuna and Pucon, 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 Pucon 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 Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Pucon?
Pucon has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Pucon, 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 Pucon?
Pucon 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 Pucon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In July, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Puconin January. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 28°C (82°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pucon this time of the year. La Fortuna usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during summer. La Fortuna gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Puconin January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Pucon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Pucon. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna is much warmer than Pucon in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in April.
In the autumn, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Puconin April. La Fortuna gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pucon. La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in October than Puconin April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
In the winter, La Fortuna is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Fortuna in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. La Fortuna gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In January, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Puconin July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Pucon in the Spring?
Both Pucon and La Fortuna during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Puconin October. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 29°C (85°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. In the spring, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Puconin October. La Fortuna gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Fortuna usually gets less rain in April than Puconin October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.