Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Puerto Varas?
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 Puerto Varas. 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 Puerto Varas?
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.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
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 Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Puerto Varas $109
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $109. 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 Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Puerto Varas? 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 Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Puerto Varas $21
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 Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Varas: $24
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Puerto Varas Airport Private Transfer: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 $27Puerto Varas $25
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 $44Puerto Varas $19
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 Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $62
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- Puerto Varas Mountain Biking Experience: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Puerto Varas $6.51
When comparing the travel costs between La Fortuna and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Puerto Varas?
Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Puerto Varas, 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 Puerto Varas?
Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Puerto Varas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
La Fortuna is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the summer. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Varas this time of the year. La Fortuna usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Varas during summer. La Fortuna gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 204 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 Puerto Varasin January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Puerto Varas 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Puerto Varas. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, La Fortuna is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Fortuna in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 11°C (51°F)in April.
In the autumn, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin April. La Fortuna gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Varasin April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Puerto Varas in the Winter?
Both Puerto Varas 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 January, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin July. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during winter. La Fortuna gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In January, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Puerto Varas 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Puerto Varas in the Spring?
Both Puerto Varas 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.
La Fortuna is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the spring. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. In the spring, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin October. La Fortuna gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun.
Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Fortuna usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Varasin October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Puerto Varas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.