Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas. 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
- Private One-Way Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $310
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Tamarindo: $307
- Private Transfer from la Fortuna to Puerto Viejo & Cahuita Limon: $299
- VIP Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo Beach: $299
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers: $297
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Monteverde up to 5 passengers. (One Way): $295
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $27Punta Arenas $21
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
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Punta Arenas $6.44
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 Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Punta Arenas, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna is in Central America and Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Punta Arenas. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, La Fortuna is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Fortuna in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Punta Arenas. In the summer, La Fortuna often gets less sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. La Fortuna gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenasin January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
In October, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. La Fortuna gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. In October, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and La Fortuna during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Punta Arenas can be very cold during winter. La Fortuna is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. In the winter, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. La Fortuna gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In the spring, La Fortuna is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Fortuna in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. La Fortuna gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, La Fortuna usually receives around the same amount of rain as Punta Arenasin October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.