Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit La Fortuna or Torres del Paine National Park?
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 Torres del Paine National Park. 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 Torres del Paine National Park?
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.
Torres del Paine National Park
The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!
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.
-
La Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica PricesTorres del Paine National Park Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $123Torres del Paine National Park $96
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $123, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $96. 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 Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Torres del Paine National Park $31
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Torres del Paine National Park
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Torres del Paine National Park? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Torres del Paine National Park $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer from Arenal to SJO Airport or Hotels for up to 5 passengers ( One way) : $240
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM San Jose city to Arenal - Fortuna Area. Private: $230
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $230
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $200
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $49
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $230
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private VIP Transfer La Fortuna to Tamarindo, Flamingo & Conchal: $299
- Private Transfer: La Fortuna Costa Rica: $235
- Private Transfer to/from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Area (Arenal Volcano): $250
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Torres del Paine National Park?
Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park 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
-
Food Meals for one dayLa Fortuna $47Torres del Paine National Park $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class : $43
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch : $72
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Torres del Paine National Park $31
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $260
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $111
- 3-In-1 Río Celeste: Tubing, Natural Pool and Jungle Night Tour.: $80
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $91
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (1): Volcano Hike, Waterfall & Lunch: $179
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (3):Hanging Bridges, Waterfall & Lunch: $191
- ATV Tour Discovery Adventure Double : $170
- ATV Tour Experience in Parque Ecologico Volcan Arenal : $130
- ATV adventure Tour in La Fortuna: $95
- Adventure Pass: $167
Tours and Activities in Torres del Paine National Park
For Torres del Paine National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Torres del Paine: 3-Hour Scenic Boat Tour to Grey Glacier: $120
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Torres del Paine National Park $5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Torres del Paine National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna is in Central America and Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park.
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 Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.
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.