Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and La Fortuna can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or La Fortuna?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78La Fortuna $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $104. 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 Mar del Plata and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or La Fortuna? 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50La Fortuna $21
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $3.81La Fortuna $27
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.Mar del Plata $2.27La Fortuna $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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata is in South America and La Fortuna is in Central 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 Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or La Fortuna?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and La Fortuna, 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 Mar del Plata or La Fortuna?
Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than La Fortuna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than La Fortunain July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than La Fortunain July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and La Fortuna. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than La Fortunain October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than La Fortunain October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as La Fortuna. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is much colder than La Fortuna in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than La Fortunain January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than La Fortuna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than La Fortunain April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.