Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Piriapolis or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or La Fortuna, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Piriapolis or La Fortuna?
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, 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 dayPiriapolis $67La Fortuna $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, 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 Piriapolis and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPiriapolis $27La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPiriapolis $54La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Piriapolis $31La Fortuna $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
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Piriapolis 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 dayPiriapolis $23La 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.Piriapolis $5.89La Fortuna $44
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPiriapolis $8.11La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or La Fortuna?
Piriapolis has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or La Fortuna?
Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or La Fortuna in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and La Fortuna. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Piriapolis is generally cooler than La Fortunain July. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 23°C (73°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Piriapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than La Fortunain July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPiriapolis 23°C (73°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as La Fortuna. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Piriapolis is much colder than La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortunain October. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than La Fortunain October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPiriapolis 17°C (63°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or La Fortuna in the Winter?
Both La Fortuna and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the winter 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 winter, Piriapolis is much colder than La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Piriapolis in July average around 10°C (50°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. Piriapolis usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than La Fortunain January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPiriapolis 10°C (50°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Piriapolis during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In October, Piriapolis is generally much colder than La Fortunain April. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 16°C (61°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Piriapolis. In the spring, Piriapolis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortunain April. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
Piriapolis usually gets more rain in October than La Fortunain April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPiriapolis 16°C (61°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Piriapolis
| Piriapolis | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 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.