Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Port-of-Spain?
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 Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Port-of-Spain and La Fortuna can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna?
Port-of-Spain
Located on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, Port of Spain is the capital of the Caribbean island nation Trinidad & Tobago. It is a hub of activity, especially during the celebration of Carnival for which the island nation is famous.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Port-of-Spain Prices
Trinidad and Tobago PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPort-of-Spain $213La Fortuna $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Port-of-Spain is $213, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $123. 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 Port-of-Spain and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPort-of-Spain $80La Fortuna $51
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPort-of-Spain $160La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Port-of-Spain and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Port-of-Spain 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: Port-of-Spain Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Port-of-Spain $49La 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 : $211
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- La Fortuna Private Transfer to San Jose Airport : $231
- One Way Private Transfer - La Fortuna to your Selected Location: $128
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal) to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $241
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal) to San Jose, CR Intl Airport: $218
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer Arenal / La Fortuna town to San Jose Airport (SJO): $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Port-of-Spain 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 dayPort-of-Spain $94La Fortuna $47
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.Port-of-Spain $59La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Petting Zoo Interactive Farm Experience: $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua : $25
- Frog Sanctuary Tour at Night : $29
- Birdwatching Tour in La Fortuna: $29
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Sloth and Monkey Wild Life Tour : $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPort-of-Spain $22La Fortuna $11
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 Port-of-Spain and La Fortuna, we can see that Port-of-Spain is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Port-of-Spain is in Caribbean Islands 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Port-of-Spain would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port-of-Spain than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Port-of-Spain Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna?
Port-of-Spain has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Port-of-Spain and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Port-of-Spain year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. Port-of-Spain gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Port-of-Spain, it's very sunny this time of the year. Port-of-Spain usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. Port-of-Spain gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Port-of-Spain as well as La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Port-of-Spain usually gets less rain in October than La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port-of-Spain this time of the year. In the autumn, Port-of-Spain often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Port-of-Spain averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna in the Winter?
Both La Fortuna and Port-of-Spain are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Port-of-Spain throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Port-of-Spain gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Port-of-Spain in January average around 26°C (78°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPort-of-Spain 26°C (78°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Port-of-Spain during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Port-of-Spain because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Also, May to November in La Fortuna is the hurricane season. Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in April than La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Port-of-Spain. In the spring, Port-of-Spain often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Port-of-Spain gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Port-of-Spain
| Port-of-Spain | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.