Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Roatan or La Fortuna?
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 Roatan and La Fortuna. 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: Roatan or La Fortuna?
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $42La Fortuna $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $136. 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 Roatan and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $10La Fortuna $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $20La Fortuna $112
Compare Hotels in Roatan and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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: Roatan Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $17La Fortuna $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Ultimate West Bay Beach Day: Pass & Transfers Included: $55
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $75
- Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $114
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $154
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $43
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $166
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
- Private One Way Transfer from Arenal, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio: $195
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $200
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $208
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santamaria Airport area: $220
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $220
- Private Transfer Fortuna to SJO Airport from 1 to 6 passengers: $220
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $15La Fortuna $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife: $70
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
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: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican family: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
- Rainforest Night Walk in La Fortuna with Authentic Dinner: $92
- Fresh From the Farm: Cooking Class at the Volcano: $105
- Rio Celeste & Hot Springs Dinner Experience: $130
- Arenal Volcano Hike plus Baldi Hot Springs and Dinner: $140
- Arenal Hanging Bridges with Hotsprings, Lunch and Dinner: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $25La Fortuna $48
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Organized trips and adventures: $26
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Roatan Private and Public Action Snorkel Tours and Charters: $39
- Roatan Island Tours, Sightseeing and Shopping Adventures: $39
- Roatán Ron and Chocolate Custom Tour.: $40
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $43
- Customizable Island Tour While on Roatan: $45
- Roatan Jungle Top Wildlife Guided Eco-Park Tour: $45
- Roatán Private costume Tour Chocolate Rum Culture & Local Snacks: $45
- Roatan Private Tour , Culture and Views Experience: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano - Ecological Park Entrance Ticket: $17
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua: $25
- Arenal Park Self-Guided Experience: $27
- Tour of sloths, exotic birds, frogs.: $30
- Sloths and Monkeys Guided Tour in Arenal Nature Walk: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $32
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour from La Fortuna: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.56La Fortuna $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
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 Roatan and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or La Fortuna?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Roatan 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.
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.