Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38La Fortuna $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $100. 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 $11La Fortuna $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22La Fortuna $100
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 $19La Fortuna $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Honduras to Honduras Airport (RTB)-Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Honduras Airport(RTB) to Honduras -Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
- Roatan Private Sloths, Monkeys, Birds Encounters, City Tour and Transfer: $60
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $91
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $91
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $49
- White Water Tubing Tour with Guide and Transfers: $55
- Scenic Transfer to Monteverde via Arenal Lake: $56
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $64
- Sloth Watching Tour with Transfer and Snacks: $68
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $90
- San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $94
- From Monteverde: 2 Day Hike in Fortuna with Hotel Transfer: $160
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $187
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 $9.40La Fortuna $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $120
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class: $35
- Farm-To-Table Cooking Class : $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Night Frog Tour + Costa Rican Dinner: $58
- 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
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
- Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna (From farm to table): $85
- Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27La Fortuna $43
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
- Snorkeling Experience of Roatan with Beach Break: $40
- West Side Tour - Chocolate Factory Rum Factory Views Shoppinga and Sunsets: $40
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Exclusive Roatán Island Tour visit to Rum and Chocolate Factory: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan VIP Free-Style Private Tour: $49
- Roatan East and West City Tour with Beach: $49
- Roatan City Tour : $50
- Guided Tour to Discover Roatán Starting from the Center: $50
- Roatan City Tour-Viewpoints, Landmarks, Chocolate and Rum Tasting: $50
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- arenal fortuna city tour: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Private Sloth and Monkey Wildlife Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $30
- Sloth Tour: $30
- San Carlos: The Art of Chocolate Making Tour at Don Olivo: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Admission Ticket: $32
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $35
- Arenal 1968 Trail Park Admission Ticket: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.05La Fortuna $11
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.