Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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.
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $154, 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 San Fernando and La Fortuna in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and San Fernando 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and La Fortuna, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Both La Fortuna and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the summer, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the summer. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, San Fernando is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Fernando in October average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as La Fortuna. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in January than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the winter, San Fernando often gets less sunshine than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 26°C (78°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both La Fortuna and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Fernando usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the spring. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
San Fernando | 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) |