Should you visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or La Fortuna, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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.
Which city is cheaper, La Fortuna or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $57, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $68. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for San Ignacio and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in San Ignacio is about $30 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $66 for a double occupancy room in La Fortuna.
Food
The average traveler spends about $16 per day in San Ignacio for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in La Fortuna can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $18 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
San Ignacio $16
La Fortuna $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
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Xunantunich & Food Tour from San Ignacio:
$135
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
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cooking class la fortuna:
$40
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Cooking Class Including Tortilla Making in La Fortuna:
$55
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3-Course Cooking Class:
$138
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around San Ignacio is $2.48 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around La Fortuna is $14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
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Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotel to Belize International Airport:
$60
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels:
$70
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Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotels to Belize International Airport:
$70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers:
$275
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 11 to 15 passengers:
$453
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 7 to 10 passengers:
$289
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 1 to 6 passengers:
$195
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 11 to 15 passengers:
$372
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Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 7 to 10 passengers:
$248
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 1 to 6 passengers:
$158
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 11 to 15 passengers:
$316
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 7 to 10 passengers:
$211
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 1 to 6 passengers:
$138
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 11 to 15 passengers:
$288
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Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7 to 10 passengers:
$192
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and San Ignacio 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.
Entertainment
San Ignacio's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $80 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
La Fortuna's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $29 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Cultural and Historical Walking Tour:
$36
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Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide:
$48
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Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio:
$62
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Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch:
$70
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Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio:
$72
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Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure:
$75
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Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour:
$75
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Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch:
$76
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Xunantunich Riding tour:
$85
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Barton Creek Tour:
$87
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Horseback Riding and Tour in San Lorenzo Organic Farm:
$91
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Cave Tubing Adventure:
$93
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
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Parque Ecológico Volcán Arenal Full Day Experience + THERMALS:
$18
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Zipline Experience in La Fortuna with Hotel Pick Up:
$30
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Sloth Watching Tour:
$30
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Eden Chocolate Tour - The best chocolate tour in La Fortuna:
$30
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Organic chocolate tour:
$31
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Canopy Tour in Go Adventure Park:
$32
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Natura Premium Tour:
$34
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Arenal Observatory Tour:
$39
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Mistico Park Hanging Bridges Guided Tour:
$40
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Birdwatching Tour:
$46
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Night Walk Experience:
$48
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Arenal Canopy Adventure:
$48
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting San Ignacio may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $7.21 on alcoholic beverages in La Fortuna per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.
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