Which city is cheaper, La Fortuna or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. La Fortuna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio 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.
Where Should I go: San Ignacio or La Fortuna?
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $57La Fortuna $75
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $57, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $75. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Ignacio and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $15La Fortuna $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $30La Fortuna $74
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $2.48La Fortuna $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotel to Belize International Airport: $60
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels: $70
- 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:
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers: $275
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 11 to 15 passengers: $453
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 7 to 10 passengers: $289
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 1 to 6 passengers: $195
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 11 to 15 passengers: $372
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 7 to 10 passengers: $248
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 1 to 6 passengers: $158
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 11 to 15 passengers: $316
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 7 to 10 passengers: $211
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 1 to 6 passengers: $138
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 11 to 15 passengers: $288
- 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Ignacio $16La Fortuna $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- 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.
- cooking class la fortuna: $40
- Cooking Class Including Tortilla Making in La Fortuna: $55
- 3-Course Cooking Class: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $79La Fortuna $32
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cultural and Historical Walking Tour: $36
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $48
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $62
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $70
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $72
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $75
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $76
- Xunantunich Riding tour: $85
- Barton Creek Tour: $87
- Horseback Riding and Tour in San Lorenzo Organic Farm: $91
- Cave Tubing Adventure: $93
- Mopan River Kayaking and Xunantunich Tour from San Ignacio: $100
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Parque Ecológico Volcán Arenal Full Day Experience + THERMALS: $18
- Zipline Experience in La Fortuna with Hotel Pick Up: $30
- Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Eden Chocolate Tour - The best chocolate tour in La Fortuna: $30
- Organic chocolate tour: $31
- Canopy Tour in Go Adventure Park: $32
- Natura Premium Tour: $34
- Mistico Park Hanging Bridges Guided Tour: $40
- 6-Hour Arenal Volcano Observatory & Lake Tour: $40
- Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park: Guided Tour: $42
- Birdwatching Tour: $46
- Night Walk Experience: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $14La Fortuna $8.00
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.
When is the best time to visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and La Fortuna. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the summer. The temperature in San Ignacio is usually 28°C (82°F) in July, and La Fortuna stays around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as La Fortuna. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Ignacio in October are around 26°C (80°F), and La Fortuna is about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna in the Winter?
Both La Fortuna and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 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. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Ignacio is generally cooler than La Fortuna. Temperatures in San Ignacio average around 24°C (74°F), and La Fortuna stays around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
San Ignacio usually gets more rain in April than La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 52 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 San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the spring. The temperature in San Ignacio is usually 27°C (80°F) in April, and La Fortuna stays around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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