Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or San Pedro La Laguna?
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 San Pedro La Laguna or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or La Fortuna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: San Pedro La Laguna or La Fortuna?
San Pedro La Laguna
Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.
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 Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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San Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $44La Fortuna $124
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $44, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $124. 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 Pedro La Laguna and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.31La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $17La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer From Panajachel Atitlan to Antigua: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Monteverde up to 5 passengers. (One Way): $295
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM San Jose city to Arenal - Fortuna Area. Private: $210
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $210
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $230
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $260
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private Transfer to/from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Area (Arenal Volcano): $250
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $246
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santamaria Airport area: $220
- Private Transfer from Arenal La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: $255
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna $19La Fortuna $48
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lemonade$2.08
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Cake$1.30
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$2.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- cooking class la fortuna: $50
- Costa Rican Breakfast & Cooking Experience in La Fortuna: $50
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $22La Fortuna $44
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.95
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.01
Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
- Authentic Art and Culture Tour in San Juan La Laguna: $35
- Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $36
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
- La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $40
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $40
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $47
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Sloth Discovery Tour in La Fortuna Wildlife: $60
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $111
- 6 Course Tropical Rainforest Foodie Adventure: $199
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $91
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (1): Volcano Hike, Waterfall & Lunch: $179
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (3):Hanging Bridges, Waterfall & Lunch: $191
- ARENAL VOLCANO: Best places combination One Day Tour: $179
- ATV Tour Discovery Adventure Double : $170
- ATV Tour near Arenal Volcano, Jungle, and River Crossing: $165
- ATV Tour: Adventure tour in La Fortuna: $138
- ATV adventure Tour in La Fortuna: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.63La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or La Fortuna?
San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna 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.