A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro La Laguna vs. La Fortuna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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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.

Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or San Pedro La Laguna?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $97. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.14
    La Fortuna $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
    La Fortuna $96
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.

Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in La Fortuna


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    La Fortuna $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:

  • Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Conchal beach up to 5 passengers: $240
  • Shuttle Transfer Lake crossing from Arenal To Monteverde: $25
  • Private transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Hotel RIU up to 5 passengers: $320
  • Private Transfer Lake crossing from Arenal To Monteverde From 1 to 6 passengers: $231
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7 to 10 passengers: $192
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 11 to 15 passengers: $288
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 1 to 6 passengers: $138
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 7 to 10 passengers: $211
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 11 to 15 passengers: $316
  • Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 1 to 6 passengers: $158
  • Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 7 to 10 passengers: $248
  • Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 11 to 15 passengers: $372

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $11
    La Fortuna $26
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:


  • Lemonade
    $2.04
  • Cake
    $1.27
  • Ice cream
    $0.38
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.93

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $21
    La Fortuna $41
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:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $38
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.91
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.87

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:

  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Indian Nose Hiking Adventure (custom and private tour): $51
  • Horseback Riding Tour: $51
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour: $60
  • Camping, Short hike & Watch the sunrise on the top of Indian Nose (Private tour): $85
  • Lake Atitlan Village Tour - from Panajachel: $205

Tours and Activities in La Fortuna

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:

  • 3-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall & Volcano Hike: $189
  • Afternoon Tour to Arenal Observatory Lodge and Natural Hot Springs River: $49
  • Arenal Canopy Adventure: $48
  • Arenal Rainforest Experience & Baldí Hot Springs Package 2: Safari Float: $245
  • Arenal Volcano Bird Watching Experience: $65
  • Arenal Volcano Hike Tour at the National Park: $65
  • Arenal Volcano Hiking + Hot Springs Experience: $69
  • Arenal Volcano Raft and ATV Tour Adventure: $159
  • Arenal Volcano Raft and Canopy Tour Adventure: $120
  • Arenal Volcano: Lost Canyon Canyoneering Adventure: $99
  • Arenal Whitewater Rafting Family-Friendly Tour: $78
  • Arenal volcano tubing tour (class 1 and 2) + hot springs included: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.52
    La Fortuna $10

About these numbers

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.

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San Pedro La Laguna vs. La Fortuna Travel Comparison

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