Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Terre-de-Haut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut 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: Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna?
Terre-de-Haut
Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.
Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.
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 Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTerre-de-Haut €140La Fortuna €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is €140, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is €98. 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 Terre-de-Haut and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTerre-de-Haut €68La Fortuna €49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTerre-de-Haut €136La Fortuna €98
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut 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: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Terre-de-Haut €44La Fortuna €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut
Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
- Private One-Way Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $310
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Tamarindo: $307
- VIP Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo Beach: $299
- Private Transfer from la Fortuna to Puerto Viejo & Cahuita Limon: $299
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers: $297
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Terre-de-Haut 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 dayTerre-de-Haut €45La Fortuna €26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut
For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $231
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
- Costa Rican Cooking Class+Dinner+Night Frog Tour: $90
- Arenal Volcano Lava Trail and Baldi Hot Springs with Dinner: $149
- Show + Dinner V.i.p ... Folk show ... Latin show.: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Terre-de-Haut €20La Fortuna €42
Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.
- Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $103
- Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $106
- Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $133
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- Rio Celeste Tubing Experience: $54
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- 12 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls!: $101
- 2-Hour Chachagua Rainforest - Birdwatching Tour: $60
- 2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: River Safari Float and La Fortuna Waterfall: $170
- 2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $170
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $2,000
- 7 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall!: $80
- ATV Double Adventure + Horseback riding through the Volcano: $189
- ATV Double Volcano Tour: $185
- ATV Guided Experience in La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano.: $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTerre-de-Haut €44La Fortuna €11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and La Fortuna, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna?
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.
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Terre-de-Haut during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets less rain in July than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the summer, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the summer. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTerre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut 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. Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Terre-de-Haut usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during autumn. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in October average around 27°C (80°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTerre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in January than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 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 Terre-de-Haut this time of the year. In the winter, Terre-de-Haut often gets less sunshine than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Terre-de-Haut is generally cooler than La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 24°C (76°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTerre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Terre-de-Haut. In April, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 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 Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during spring. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Terre-de-Haut is cooler than La Fortuna in the spring. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTerre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Terre-de-Haut
| Terre-de-Haut | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.