Is La Fortuna Expensive?

Is La Fortuna expensive to visit?

La Fortuna is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $104. Compared to the rest of Central America, it is a somewhat more expensive place to visit. It's ranked in the top 25% of cities in Central America for its overall travel costs, comparable to places like Santa Elena and Jaco.



Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica

How expensive is La Fortuna?

On average, visitors spend about $104 per day when visiting La Fortuna (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $208 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for La Fortuna here.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to La Fortuna?

A weekend trip to La Fortuna costs about $312 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $623.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to La Fortuna?

Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to La Fortuna costs around $727 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,454.

Is it expensive to backpack in La Fortuna?

La Fortuna is a popular backpacker destination with more than 10 hostels. Dorm beds in hostels cost, on average, $14 per night. (See hostel prices in La Fortuna here.) You'll find quite a range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $24 and the cheapest around $7 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in La Fortuna.

  • $14 for a dorm bed at LA CHOZA INN HOSTEL & OFF SITE JUNGLE HOT SPRINGS
  • $16 for a dorm bed at Poshtel Arenal
  • $20 for a dorm bed at Selina La Fortuna

Are hotels expensive in La Fortuna?

Considering our analysis of hotel prices in La Fortuna, it becomes apparent that they are somewhat more affordable in comparison to hotels in other cities. On average, you can expect to spend around $91 per night for a hotel room. The city is home to approximately 2 five-star hotels, presenting an average rate of $636 per night. For a balanced choice catering to both comfort and cost-effectiveness, three-star hotels provide an average rate of $95 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more budget-friendly alternative at $53 per night.


Hotels by star rating in La Fortuna
Rating Number of Hotels Average Hotel Price
5 stars 2 $636
4 stars 5 $221
3 stars 57 $95
2 stars 19 $53
1 star 2 $48
No rating 9 $145

Arenal, La Fortuna
Overall Rating 9.0
7 km Oeste de La Fortuna, La Fortuna
Overall Rating 9.0

How expensive are sightseeing activities in La Fortuna?

Activities and things to do in La Fortuna can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $44 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $32.

    • Lake Arenal Private Paddle Board Experience: $77
    • Canyoning and Arenal Rafting (COMBO TOUR): $160
    • Combo Arenal Rafting and Canyoning Adventure : $160
    • Combined Tour (Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano): $190
    • Sloth watching in La Fortuna with a local tour guide.: $35
    • White Water Rafting Class 4 with Lunch - Arenal Tours: $112
    • Combined Tour all day Bridges + Volcano + Lunch + Waterfall: $180
    • Arenal ATV and Zipline Adventure Tour: $147

    Is food expensive in La Fortuna?

    Food in La Fortuna can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $28 on food per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $25. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.

    • Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
    • Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
    • Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
    • Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
    • Show + Dinner V.i.p ... Folk show ... Latin show.: $180
    • Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna (From farm to table): $85

    Is transportation expensive in La Fortuna?

    The prices of local transportation in La Fortuna can vary by the type of transit used. Other travelers have spent an average of $21 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $26. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.

    More for La Fortuna

    If you're planning a trip to La Fortuna, Costa Rica, check out these other informative travel guides.



    We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



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