A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. La Paz for Beaches, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Fortaleza or La Paz?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and La Paz can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Fortaleza

Fortaleza is a cultural, lively, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Fortaleza travel costs.

La Paz

La Paz is a beautiful, authentic, and cultural city. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See La Paz travel costs.

Fortaleza and La Paz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Fortaleza or La Paz?

You'll generally find more things to do in Fortaleza than La Paz. Fortaleza is bigger than La Paz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Fortaleza is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while La Paz is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. La Paz is more touristy than Fortaleza and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Fortaleza is well known for its beaches, nightlife, and local culture. Also, Fortaleza is famous for Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture.

How is Fortaleza different from La Paz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Paz and Fortaleza. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Fortaleza or La Paz?

La Paz is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into La Paz. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Fortaleza. Dragão do Mar is the cultural center in town. There are shows and concerts that highlight the local culture. Also part of the complex are a planetarium and two museums - the Museu de Arte Contemporânea and the Memorial da Cultura Cearense. Also worth seeing the Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza, which is the third largest cathedral in the country.

Is the Food Better in Fortaleza or La Paz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

La Paz has a huge number of terrific restaurants. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Fortaleza area. The city has a number of great restaurants that range from Brazilian barbecue restaurants to international cuisine. Many dishes are heavy and use a lot of meat. Local favorites include paçoca and escondidinho de carne seca.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Nightlife?

Fortaleza is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Fortaleza has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Like much of Brazil, the city has a vibrant nightlife scene. There are beachfront bars, live music venues, and many places where you can enjoy a good party. You'll find a high concentration of places around Praia de Iracema and the Casario.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Resorts?

La Paz is a city with good options for its luxury resorts. However, Fortaleza is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, La Paz makes a nice vacation spot. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Fortaleza is not a resort destination.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is a great city for its diving and snorkeling. However, Fortaleza is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

La Paz is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Fortaleza is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Beaches?

La Paz is renowned for the beach. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the beach.

La Paz is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Many people visit Fortaleza for it's beautiful beaches. There are 5 kilometers of sandy beach in town and many visitors enjoy taking long walks. While there are technically four beaches in the area, they all kind of merge together and it can be difficult to tell one from the other. The most popular beach is Meireles, which has a boardwalk and is lined by high rise buildings.

Is the Shopping Better in Fortaleza or La Paz?

If you're looking to go shopping, Fortaleza and La Paz both offer plenty of great spots.

Fortaleza is well-known for its shopping. It's a large city with plenty of shopping malls and other local boutiques which are fun to explore.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in La Paz. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Families?

La Paz is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, La Paz is very family-friendly. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

Fortaleza is not the most family-friendly destination. There are several beaches and parks where kids will enjoy running around and stretching their legs.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Couples?

La Paz is a city with good options for its romantic activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for couples.

La Paz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Fortaleza is not always the best place to visit for a couple. While it's often overlooked by couples, those who have a few days in town can enjoy the beaches or take a stroll down the beachfront promenade.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Fortaleza is not known for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit La Paz. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Fortaleza is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most backpackers skip this city for the more popular destinations.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Fortaleza and La Paz both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Fortaleza offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The Metro system includes a rail and light rail system.

La Paz has a few public transit options. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Is Fortaleza or La Paz a more walkable city?

La Paz is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

La Paz is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable.

Fortaleza is a somewhat walkable city. It's a relatively walkable city with some neighborhoods easier to explore on foot than others. It's important to understand the area you're in because safety could be a concern.

For even more information, also check out Is Fortaleza Worth Visiting? and Is La Paz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Paz or Fortaleza?

How long in Fortaleza or La Paz?

It's fun to spend time in either Fortaleza or La Paz. Generally, people tend to spend more time in La Paz due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Fortaleza, and 2-4 days is enough time in La Paz.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Fortaleza. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Paz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Fortaleza. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Fortaleza if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in La Paz.

One day in Fortaleza or La Paz?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Fortaleza. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife and food around the city of La Paz. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Fortaleza or La Paz?

Fortaleza is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful destination of La Paz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Fortaleza or La Paz?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Fortaleza. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the authentic city of La Paz. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people head to the area for the beaches. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Fortaleza or La Paz?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Fortaleza. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

La Paz is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fortaleza is in South America and La Paz is in North 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 Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza 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 Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Fortaleza.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or La Paz?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Paz. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and La Paz, 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.

When is the best time to visit Fortaleza or La Paz?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Fortaleza is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but La Paz has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Fortaleza or La Paz in the Summer?

Both La Paz and Fortaleza during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Fortaleza because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to La Paz this time of year.

Fortaleza is around the same temperature as La Paz in the summer. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and La Paz fluctuates around 30°C (86°F)in July.

In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the summer, Fortaleza often gets less sunshine than La Pazin July. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 287 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually gets more rain in January than La Pazin July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. July to January is the dry season in Fortaleza. January to July is the rainy season in Fortaleza.

Should I visit Fortaleza or La Paz in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and La Paz. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Fortaleza this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to La Paz for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as La Paz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Fortaleza in April average around 27°C (80°F), and La Paz averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives less sunshine than La Paz during autumn. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 272 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than La Pazin October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Fortaleza or La Paz in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as La Paz. Many travelers come to Fortaleza for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to La Paz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In July, Fortaleza is generally a little warmer than La Pazin January. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 26°C (79°F), and La Paz fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fortaleza this time of the year. In the winter, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than La Pazin January. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 200 hours of full sun.

Fortaleza usually gets more rain in July than La Pazin January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, July to January in Fortaleza is the dry season. January to July in Fortaleza is the rainy season.

Should I visit Fortaleza or La Paz in the Spring?

Both La Paz and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Fortaleza in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to La Paz for the beaches during these months.

Fortaleza is a little warmer than La Paz in the spring. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and La Paz fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in La Paz. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Paz during spring. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 292 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than La Pazin April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for La Paz and Fortaleza