A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. Puerto Viejo for Nightlife, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

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 Puerto Viejo 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 lively, vibrant, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Fortaleza travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a authentic, laid back, and relaxed town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Fortaleza. Although Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo are both popular with visitors, Fortaleza has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Fortaleza is more popular for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities, while Puerto Viejo is known for its scuba diving & snorkeling, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Fortaleza is popular for its beaches, nightlife, and local culture. It is also home to Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture. Puerto Viejo is popular for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood.

How is Fortaleza different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?

Fortaleza is very good for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

Is the Food Better in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo.

Fortaleza has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Puerto Viejo area. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find superb options in both Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo.

The nightlife in Fortaleza has something for everybody. 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.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty to do in the evening. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Fortaleza is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Puerto Viejo. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Fortaleza is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Both Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo are considered to be superb beach destinations.

The beaches at Fortaleza attract visitors from all over. 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.

Many people visit Puerto Viejo for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for hiking. However, Fortaleza is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Puerto Viejo. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Fortaleza is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

Fortaleza is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Fortaleza. It's a large city with plenty of shopping malls and other local boutiques which are fun to explore.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Fortaleza is not a destination known for its beauty.

Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Fortaleza is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Puerto Viejo is very family-friendly. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.

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 Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for its romantic activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for couples.

Puerto Viejo is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

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 Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Fortaleza is not known for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

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 Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo both offer good 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.

Puerto Viejo has a few public transit options. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

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

Puerto Viejo is a very walkable town. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

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 Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Fortaleza?

How long in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo. In our opinion, Puerto Viejo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Puerto Viejo than Fortaleza. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo.

One day in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

In Fortaleza, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this vibrant city offers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the town of Puerto Viejo. 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 Puerto Viejo?

Fortaleza is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the authentic destination of Puerto Viejo. 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 town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Fortaleza. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic town of Puerto Viejo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

Fortaleza is a popular place to visit. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Puerto Viejo 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 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo 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 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo?

Fortaleza has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and Puerto Viejo. Many visitors come to Fortaleza in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Fortaleza in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in July.

In Fortaleza, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. July to January in Fortaleza is the dry season. Also, January to July is the rainy season in Fortaleza. September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season.

Should I visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as Puerto Viejo. Most visitors come to Fortaleza for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

In April, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejoin October. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In the autumn, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin October. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Fortaleza receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fortaleza usually gets more rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season.

Should I visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Fortaleza because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In July, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Fortaleza is July to January. The rainy season in Fortaleza is January to July. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January.

Should I visit Fortaleza or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Fortaleza during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Fortaleza this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

In the spring, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Fortaleza in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the spring, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin April. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Fortaleza usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Fortaleza