Travel across Costa Rica with the peace of mind of a private service.
Travel with the tropical experts. Private door-to-door transfers from San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) airports, in modern vehicles with full-cover insurance, to every major destination in the country: La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Nosara, Sámara, Santa Teresa and the Limón Caribbean. Flat rate per vehicle, professional driver and live flight tracking.
My name is Johnson Paniagua Berrocal, and Tropical Experts Costa Rica is the family company I founded in 2023 together with my wife and co-founder, Andrea Segura. We live in La Fortuna de San Carlos with our two daughters, at the foot of Arenal volcano, and from here we lead a team of professional drivers covering the whole country.
I have spent more than 21 years in tourism, working in all kinds of places: canopy guide at Sky Trek, rafting guide and naturalist guide. I then moved into five-star hotels such as Tabacón and Arenal Kioro, in guest reception, concierge and customer service, where I also trained new staff. I know what a traveller needs because I have worked in every link of their trip.
And there is one chapter of my life that defines how we work: I was a detective with the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) for 8 years. That is where the values this company does not negotiate come from — safety, discipline, attention to detail and punctuality. For us, transporting someone is not moving them from one point to another: it is taking responsibility for our clients arriving safe, comfortable and on time.
Today we have more than 1,200 transfers completed, with modern vehicles with reclining seats, our tourist transport permits in force, travel insurance and I.C.T. licence #3946-2025 (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, the country's tourism regulator). Our mission is simple: to make your holiday the best it can be, and for you not merely to reach your destination, but to enjoy the road there.
The family behind the company: Johnson, Andrea and their two daughters. This is what «family business» means.
Licence
I.C.T. #3946-2025
Founded
2023 · family company
Transfers
More than 1,200 completed
Base
La Fortuna, San Carlos
Coverage
The whole country
Fleet
From 1 to 12 passengers
Languages
Spanish and English
Google
5.0 · 109 opiniones
TripAdvisor
5.0 · 35 reviews
Moments with our passengers
Some of the journeys we have shared across Costa Rica.
Every private transfer includes
Airport meet-and-greet with a sign bearing your name
Flight tracking — if it is delayed, we wait
Child seats at no cost, on request
Full-cover insurance and a professional driver
Bottled water and free WiFi on board
Free cancellation up to 48 h before
Two ways to travel
Arrive straight there, or arrive with stories to tell
Most popular
Tropical Experts VIP
+$80
More than a transfer: a true Costa Rica experience along the way
1 to 2 hour sightseeing stop— flexible: lookouts, waterfalls, a coffee farm
Guaranteed bilingual, professional driver— and your guide too: tells you about the country and shapes the route
Welcome kit:local beers, soft drinks and snacks
Sparkling waterand bottled water on board
WiFi and USB chargersfor every passenger
Personalised recommendationsfor restaurants and activities
Everything in Standard+ more. Need more time? Each extra hour is $35
Ideal for · Honeymoons, families and unforgettable trips
Standard
Included
The fastest, most direct way to reach your destination
Direct route,no detours, no waiting
Available 24/7,whatever time your flight lands
Meet-and-greet with a signand flight tracking: if it is delayed, we wait
Door-to-door service,a private vehicle for your group only
Recent units with air conditioning, WiFi and real luggage space. We assign the vehicle to your group and your bags, not to whatever happens to be free.
Hyundai Staria
Up to 5 passengers · 5 large bags
Couples, small families and executive travel
Independent air conditioning per row
Onboard WiFi and complimentary water
$80from · per vehicle, taxes included
Toyota Hiace
6 to 9 passengers · 9 large bags
Large families, groups of friends and weddings
High roof: you walk to your seat standing up
Dual air conditioning system
$135from · per vehicle, taxes included
Maxus V90
10 to 12 passengers · 12 large bags
Corporate groups, private tours and events
Panoramic windows and reclining seats
Luggage hold separated from the cabin
$220from · per vehicle, taxes included
Illustrative images of each model. You choose the vehicle type — Staria, Hiace or Maxus — and that is what picks you up, with the capacity and equipment listed.
Routes and fares
Popular routes and prices
Flat rate for the whole vehicle, not per person. Over 600 routes between 55 destinations and 103 hotels; the price shown is for the vehicle carrying up to 5 passengers and the calculator gives you the exact Hiace and Maxus fare. Do not see your route? Message us and we will quote it right away.
We know the real driving times on each road, not the ones the map claims. Here is what to know before choosing your route.
Pick-up and drop-off
We leave you at your hotel door
Straight to your hotel door, no extra charge. The price depends on the zone, not the exact hotel — so pick whichever one you like. These are the ones we visit most often; if yours is not listed, we still take you there. Some hotels sit in rural areas where a 4x4 vehicle may be needed; if you already know that is your case, just let us know when booking and we will confirm the right fare right away.
How it works
Four steps, and you know exactly what happens next
Book your whole trip online in minutes — or message us on WhatsApp and we will put it together with you.
1
Find your route
Choose where you leave from and where you are going — airport, town or hotel — and see the final price instantly. Not listed? Message us and we will quote it.
2
Build your trip
Add every leg you need — arrival, between destinations and back to the airport — to the same cart and pay once.
3
Add details and book
Set the place and time of each pick-up, choose Standard or Tropical Experts VIP and get your order number instantly.
4
Meet your driver
On travel day your driver is waiting with a sign bearing your name. We send you their name, photo and plate the day before.
Frequently asked
What everyone asks before booking
Contact
We answer every day of the year
WhatsApp is the fastest channel and where almost everything reaches us. If your flight is delayed or the plan changes at midnight, write with confidence: someone answers.
