Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle to El Mangroove from SJO and Liberia Airports
El Mangroove, Autograph Collection sits at Playa Panamá on the Gulf of Papagayo, a short drive from Liberia airport. We collect you at LIR or SJO and take you to the hotel in a vehicle for your group alone, at the Papagayo zone fare: from $110 per vehicle from Liberia and $340 from San José.
Location
Where El Mangroove is
- Location
- Playa Panamá, Carrillo, on the Gulf of Papagayo (Bahía Culebra), Guanacaste
- From Liberia airport
- Marriott lists 23 km; Michelin about 19 km and 20 minutes; Forbes about 22 minutes
- Size
- 85 suites in Forbes and Michelin; a 2024 press item cites 121 suites after the expansion
- Setting
- about 17 acres of forest and mangrove, with roughly 150 m of beachfront
- Brand
- Autograph Collection (Marriott Bonvoy) since February 2016; Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star
- Check-in and out
- from 15:00 and until 12:00, per Marriott; minimum age to check in is 18
El Mangroove is a boutique resort of 85 suites according to Forbes Travel Guide and the Michelin Guide, built on about 17 acres of forest and mangrove with roughly 150 metres of beach. It joined Marriott's Autograph Collection in February 2016, Forbes rates it Four-Star, and it appeared on Travel + Leisure's 2024 T+L 500 list of the world's best hotels. A press item from late 2024 gives the suite count as 121 and announces three- and four-bedroom villas, so confirm with your booking which category you hold.
For a transfer, the useful facts are about distance and layout. Marriott puts the hotel 23 km from Liberia airport, Michelin about 19 km, and Forbes and the opening press release about 20 to 22 minutes. Michelin describes three-level buildings rising above the mangrove, so your suite may be a short walk or a staircase from where the vehicle stops. The hotel lists luggage service and a 24-hour front desk.
Marriott's page also lists a paid hotel transfer from Liberia, booked directly with the hotel, and says there is none from San José, about 230 km away. Ours covers both airports with one private vehicle for your party, a name sign at arrivals, flight tracking, water and WiFi on board, and tolls and taxes already in the fare.
From the airports
Getting to El Mangroove from SJO and Liberia
From SJO airport (San José)
From San José the road runs north on Route 1, through Cañas and on to Liberia, then turns west toward the beaches of the Gulf of Papagayo. Our fare table gives approx. 4 h 15 min of driving, and the hotel's own listing counts about 230 km. Marriott shows check-in from 15:00, so plan the pickup around that; a later flight simply means arriving in the evening. A VIP transfer adds sightseeing stops along the way.
From Liberia airport (LIR)
From Liberia the drive to Playa Panamá takes approx. 30 min on our fare table; listings put the hotel at roughly 19 to 23 km. The fare is $110 for up to five passengers, $165 for six to nine and $250 for ten to twelve. If you land before check-in opens at 15:00, the hotel lists luggage service, so you can leave bags with the front desk and start with the pool or the beach.
Fares
Prices to and from El Mangroove
Per vehicle, not per person. US dollars, taxes included, same fare in both directions.
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJO Airport ↔ El Mangroove | $340 | $385 | $470 | approx. 4 h 15 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) ↔ El Mangroove | $110 | $165 | $250 | approx. 30 min |
Onward trips from El Mangroove
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna ↔ El Mangroove | $285 | $330 | $415 | approx. 3 h 15 min |
| Monteverde ↔ El Mangroove | $275 | $320 | $405 | approx. 2 h 45 min |
| Manuel Antonio ↔ El Mangroove | $420 | $465 | $550 | approx. 5 h 45 min |
| Rincón de la Vieja ↔ El Mangroove | $260 | $305 | $390 | approx. 1 h 30 min |
| Nosara ↔ El Mangroove | $280 | $325 | $410 | approx. 2 h 45 min |
| Jacó ↔ El Mangroove | $335 | $380 | $465 | approx. 4 h |
- El Mangroove is in the Papagayo fare zone. Fares are set by zone, not by hotel, and there is no surcharge.
- VIP: +$80 per vehicle. Extra hours of stops: $35 each, up to 4.
Before you go
Practical notes for El Mangroove
- Give us the name on your reservation and say whether you booked a suite or one of the villas. The hotel's full listing name is El Mangroove, Autograph Collection, and the address is Playa Panamá, Carrillo.
- Marriott shows check-in from 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. We work back from your flight to set the pickup time, so tell us if you want to arrive after lunch or leave after a late breakfast.
- Travelling with children? The hotel lists a kids club called Guppies and a family pool. Ask us for child seats when you book.
- Staying on in Guanacaste? From the hotel door we can take you to Rincón de la Vieja for $260, to Nosara for $280 or to La Fortuna for $285, each for up to five passengers.
Questions
Questions about transfers to El Mangroove
How much is a private shuttle from SJO or Liberia airport to El Mangroove?
From SJO: $340 (Staria, 1–5 passengers), $385 (Hiace, 6–9) or $470 (Maxus, 10–12). From Liberia: $110, $165 or $250. Per vehicle, taxes included; the return costs the same.
How long does it take to get from Liberia airport to El Mangroove?
Our fare table gives approx. 30 min of driving. Published sources give a slightly shorter figure, between 20 and 22 minutes. Add time for baggage claim and customs, which can take longer than the drive.
Does El Mangroove offer its own airport transfer?
Marriott's page lists a paid transfer from Liberia, which you book with the hotel, and no transfer from SJO. Our service is a separate private transfer that covers both airports and the return leg, with a fixed per-vehicle fare.
Will the vehicle take us to the hotel entrance?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are at the hotel door, using the name on your reservation. Suites sit in multi-level buildings, so ask the front desk for help with large bags.
Our flight lands late in the evening. Is that a problem?
We follow your flight and the driver adjusts to the real arrival time. The hotel's page lists a 24-hour front desk, so a late check-in is normally possible, but confirm that with the hotel for your booking.
We are a group staying in a villa. Which vehicle do we need?
Up to five passengers travel at $110 from Liberia. For six to nine the fare is $165, and for ten to twelve it is $250. From SJO the same vehicle sizes cost $340, $385 and $470. Every fare is for the whole vehicle.
Can we add sightseeing stops to the transfer?
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you get one to two hours of stops on the way. Extra hours are $35 each, up to 4. Tell us at booking what you would like to see.
How do I book a transfer to El Mangroove?
To book online, type “El Mangroove, Autograph Collection” in the calculator (it appears under Papagayo), then choose your date and vehicle. You pay by card through Tilopay, and you can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before pickup.
Around El Mangroove
Other hotels nearby
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