Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle to Nayara Springs from SJO and Liberia Airports
Nayara Springs sits on Route 142 about 9 km west of La Fortuna, in the La Palma area at the foot of Arenal. We collect you at SJO or Liberia airport and drive you to its door in a vehicle for your group alone, at the standard La Fortuna fare: from $220 per vehicle.
Location
Where Nayara Springs is
- Location
- La Palma, on Route 142 west of La Fortuna, inside the Nayara complex
- Distance
- about 9 km from town (Forbes Travel Guide); about 10 minutes, says the hotel
- Road
- Route 142, the paved main road toward the volcano
- Guests
- listed as adults-only by Michelin, Forbes and Relais & Châteaux
Nayara Springs is one of three hotels in the Nayara complex, alongside Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp. It holds three Michelin Keys, the Michelin Guide's highest distinction for hotels (Nayara says it is the only three-Key hotel in Central America), it is a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property and a member of Relais & Châteaux. It is listed as adults-only.
For your transfer, the useful facts are simpler. The hotel is on the paved main road toward the volcano and inside our La Fortuna fare zone, so there is no surcharge. And because three Nayara hotels share one location, the name on your reservation matters: it is the name we put on your voucher and give your driver.
From the airports
Getting to Nayara Springs from SJO and Liberia
From SJO airport (San José)
Your driver waits outside the terminal with a sign bearing your name. The route runs west on Route 1, then crosses the mountains on Route 702 via San Ramón or Route 141 via Zarcero; our fare table gives approx. 3 h of driving to the La Fortuna zone. From town it is roughly another 9 km west on Route 142, about ten minutes by the hotel's own estimate. A VIP transfer goes over Vara Blanca instead, for the La Paz waterfall and Cinchona stops.
From Liberia airport (LIR)
From Liberia you head south to Cañas, climb to Tilarán and follow the north shore of Lake Arenal before coming down Route 142 toward La Fortuna. Coming from that side, the Nayara complex appears before the town centre, so you reach the hotel without crossing La Fortuna. Our fare table gives approx. 2 h 45 min of driving, and the fare is the same $225 for up to five passengers.
Road conditions, VIP stops and airport logistics for each leg:
Fares
Prices to and from Nayara Springs
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 ↔ Nayara Springs | $220 | $275 | $360 | approx. 3 h |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) ↔ Nayara Springs | $225 | $280 | $365 | approx. 2 h 45 min |
Onward trips from Nayara Springs
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monteverde ↔ Nayara Springs | $255 | $300 | $385 | approx. 3 h 15 min |
| Manuel Antonio ↔ Nayara Springs | $330 | $375 | $460 | approx. 5 h |
| Tamarindo ↔ Nayara Springs | $315 | $360 | $445 | approx. 4 h |
| Jacó ↔ Nayara Springs | $260 | $305 | $390 | approx. 3 h 45 min |
| Puerto Viejo (Caribbean) ↔ Nayara Springs | $390 | $435 | $520 | approx. 5 h 15 min |
| Papagayo Peninsula ↔ Nayara Springs | $285 | $330 | $415 | approx. 3 h 15 min |
- Nayara Springs is in the La Fortuna fare zone, so there is no surcharge.
- VIP: +$80 per vehicle. Extra hours of stops: $35 each, up to 4.
Before you go
Practical notes for Nayara Springs
- Tell us whether your booking is at Nayara Springs, Nayara Gardens or Nayara Tented Camp, so your voucher and your driver point to the right hotel.
- If you land at SJO in the evening, most of the mountain section will be driven in the dark. Standard goes direct, with a restroom stop if you need one.
- Moving on after your stay? We collect you at the hotel door at the same zone fare: $255 to Monteverde or $330 to Manuel Antonio for up to five passengers.
Questions
Questions about transfers to Nayara Springs
How much is a private shuttle from SJO or Liberia airport to Nayara Springs?
From SJO: $220 (Staria, 1–5 passengers), $275 (Hiace, 6–9) or $360 (Maxus, 10–12). From Liberia: $225, $280 or $365. Per vehicle, taxes included; the return costs the same.
Is Nayara Springs the same hotel as Nayara Gardens?
No. They are separate hotels in the same Nayara complex on Route 142, together with Nayara Tented Camp. The fare is the same for all three; just tell us which one you are staying at.
How long is the drive from SJO airport to Nayara Springs?
Our fare table gives approx. 3 h of driving from SJO to the La Fortuna zone, and the hotel is about 9 km past the town centre, roughly ten minutes according to the hotel. Traffic on Route 1, rain or fog can add time, and stops come on top.
We are flying into Liberia. Does that work for Nayara Springs?
Yes. From LIR the fare is $225 for up to five passengers and the drive is approx. 2 h 45 min, via Tilarán and Lake Arenal. From that side, Route 142 reaches the Nayara complex before La Fortuna town.
Can we make stops on the way to Nayara Springs?
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you get one to two hours of sightseeing stops: from SJO, La Paz waterfall and the Cinchona lookout; from Liberia, viewpoints over Lake Arenal and Café y Macadamia. Extra hours are $35 each, up to 4.
Our flight home leaves SJO early. When would you collect us at Nayara Springs?
It depends on the flight. The usual advice is to be at the airport about 3 hours before an international flight; we count back from there, add the approx. 3 h drive and a margin for the 2026 roadworks on Route 1, and confirm the exact pickup time when you book.
How do I book a transfer to Nayara Springs?
To book online, type “Nayara Springs” in the calculator (it appears under La Fortuna · Arenal), 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 Nayara Springs
Other hotels nearby
Book your private shuttle to Nayara Springs
Pay online and get your voucher by email, or book with us on WhatsApp.