Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection from SJO and Liberia Airports
Punta Islita, Autograph Collection stands on a hillside at Islita, on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, and the road in is part of the journey. We collect you at Liberia or SJO airport and drive you to the hotel in a vehicle for your group alone: from $270 per vehicle from Liberia, up to five passengers.
Location
Where Punta Islita, Autograph Collection is
- Location
- Islita, Nandayure, on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste
- Opened
- 1994, built into a hillside that runs down to a cove
- From Liberia
- about 125 km, around 2.5 hours (Vacations Costa Rica, a 2024 hotel review)
- Road
- paved most of the way; the last stretch is unpaved, and older accounts mention river crossings
- By air
- a 35 to 40 minute flight from Liberia or San José to the Islita airstrip, per the Michelin Guide and Five Star Alliance listings
- Community
- the hotel runs art and education programs with the village of Islita
The hotel opened in 1994 and is built into a slope that drops from the top of the hill to a sheltered cove. It belongs to Marriott's Autograph Collection and sits in the village of Islita, in Nandayure, well away from the beach towns of the northern Nicoya coast. Travel listings describe two pools, a spa, the Alma restaurant and the Aura beach club, and the hotel runs art and education programs with the village, which has murals on its houses and a small museum.
That remoteness shapes the transfer. Published sources put Islita about 125 km and 2.5 hours from Liberia airport, but they disagree on how smooth the last miles are, and none of them describes the road as fast. The Michelin Guide listing and a luxury-travel directory both point to a flight to the Islita airstrip, at 35 to 40 minutes from either Liberia or San José. By road, the hotel is a half-day proposition from SJO and a morning or afternoon from Liberia.
The hotel is its own fare zone with no surcharge. The grounds step down a hillside over several levels, with many stairs, reception on the main level and the beach reached by a walk of about ten minutes or by the hotel's beach shuttle, according to a 2024 review, so ask the front desk about luggage when you arrive.
From the airports
Getting to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection from SJO and Liberia
From SJO airport (San José)
From SJO this is the long way, and our fare table gives approx. 5 h of driving. The route heads north on Route 1 into Guanacaste and then onto the Nicoya Peninsula; the exact approach depends on road and weather conditions on the day. Michelin quotes about four hours by land from San José, and several sources suggest flying to the airstrip instead. If you drive, your driver waits outside the terminal with a sign bearing your name, and we recommend leaving SJO early enough to arrive while there is daylight.
From Liberia airport (LIR)
Liberia is the natural airport for Punta Islita. The usual road runs south from Liberia on Route 21 through Santa Cruz to Nicoya, then toward Sámara and Playa Carrillo. After Carrillo the road turns rough, and Vacations Costa Rica mentions a river to ford. A 2024 review describes the final stretch as unpaved, with potholes, and an older forum thread tells of crossings that depended on the tide. Our fare table gives approx. 2 h 30 min of driving, at $270 for up to five passengers, $315 for up to nine and $400 for up to twelve.
Fares
Prices to and from Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
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 ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $330 | $375 | $460 | approx. 5 h |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $270 | $315 | $400 | approx. 2 h 30 min |
Onward trips from Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monteverde ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $305 | $350 | $435 | approx. 4 h |
| Tamarindo ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $305 | $350 | $435 | approx. 2 h 30 min |
| Papagayo Peninsula ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $315 | $360 | $445 | approx. 3 h |
| Jacó ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $350 | $395 | $480 | approx. 4 h 45 min |
| Santa Teresa ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $355 | $400 | $485 | approx. 3 h 30 min |
| La Fortuna ↔ Punta Islita, Autograph Collection | $370 | $415 | $500 | approx. 5 h |
- Punta Islita, Autograph Collection is in the Punta Islita 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 Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
- Aim to reach the hotel in daylight. The last stretch is unpaved, and one source advises arriving during the day; if your flight lands late, tell us and we will plan around it.
- Travelling between May and November? Vacations Costa Rica says the roads are hard in those months and suggests flying. Ask the hotel about its current road conditions before your date.
- Plan a supply stop if you need one. A 2024 reviewer asked the driver to stop at a grocery on the way, so mention it when you book.
- Moving on: $305 to Tamarindo, $315 to Papagayo, $355 to Santa Teresa, $350 to Jacó, $305 to Monteverde or $370 to La Fortuna, up to five passengers.
Questions
Questions about transfers to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
How much is a private shuttle from SJO or Liberia airport to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection?
From SJO: $330 (Staria, 1–5 passengers), $375 (Hiace, 6–9) or $460 (Maxus, 10–12). From Liberia: $270, $315 or $400. Per vehicle, taxes included; the return costs the same.
How long is the drive from Liberia airport to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection?
Our fare table gives approx. 2 h 30 min of driving. Published sources say about 125 km and around 2.5 hours, and a 2024 review notes up to 3 hours in traffic. The road is mostly paved to Carrillo, then rougher, so allow extra time in the rainy months.
Is the road to Punta Islita paved?
Mostly. Sources agree that the last stretch is unpaved, with potholes, and some mention a river crossing; accounts differ on how long that stretch is. Older reports and Vacations Costa Rica describe the rainy months as the hardest. Ask the hotel about the current condition before your date.
Can we come from San José airport?
Yes, but it is the long route: approx. 5 h of driving by our fare table, from $330 per vehicle. Liberia is the more practical airport, and the flight to the Islita airstrip is listed at 35 to 40 minutes.
Does the driver take us to the hotel itself?
Yes. The transfer ends at the hotel, not at the village. Put the hotel name and your reservation name on the booking and tell us if your plans change, so the driver goes to the right entrance.
Our flight lands late. Is it safe to drive at night?
We track your flight, so a delay does not lose your pickup. The last stretch is unpaved, and one source advises arriving by day, so a late landing may call for a night in Liberia first. Tell us the time and we will help you decide.
Can we make stops on the way to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection?
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you get one to two hours of stops along the way. Extra hours are $35 each, up to 4. Because the last stretch is slow, we suggest keeping stops short on arrival day.
How do I book a transfer to Punta Islita, Autograph Collection?
To book online, type “Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection” in the calculator (it appears under Punta Islita), 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.
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