Licensed by the Costa Rica Tourism Board · ICT 3946-2025
Private Driver in Costa Rica
One driver and one vehicle for your whole trip, for 3 days or more. Go where you want each day — volcanoes, beaches, cloud forest — without renting a car or booking every transfer separately. From $365 per day for the whole vehicle, fuel, tolls and taxes included, and we cover the driver's lodging and meals.
- Minimum 3 days
- 12 h · 105 miles per day
- Price per vehicle, per day
- Driver expenses included
- Free cancellation 48 h
Multi-day private driver
One driver, one vehicle, your whole trip
One driver, your whole trip
The same driver and vehicle stay with you from the first pick-up to the last drop-off. No waiting for a different shuttle on every leg.
Your plan, your pace
Each day follows the plan you send us: a volcano one day, the beach the next. 12 hours of service and 105 miles a day included, and extra hours if you need them (up to 10:00 p.m.).
No rental car stress
No unfamiliar mountain roads, no insurance paperwork, no parking or fuel stops to worry about.
Everything included
Fuel, tolls, taxes and the driver's lodging and meals are in the daily rate. One price per vehicle, not per person.
Daily rates
Private driver prices per day
One flat rate per vehicle per day, in US dollars, taxes included. Minimum 3 consecutive days.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large bags | Per day | 3 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Staria | 1–5 | 5 | $365 | $1,095 |
| Toyota Hiace | 6–9 | 9 | $450 | $1,350 |
| Maxus V90 | 10–12 | 12 | $545 | $1,635 |
- ★ VIP: +$80 per VIP day, on the days you choose. Each VIP day includes 2 extra hours, a guaranteed bilingual driver-guide, sightseeing stops and a welcome kit.
- Extra hours: $35 each, only if they fit before 10:00 p.m.
- Paid in full when you book. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the first pick-up.
Before you book: daily limits
- 105 miles (169 km) per day included — about the distance from San José airport to Limón or Manuel Antonio. Every extra mile is $1.
- 12 hours of service per day from the start time you choose. Service ends by 10:00 p.m. at the latest: that is the driver's rest time.
- Long trips, such as driving to the Panama border, go over the daily limit and are charged by the extra mile.
- Extra miles and extra hours are paid with a payment link we send you; the driver never collects payments.
Included
What's included every day
- Private vehicle and professional driver, 12 hours a day
- 105 miles (169 km) a day included
- Fuel and road tolls
- Taxes included in the price
- Driver's lodging and meals covered by us
- Child seats at no cost, on request
- Bottled water and free WiFi on board
- Short restroom or stretch breaks on request
- Full-cover insurance
- 24/7 support on WhatsApp
How it works
Book your private driver in four steps
- 1Choose your vehicle and dates. Pick the vehicle for your group, the first day and how many days you need (3 or more).
- 2Send your plan. Tell us your day-by-day itinerary in the booking form: where you start, where you want to go and where you finish.
- 3Pay securely. Pay by card on Tilopay's protected page and receive your order number and PDF voucher by email.
- 4Meet your driver. The day before, we send the driver's name, the plate number and a 24/7 contact. Your driver meets you at the first pick-up.
Book online
Book your private driver
FAQ
Private driver in Costa Rica: frequent questions
What is the minimum number of days?
The private driver service is booked for at least 3 consecutive days. For a single trip from one place to another, book a private transfer instead.
How much does a private driver cost in Costa Rica?
One flat rate per vehicle per day, taxes included: $365 for the Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $450 for the Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $545 for the Maxus V90 (10–12). For example, 3 days in the Staria cost $1,095.
How many hours a day does the driver work for us?
The daily rate includes 12 hours of service in a row, counted from your daily start time (for example, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). You choose a start time between 3:00 and 10:00 a.m. Service always ends by 10:00 p.m., because that is the driver's rest time, so extra hours are only possible until then: with a 6:00 a.m. start you can add up to 4 extra hours a day, with 7:00 a.m. up to 3, and with a 10:00 a.m. start the 12 hours already end at 10:00 p.m. and none can be added. Extra hours cost $35 each; you can add them when you book or, if your plan needs more during the trip, we send you a payment link (always within the 10:00 p.m. limit).
Is there a daily mileage limit?
Yes. The rate includes 105 miles (169 km) per day, which is about the distance from San José airport to Limón or to Manuel Antonio. Distance beyond that is charged at $1 per mile (about $0.62 per km), measured on the vehicle's odometer and paid by a payment link we send you. The driver never collects any payment. The service is meant for touring routes, not for very long trips such as driving to the Panama border from San José airport.
Is it the same driver for the whole trip?
Yes. The same driver and the same vehicle stay with you from the first pick-up to the last drop-off.
Are fuel, tolls and the driver's expenses included?
Yes. Fuel, tolls and taxes are included, and we cover the driver's lodging and meals. You never pay separately for fuel, tolls or the driver's lodging and meals.
Can we go somewhere different each day?
Yes. It is a flexible service, not a fixed tour: each day can follow a different route, within a reasonable daily itinerary. Send us your plan day by day when you book; if something changes during the trip, message us on WhatsApp.
Can we add the VIP upgrade?
Yes, and you choose the days. Tropical Experts VIP is +$80 for each VIP day. Each VIP day includes 2 extra hours of service (worth $70), a guaranteed bilingual driver who is also your guide, sightseeing stops and a welcome kit. You can add VIP to all your days or only to some of them. Because the 2 extra hours must also end by 10:00 p.m., VIP days need a start time of 8:00 a.m. or earlier. The Standard service does not guarantee a bilingual driver.
How do I pay?
In full when you book, by card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) on Tilopay's secure payment page. Your card details never pass through our site. You receive your order number and a PDF voucher by email.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the first pick-up.
Only need one transfer?
For a single trip, from the airport to your hotel or between two destinations, see our private transfer prices.