Licensed by the Costa Rica Tourism Board · ICT 3946-2025
Private Transportation in Costa Rica
Door-to-door private shuttles from SJO and Liberia airports to your hotel, and between 55 destinations across the country. One closed price per vehicle — from $80, taxes, tolls and child seats included. Run by a local team based in La Fortuna.
- Per vehicle, not per person
- Flight tracking
- Free child seats
- Free cancellation 48 h
Prices
Private shuttle prices from SJO and Liberia airports
Fares in US dollars for the whole vehicle, taxes included. These are the routes our travellers book most, out of 628 routes in our price calculator.
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJO Airport (San José) → La Fortuna | $220 | $275 | $360 | 3 h |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Monteverde | $220 | $275 | $360 | 3 h 15 min |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Manuel Antonio | $220 | $275 | $360 | 3 h |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Jacó | $175 | $230 | $315 | 1 h 45 min |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Puerto Viejo | $320 | $365 | $450 | 4 h 30 min |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Uvita | $335 | $380 | $465 | 4 h |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Tamarindo | $345 | $390 | $475 | 4 h 45 min |
| SJO Airport (San José) → Santa Teresa | $375 | $420 | $505 | 5 h 30 min |
From Liberia airport (Guanacaste)
| Route | Staria (1–5) | Hiace (6–9) | Maxus (10–12) | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Tamarindo | $135 | $190 | $275 | 1 h 15 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Papagayo | $110 | $165 | $250 | 30 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Playa Conchal | $135 | $190 | $275 | 1 h 45 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Rincón de la Vieja | $125 | $180 | $265 | 1 h |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Río Celeste | $190 | $245 | $330 | 2 h 15 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Nosara | $240 | $295 | $380 | 2 h 15 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → La Fortuna | $225 | $280 | $365 | 2 h 45 min |
| Liberia Airport (LIR) → Monteverde | $230 | $285 | $370 | 2 h 45 min |
- Same price in both directions. Staria: up to 5 passengers and 5 large bags; Hiace: 6–9 and 9 bags; Maxus: 10–12 and 12 bags.
- VIP with sightseeing stops: +$80 per vehicle. Extra hours: $35 each.
Destinations
Popular destinations
How it works
Book your private transfer in four steps
- 1Get your price. Choose origin, destination, date and number of passengers. The calculator shows the final fare per vehicle — no hidden fees.
- 2Pay securely online. Pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) on Tilopay's protected page. Your card never passes through our site.
- 3Receive your voucher. You get a PDF voucher by email. The day before your trip we send the driver's name, the plate number and a 24/7 contact.
- 4Meet your driver. At the airport your driver waits at arrivals with a sign with your name. At a hotel, we pick you up at the lobby.
Your options
Private shuttle, shared shuttle or rental car?
Private shuttle (Tropical Experts)
Only your group. You choose the pick-up time. Straight to your hotel door. One price for the whole vehicle, so it gets cheaper per person the more of you travel.
Shared shuttle
Priced per seat. Fixed departure times and stops at other travellers' hotels, so the trip takes longer and you adapt to the schedule.
Rental car
Freedom, but you drive mountain roads you do not know, pay for insurance, fuel and parking, and need to return the car at the end.
Taxi or ride-hailing apps
Fine for short city trips. For long routes such as SJO to La Fortuna or Liberia to Monteverde, availability and price are uncertain.
Included
What every private transfer includes
- Driver waiting at arrivals with your name
- Flight tracking — if your flight is delayed, we adjust at no charge
- Child seats at no cost, on request
- Bottled water and free WiFi on board
- Full-cover insurance and a professional driver
- Door-to-door pick-up, 24 hours a day at no extra charge
- Short courtesy stop on request (restroom or a quick bite)
- Taxes and tolls included
- Free cancellation up to 48 h before
Our vehicles
Hyundai Staria
1–5 passengers · 5 large bags. Ideal for couples and families.
Toyota Hiace
6–9 passengers · 9 large bags. High-roof van for groups and families.
Maxus
10–12 passengers · 12 large bags. For groups and extended families.
Airport transfers
Which airport should you fly into?
SJO · Juan Santamaría (San José)
Costa Rica's main international airport, in Alajuela. Best for the Central Valley, La Fortuna and Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Jacó, the Caribbean and the southern Pacific. SJO to La Fortuna: $220 per vehicle, about 3 h.
LIR · Daniel Oduber (Liberia)
The Guanacaste airport. Best for Tamarindo, Papagayo, Playa Conchal, Playas del Coco, Nosara, Rincón de la Vieja and Río Celeste. Liberia to La Fortuna: $225 per vehicle, about 2 h 45 min.
Flying into one airport and out of the other is common: for example, land in Liberia for the beaches, then go to La Fortuna and Monteverde, and fly home from San José. We cover every leg.
Why Tropical Experts
Why book your transportation with us
Local and licensed
We are based in La Fortuna and licensed by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT 3946-2025). You book directly with the operator, not with a reseller.
Clear prices
One closed fare per vehicle, in dollars, with taxes included. What you see in the calculator is what you pay.
Real reviews
Rated 5.0 by our travellers on Google and reviewed on Tripadvisor. Read what they say before you book.
We answer fast
Questions before or during your trip? Write to us on WhatsApp and a person from our team answers.
FAQ
Private transportation in Costa Rica: frequent questions
How much does private transportation cost in Costa Rica?
Our fares start at $80 and depend on the route, not on how many people travel. For example, SJO airport to La Fortuna is $220 and Liberia airport to Tamarindo is $135 for a vehicle with up to 5 passengers. The price is per vehicle and already includes taxes and tolls.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. Two or five passengers pay the same in the Hyundai Staria. That is why a private transfer usually costs less than a shared shuttle once you are three or more.
What is the difference between a private shuttle and a shared shuttle?
A shared shuttle sells seats: you leave at a fixed time and stop at other travellers' hotels. A private shuttle is only for your group, picks you up when you want and takes you straight to your door.
Do you pick up at SJO and Liberia airports?
Yes. We meet you at arrivals with a sign with your name and we track your flight: if it is delayed, we adjust at no charge.
Are child seats included?
Yes, child seats are free of charge, on request. Tell us the ages of the children when you book.
How do I pay?
Online by card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) in US dollars, on Tilopay's secure payment page. Your card details never pass through our site. When the payment is approved you receive a PDF voucher by email.
Can we stop along the way?
The standard transfer goes straight to your door, with a short courtesy stop if you ask (restroom or a quick bite). With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you get a flexible one to two hour sightseeing stop — lookouts, waterfalls, a coffee farm — and extra hours cost $35 each, up to 4.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up.
Ready to plan your transfers?
Get the exact price for your route in seconds, or send us your itinerary on WhatsApp and we quote every leg.