Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Herradura & Los Sueños to La Fortuna
Swapping Herradura Bay and the Los Sueños marina for the volcano? We collect you at your resort, condo or boat slip and drive you over the mountains to your hotel in La Fortuna. Taxes and tolls are part of the fare, which is per vehicle.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from Herradura · Los Sueños to La Fortuna
A private transfer means the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. We collect you at your accommodation in Herradura · Los Sueños at the time you choose and drive straight to the door of your hotel in La Fortuna, with stops only when you ask for them.
Prices are per vehicle, not per passenger, and nothing is added later: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats come with every booking. Go Standard for the fastest trip or VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
Leaving Herradura · Los Sueños
From Herradura · Los Sueños to La Fortuna: the logistics
Herradura is a horseshoe-shaped bay on the Central Pacific, just north of Jacó, with a calm, dark-sand beach and a small village behind it. At the south end of the bay lies Los Sueños Resort & Marina, a gated community with the Marriott hotel, a golf course, condominiums and one of the country's best-known sportfishing marinas.
We collect you at the Marriott, at your condominium inside Los Sueños or at your rental in Herradura. Inside the resort, the driver waits at the lobby or building entrance you indicate; if you are coming off a fishing charter, tell us the expected return time.
Once you are in La Fortuna you are close to everything the area is known for: the La Fortuna waterfall, the national park trails, the hot rivers and the lake. The driver leaves you at your hotel door and can point you to a good place for dinner.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 45 min of driving, a pickup after breakfast in Herradura · Los Sueños gets you to La Fortuna for lunch or the early afternoon.
Before you go
Before you leave Herradura · Los Sueños
Charter time first
If you fish on your last morning, ask the captain for a firm return time and send it to us.
Check-out at the resort
Settle the bill the night before at the larger hotels to avoid the morning queue.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 145 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- The Costanera Sur (Route 34) north, inland towards San Ramón, then Route 702 (or 141) to La Fortuna
- First stretch
- The Herradura road out to Route 34 northbound
From Herradura the van takes the short road back to Route 34 and heads north along the coast, crossing the Tárcoles River before turning inland towards the mountains.
From the Central Pacific coast the van follows the Costanera Sur (Route 34) north, crosses the Tárcoles River and heads inland, climbing from sea level towards San Ramón in the mountains.
Along the way
What you'll see between Herradura and La Fortuna
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from Herradura · Los Sueños to La Fortuna you will see:
The Los Sueños marina
Rows of sportfishing boats in one of the main marinas of the Pacific coast.
San Ramón and La Tigra
Mountain towns on Route 702, with one-lane bridges and frequent mist on the high part of the road.
The Tárcoles River bridge
The bridge on Route 34 where American crocodiles gather on the sandbanks below; many drivers slow down here and people walk the pavement to look.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
If you would rather make a day of it, Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. Stops you can request on this route:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Want more time? Each extra hour is $35 (up to 4) and is added in the calculator. The Standard service goes direct, with a restroom stop if you need one.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
The Costanera Sur (Route 34) is a good, wide road, though weekend and holiday traffic towards the beaches can be heavy, especially on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. In the rainy season, roughly May to November, afternoon storms are common on the Pacific side.
Should a closure or severe weather stop the transfer altogether, you can reschedule or get your money back in full, as our terms set out.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Fishing gear and coolers travel fine; tell us when you book so we send enough space.
- Sunday afternoons are the busiest time on Route 34 northbound; a morning pickup avoids it.
- Pack a warm layer at the top of the bag: La Fortuna is noticeably cooler than the coast, especially at night.
- Bringing surfboards, bikes or diving gear? Tell us when you book so we send a vehicle with room for it.
Fares
Prices for this route
Per vehicle, in US dollars, taxes included.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large bags | Standard | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hyundai Staria1–5 passengers |
1–5 | 5 | $260 | $340 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $305 | $385 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $390 | $470 |
Extra hour of stops: $35, up to 4. Hotels with a surcharge are listed below.
Google reviews
What travellers say
Short excerpts from real Google reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica.
“Muy agradable el servicio, nos encantó.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Herradura · Los Sueños → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Herradura · Los Sueños to La Fortuna?
Approximately 3 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 145 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that; with VIP, add the one to two hours of sightseeing stops.
How much is a private shuttle from Herradura · Los Sueños to La Fortuna?
$260 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $305 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $390 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is Herradura far from Jacó?
No, just a few minutes north of Jacó on Route 34. The fare to Herradura and to Jacó is the same from La Fortuna.
Can we stop at the Tárcoles crocodiles?
Yes, the Tárcoles River bridge is on the way, a short distance before Herradura. With VIP it is part of the stops; on Standard, ask the driver for a brief stop if traffic allows.
Can you collect us at the marina after a charter?
Yes. Give us the boat and the expected return time; the driver waits at the marina or at your hotel, as you prefer.
Do we pay the driver anything?
No. The fare is paid in full when you book, by card through Tilopay or by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer arranged on WhatsApp. There are no surcharges on the day and nothing to pay the driver; tips are up to you.
Pick-up and drop-off
Hotels we drive to in La Fortuna
Any hotel in the La Fortuna area, door to door. A few examples, plus every hotel with a surcharge:
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we pick up from in Herradura · Los Sueños
These are some of the hotels in Herradura · Los Sueños that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
Every private transfer
What's included
- Pickup at your door at the time agreed when you book
- A private vehicle for your group only, door to door
- Professional driver and full-cover insurance
- Fuel, tolls and taxes (VAT) — nothing to pay the driver
- Child seats at no cost, on request
- Free cancellation up to 48 h before pickup
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Ready to book Herradura · Los Sueños → La Fortuna?
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