Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Jacó to La Fortuna
Heading from the beach at Jacó to Arenal? We collect you at your hotel or condo in Jacó and drive you inland over the mountains to the door of 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 Jacó to La Fortuna
This is a door-to-door service. Your driver meets you at your hotel, rental or house in Jacó, your group travels on its own in a vehicle reserved for you, and we drop you at the entrance of your hotel in La Fortuna.
One price covers the whole vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats, with nothing to pay on the day. Standard takes you straight there; VIP, for $80 more per vehicle, adds sightseeing stops and a driver who doubles as a guide.
Leaving Jacó
From Jacó to La Fortuna: the logistics
Jacó is one of the two biggest tourist towns on the Central Pacific and the closest lively beach to San José. Its long grey-sand beach, around 4 km from end to end, has consistent waves and surf schools, and the main street behind it is packed with restaurants, bars, surf shops and tour offices.
We collect you at your hotel or condominium in Jacó. Most properties are on or just off the main street or the beach road; give us the exact name and, for condos, the tower or unit, so the driver goes straight to the right entrance.
Your driver takes you to the door of your hotel, whether it is in town, on the road to the volcano or out towards El Castillo. If you arrive in the afternoon, the evening is a good moment for the hot springs; the volcano is usually clearest early the next morning.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 45 min of driving, a pickup after breakfast in Jacó gets you to La Fortuna for lunch or the early afternoon.
Before you go
Before you leave Jacó
Sunrise surf
The wind is usually lightest early; a dawn session fits before a late-morning pickup.
Rinse and pack boards
Rinse the salt off and bag the boards the night before.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 150 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
- Jacó streets out to Route 34 northbound
From your hotel in Jacó the van joins Route 34 heading north along the coast, past Herradura and Punta Leona, to the Tárcoles River and the road inland.
From San Ramón it takes Route 702 north through La Tigra (or Route 141 via Zarcero) and drops down into the San Carlos plains to La Fortuna. Expect the temperature to fall by several degrees as you climb.
Along the way
What you'll see between Jacó and La Fortuna
Some of what you will pass on the way to La Fortuna:
Carara National Park
The forest reserve beside Route 34 near Tárcoles, one of the best places on the Pacific to spot scarlet macaws.
From mountain to coast
In two hours the landscape goes from cloud forest and dairy farms to dry hills, mango trees and the Pacific.
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
Our VIP upgrade (+$80 per vehicle) turns the transfer into a short tour: one to two hours of stops chosen with you, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. It is available on any route in the country. Ideas for this one:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Carara National Park
With extra time, a short walk on one of the trails of Carara, beside Route 34, known for scarlet macaws (entrance fee paid on site).
Each additional hour of stops is $35, with a maximum of 4. Not booking VIP? Standard still includes a restroom or snack break on request.
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
- Rinse and pack the boards the night before; we can carry them, but tell us how many when you book.
- Avoid a Sunday afternoon departure if you can: that is when the whole coast drives back inland.
- If you get carsick, the mountain curves come in the second half of this trip; take the front seat.
- If you get carsick, take the front seat or the first row and look ahead on the curves.
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: Jacó → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Jacó to La Fortuna?
Approximately 3 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 150 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 Jacó 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.
Can we stop to see the crocodiles at Tárcoles?
Yes. The Tárcoles River bridge is on the Costanera Sur, on the way. With VIP (+$80 per vehicle) the stop is part of the plan; on Standard, ask the driver and he will stop briefly if traffic allows, or add an extra hour for a longer visit.
Can we see the scarlet macaws or the crocodiles on the way?
Yes. The Tárcoles River bridge and Carara National Park are both beside Route 34, a few minutes before Jacó. With VIP you have time for both; park entrance is paid on site.
Do you take surfboards?
Yes. Tell us how many boards and their length when you book, and we send a vehicle with room for them and your luggage.
Do you pick up at condo towers on the beach?
Yes. Give us the tower name and unit, and the driver waits at the main entrance or lobby.
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 Jacó
These are some of the hotels in Jacó that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Croc's Resort & Casino
- Hotel Club del Mar
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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