Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Cruz & Costa Elena to La Fortuna
Leaving the windy bays of La Cruz and Bahía Salinas for Arenal? We collect you at your hotel in the far north of Guanacaste and drive you south to La Fortuna. One closed price for the whole vehicle, taxes included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from La Cruz · Costa Elena to La Fortuna
Shared shuttles leave at fixed times and collect other passengers on the way. Ours is booked for your party only: you set the pickup time in La Cruz · Costa Elena, we wait while you check out, and the drive to La Fortuna goes door to door.
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 La Cruz · Costa Elena
From La Cruz · Costa Elena to La Fortuna: the logistics
La Cruz is the last town on the Inter-American Highway before the Nicaraguan border, perched on a ridge with a lookout over Bahía Salinas and the Pacific. Below it, the bays of this northern corner of Guanacaste are quiet, with few buildings and a landscape of dry hills and long beaches.
We collect you at your hotel in La Cruz or on the coast below. Some coastal properties are reached by rural roads that may be gravel; send us the location and the driver will plan the access.
We know the La Fortuna end of this trip well, because it is where we live. Tell us the name of your hotel or the address of your rental and the driver goes straight there; if it is one of the hotels with a surcharge, the fare already shows it.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 45 min of driving, a pickup after breakfast in La Cruz · Costa Elena gets you to La Fortuna for lunch or the early afternoon.
Before you go
Before you leave La Cruz · Costa Elena
Secure the gear
Kites and boards travel well if packed the night before; tell us what you carry.
Wind-blown dust
Keep sunglasses and a buff handy; the wind lifts dust in the dry season.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 190 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 1 (Inter-American Highway) south to Cañas, then Route 142 around Lake Arenal
- First stretch
- Coast roads up to La Cruz and Route 1 southbound
From the coast the road climbs to La Cruz and the Inter-American Highway, which heads south through ranch land towards Liberia, Bagaces and Cañas.
From northern Guanacaste the van takes the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) south across the plains, with the volcanoes of the Guanacaste range on the left, until the Cañas turn-off.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Cruz and La Fortuna
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from La Cruz · Costa Elena to La Fortuna you will see:
Santa Rosa National Park
The highway passes the entrance to Santa Rosa, a dry-forest park and historic site of the 1856 battle against William Walker's forces.
Lake Arenal
The north shore of the lake, with the wind turbines of Tilarán on the ridges above.
The Guanacaste volcano chain
Miravalles, Rincón de la Vieja and Orosí rise inland from the highway on clear days.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Tropical Experts VIP adds $80 per vehicle and gives you one to two hours of stops, a bilingual driver acting as guide, a welcome kit (local beers, soft drinks and Costa Rican snacks) and sparkling water. We offer VIP stops on every route; on this drive these are the ones we suggest:
Lake Arenal views
Short stops along the north shore of the lake when the clouds lift and the volcano shows across the water.
The lake lookout (mirador)
Time to stretch your legs and take photos from a lookout high above the water.
Café y Macadamia
A restaurant with a view over Lake Arenal, good for a coffee or a late breakfast.
The Bahía Salinas lookout
A stop at the lookout in La Cruz for the view over the bay and the kitesurfers in the wind season.
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
Our fallback is the inland road via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, longer but reliable; if we need it, you hear from us before departure. On the Inter-American Highway itself driving is simple. Expect strong sun and dry, dusty landscapes from about December to April and greener, wetter months after that.
If a road closure or extreme weather means we cannot run your transfer on the day, our terms give you the choice of rescheduling or a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Secure loose items before the pickup; the wind at Bahía Salinas can be fierce.
- If you are coming from the border area, tell us your crossing time so we coordinate the pickup.
- The lake road comes last; if you get carsick, take the front seat from the start.
- 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 | $330 | $410 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $375 | $455 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $460 | $540 |
Extra hour of stops: $35, up to 4. Hotels with a surcharge are listed below.
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
Google reviews
What travellers say
Short excerpts from real Google reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica.
“We had a great experience… our driver John… very professional, friendly, and drove safely… shared so much interesting information about Costa Rica… Highly recommended!”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: La Cruz · Costa Elena → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from La Cruz · Costa Elena to La Fortuna?
Approximately 3 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 190 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 La Cruz · Costa Elena to La Fortuna?
$330 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $375 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $460 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is Route 142 around the lake the only way?
It is the usual way. If it is closed, we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, which takes longer; we tell you before leaving.
When is the wind season for kitesurfing?
Roughly from December to April, when strong, steady winds blow across Bahía Salinas. Conditions vary from year to year; local kite schools can advise.
Is La Cruz close to the Nicaraguan border?
Yes. It is the last town before the Peñas Blancas border crossing. If you are crossing, the Peñas Blancas route is the one you need.
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 La Cruz · Costa Elena
These are some of the hotels in La Cruz · Costa Elena that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- JW Marriott Costa Elena
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