Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Esterillos
Heading for the long, quiet beaches of Esterillos, south of Jacó? We pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you down the Pacific coast to your hotel or beach house. You pay per vehicle, never per seat, and the price already includes taxes.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from La Fortuna to Esterillos
This is a door-to-door service. We pick you up at reception in La Fortuna, you travel with your own group in a vehicle reserved for you, and we drop you at the entrance of your hotel, rental or house in Esterillos. Rest stops happen when you want them.
What you see is what you pay, per vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, water, WiFi and child seats are all in the price. Standard is the direct trip; VIP adds $80 per vehicle and turns the drive into a day with stops.
Your destination
Arriving in Esterillos
Esterillos is a string of long, open beaches between Jacó and Parrita, usually divided into Esterillos Oeste, Centro and Este. It feels a world away from busy Jacó: few buildings, wide stretches of sand, coconut palms and a handful of small hotels and holiday homes along dirt side roads.
Surfers come for the beach breaks and travellers for the calm, with Jacó close enough for restaurants and tours. Alma del Pacífico Beach Hotel is one of the best-known places to stay. The beaches are long, so tell us exactly which Esterillos and which property you are going to.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 4 h of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Esterillos
What to do in Esterillos
Long beach walks
Kilometres of open sand, especially beautiful at low tide and sunset.
Surf away from the crowds
Beach breaks that are usually much less busy than Jacó.
Day trips north and south
Jacó is close for restaurants; Manuel Antonio is within reach for a day.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 170 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 702 (or 141) to San Ramón, down to the coast, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34)
- Last stretch
- Route 34 south of Jacó, then a short gravel side road to the beach
Near the coast it joins the Costanera Sur, Route 34, the highway that runs along the Pacific shore past the Tárcoles River bridge and the beach towns of the Central Pacific. From here on the driving is easy and the sea appears on the right.
After Jacó, Route 34 runs flatter and straighter along the coast. The turn-offs for Esterillos lead down short side roads, some of them gravel, to the beach and the hotels.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Esterillos
The landscape changes several times between Arenal and Esterillos. This is what passes the window:
From mountain to coast
In two hours the landscape goes from cloud forest and dairy farms to dry hills, mango trees and the Pacific.
San Ramón and La Tigra
Mountain towns on Route 702, with one-lane bridges and frequent mist on the high part of the road.
Esterillos beaches
Kilometres of open sand with very few buildings, and coconut palms along the high-tide line.
The coast south of Jacó
Route 34 flattens out south of Jacó, with views of the sea between farms and palm groves.
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:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Extra hours of stops cost $35 each, up to 4. Tell us what you would like to see when you book and we plan the timing around it. Standard goes direct, with a restroom break whenever you need it.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Route 702 over the mountains is paved but narrow and winding, with one-lane bridges, fog on the high section and a rough stretch reported in 2026 between Ángeles Sur and Bajo Rodríguez; Route 141 is the alternative if needed. On the way down to the coast you may meet heavy trucks on the climbs.
Route 34 is paved and in good condition; the side roads to some Esterillos properties are gravel and can be muddy in the rainy season. Weekend beach traffic around Jacó can slow the trip in both directions.
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
- Leaving on a weekday morning avoids the weekend beach traffic on Route 34.
- Ask your host for a location pin and send it with the booking; side roads here are not always named.
- There are few shops right on the beach; stock up in Jacó or ask the driver for a quick supermarket stop.
- 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 | $305 | $385 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $350 | $430 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $435 | $515 |
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: La Fortuna → Esterillos
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Esterillos?
Approximately 4 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 170 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 Fortuna to Esterillos?
$305 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $350 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $435 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.
Is Esterillos far from Jacó?
It is a short drive south of Jacó on Route 34. That is why the fare and time are slightly higher than to Jacó: approximately 4 h according to our fare table.
Can you reach houses on the gravel side roads?
Yes. All our vehicles drive gravel roads. Send us the exact location when you book so the driver goes straight to the gate.
Which Esterillos do you go to?
All three: Oeste, Centro and Este. Give us the exact property and send the location pin when you book.
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
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Esterillos
These are some of the hotels in Esterillos that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Alma del Pacífico Beach Hotel
Pick-up and drop-off
Hotels we pick up from in La Fortuna
Any hotel in the La Fortuna area, door to door. A few examples, plus every hotel with a surcharge:
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book La Fortuna → Esterillos?
Pick your date, vehicle and service in the calculator, pay online and get your voucher by email — or message us and we'll book it with you.