Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Jacó
From the volcano to the surf: we pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you down to Jacó on the Central Pacific, with a stop at the Tárcoles crocodile bridge if you wish. 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 Jacó
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 Jacó. 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 Jacó
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.
Hotels range from the large Croc's Resort & Casino to small surf lodges and the many condominium towers along the beach. It is a good base for surfing lessons, canopy tours, sportfishing from nearby Herradura and day trips to Manuel Antonio or the Carara National Park.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 45 min of driving, even a late-morning departure from La Fortuna leaves most of the day free.
In Jacó
What to do in Jacó
Surf lessons
Jacó's beach breaks are good for learning; surf schools rent boards along the beach road.
Canopy and waterfall tours
Zip lines and waterfall hikes in the hills behind town.
Day trips
Manuel Antonio, Carara and the Tárcoles River are within easy reach for a day.
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
- Route 702 (or 141) to San Ramón, down to the coast, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34)
- Last stretch
- Route 34 to the Jacó entrances, then the town streets
From La Fortuna the van climbs south over the mountains on Route 702 through La Tigra to San Ramón (or on Route 141 via Zarcero if that road is better on the day). From San Ramón the route drops steadily towards the Pacific, losing altitude and gaining heat with every kilometre.
The last part follows Route 34 past the turn-offs for Herradura and into Jacó, where the driver leaves the highway for the town streets and goes to your hotel or condo entrance.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Jacó
The landscape changes several times between Arenal and Jacó. This is what passes the window:
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.
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 Jacó beach
A long sweep of grey sand with surfers in the water at almost any hour.
Carara National Park
The forest reserve beside Route 34 near Tárcoles, one of the best places on the Pacific to spot scarlet macaws.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) the transfer includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver who doubles as your guide, a welcome kit with local beers, soft drinks and bocas, and sparkling water on board. VIP stops are available on any route in the country. On this one, you can ask for:
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).
Need more than two hours? Add up to 4 extra hours at $35 each when you book. On Standard the driver goes straight there and stops for the restroom whenever you ask.
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.
Inside Jacó the main street can be slow in the evening and at weekends. Route 34 is a good, wide road, but traffic to and from the Central Valley is heavy on Friday and Sunday afternoons and on long weekends.
Our terms cover the rare day when a closure or extreme weather stops the transfer: you can move it to another date or receive 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.
- Booked a surf lesson for the next morning? Arriving in the afternoon gives you time to check the waves at sunset.
- Jacó is hot and humid all year; keep shorts and sandals in the hand luggage.
- 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.
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.
“Muy agradable el servicio, nos encantó.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: La Fortuna → Jacó
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Jacó?
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 La Fortuna to Jacó?
$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.
Is Jacó the same as Herradura or Punta Leona?
They are neighbours on the same stretch of coast, a few minutes apart, and the fare from La Fortuna is the same. Jacó is the town; Herradura and Punta Leona are a bay and a private resort just to the north.
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.
Can we stop in Jacó town before the hotel?
Yes. Ask the driver for a quick stop for groceries or cash on the main street.
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:
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to 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
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