Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Las Catalinas
Going to Las Catalinas, the walkable beach town on Playa Danta? We pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you via Lake Arenal and Liberia to the arrival point of your hotel or rental. 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 Fortuna to Las Catalinas
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 Las Catalinas. Rest stops happen when you want them.
There are no extras to discover later: the per-vehicle fare already includes taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, water, WiFi and child seats. Pick Standard for a direct trip, or upgrade to VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
Your destination
Arriving in Las Catalinas
Las Catalinas is a planned beach town built on the hillside above Playa Danta, just north of Potrero. It was designed for walking: narrow lanes, stairways and small plazas link houses, shops and restaurants, and cars stay at the edge of town. Around it, a network of trails through dry forest is popular with hikers and mountain bikers.
Accommodation is in the town's hotel and in rental houses managed by local companies. Because the centre is pedestrian, tell us who manages your stay: they will tell us where vehicles can stop and usually help you with the luggage from there.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 4 h 30 min of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Las Catalinas
What to do in Las Catalinas
Walk the town
Lanes, plazas and stairways with views over Playa Danta, all on foot.
Trails by bike or on foot
A large network of dry-forest trails in the hills around the town.
Paddleboard and kayak
Playa Danta is sheltered and calm much of the year.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 185 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 around Lake Arenal, Route 1 north to Liberia, Route 21 west, then the coast roads around Huacas
- Last stretch
- The coast road past Flamingo and Potrero, then the access road to Las Catalinas
From Huacas the road reaches the sea in a few kilometres. Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito, Conchal and Las Catalinas sit close together along this stretch of coast, so the last part of the drive is short whichever bay you are heading to.
After Flamingo the coast road bends around Potrero Bay and climbs a little to the north, to the access road of Las Catalinas above Playa Danta. Vehicles stop at the edge of the pedestrian centre.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Las Catalinas
The landscape changes several times between Arenal and Las Catalinas. This is what passes the window:
Guanacaste ranch country
Long fences, brahman cattle and the wide crowns of guanacaste trees, the national tree, along Route 21.
The Liberia ring of highways
The city of Liberia is where the plains route meets the road to the coast; the airport is just to the west.
Playa Danta
The sheltered beach below Las Catalinas, with calm water much of the year.
Dry forest trails
The hills around the town are crossed by hiking and mountain-bike trails through Guanacaste dry forest.
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:
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.
Wildlife stops
When coatis, monkeys or birds appear by the lake road, we pull over so you can see them.
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
When that section is shut, we switch to the inland road through Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua, which meets the Inter-American Highway further north; it adds time, and we warn you before you leave. Beyond the lake the highway is wide and easy. Guanacaste's dry months, roughly December to April, bring heat and dust; the rest of the year the plains turn green.
The roads are paved as far as Las Catalinas; inside the town, lanes are for pedestrians. In the dry season the hills are golden and dusty, and the afternoon wind can be strong.
And if a road closure or extreme weather makes the transfer impossible, our terms let you choose: a new date or your money back in full.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- In the dry season, from about December to April, keep water handy: the coast is hot and the air conditioning works hard.
- Ask your hotel or rental company before you travel where vehicles drop guests and how luggage is handled.
- Bring comfortable walking shoes: the town has stairways and slopes.
- Keep water, sunscreen and a light jacket in your hand luggage, not in the boot: the weather changes on the way.
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 | $315 | $395 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $360 | $440 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $445 | $525 |
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.
“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 Fortuna → Las Catalinas
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Las Catalinas?
Approximately 4 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 185 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 Las Catalinas?
$315 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $360 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $445 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
What if Route 142 around the lake is closed?
Then we drive the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. It takes longer, and we warn you before setting off. Closures have happened after heavy rain, most recently in July 2026.
Why is the time different in each direction?
Our fare table gives approximately 4 h 30 min from La Fortuna to Las Catalinas and approximately 4 h in the opposite direction. We confirm the exact pickup time when you book.
Can you drive to our house in Las Catalinas?
The centre of Las Catalinas is designed for pedestrians, so we take you to the closest point vehicles can reach. Your hotel or rental company tells you where that is and how the luggage is handled.
Where exactly will you drop us?
At the vehicle access point closest to your accommodation; your hotel or rental company confirms where that is.
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 Las Catalinas
These are some of the hotels in Las Catalinas that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Las Catalinas — Beach Town
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 → Las Catalinas?
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.