Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Los Chiles (Nicaragua border)
Heading for Los Chiles, the northern border town and gateway to Caño Negro? We pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you north on Route 35 to your hotel, the dock or the border area. 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 Los Chiles
Leaving Arenal for Los Chiles is easier when someone else handles the road. Your driver picks you up at your hotel at the time that suits you, loads the luggage and drives your group, and only your group, straight to your accommodation in Los Chiles.
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 Los Chiles
Los Chiles is a small town on the Río Frío, a few kilometres from the Nicaraguan border, in the far north of Alajuela province. It is the main access point by boat to the Caño Negro wildlife refuge, a seasonal lake and wetland famous for birdwatching, caimans and river wildlife.
The river also connects Los Chiles with San Carlos in Nicaragua, and the official land crossing of Las Tablillas is nearby. If you are crossing the border, our transfer ends on the Costa Rican side; formalities, any fees and onward transport in Nicaragua are your own arrangement, so check the current requirements before travelling.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 1 h 45 min of driving, even a late-morning departure from La Fortuna leaves most of the day free.
In Los Chiles
What to do in Los Chiles
Caño Negro by boat
Boat trips on the Río Frío into the Caño Negro wetlands to see caimans, birds and turtles.
Birdwatching
The wetlands are among the best birding areas in the country, especially in the drier months.
A border-town stroll
Los Chiles has a small riverside centre with sodas and a dock where boats come and go.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 100 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 1 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 east to Muelle, then Route 35 (Corredor Norte) north to Los Chiles
- Last stretch
- Route 35, a flat highway through farmland, to Los Chiles
This is one of the easier drives from La Fortuna. The road leaves Arenal eastwards to the Muelle crossroads, the hub of the northern plains, and from there the route spreads out across flat, open country of cattle farms, sugarcane and pineapple.
The final part is a straight run north on Route 35, the Corredor Norte, through pasture, orange groves and sugarcane, with almost no curves. The town of Los Chiles appears at the end of the plains, beside the Río Frío.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Los Chiles
The landscape changes several times between Arenal and Los Chiles. This is what passes the window:
The Muelle crossroads
A busy junction town with fruit stands and roadside sodas; a natural place for a short break.
Lowland rivers
Wide, slow rivers cross the plains; herons, egrets and sometimes iguanas sun themselves along the banks.
The Río Frío
The slow river that flows past Los Chiles towards Lake Nicaragua, with boats leaving for Caño Negro.
Orange groves and sugarcane
Route 35 crosses one of the main citrus and cane areas of the north, flat and green to the horizon.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
If you would rather make a day of it, Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board.. Tell us what you would like to see and we will plan it: VIP stops are not limited to a fixed list.
If one or two hours are not enough, add extra hours at $35 each (maximum 4). Without VIP, the driver still stops for restrooms or a snack when you ask.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Heavy rain is common in the northern lowlands for much of the year and can flood low spots for a few hours. When that happens we take a detour or wait for the water to drop; we tell you if it changes the timing.
Route 35 is a modern, wide and mostly straight highway, one of the easiest roads in the country. Watch for farm machinery and cyclists near towns. In the rainy season the wetlands around Caño Negro flood, which affects boat tours more than the road.
If we cannot run the transfer because of a road closure or extreme weather, you choose between a new date and a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- This is a good morning-after-the-volcano trip: you can do a dawn activity in Arenal and still leave before lunch.
- If you are going on to Caño Negro by boat, book the tour for the afternoon so the timings fit.
- Crossing into Nicaragua? Have your passport, onward documents and any required fees ready; requirements change, so check them shortly before travelling.
- 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 | $240 | $320 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $295 | $375 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $380 | $460 |
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.
“The van was on time, assisted us with our luggage… His English is extremely good… you will be taken care of to the highest regard.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: La Fortuna → Los Chiles
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Los Chiles?
Approximately 1 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 100 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that.
How much is a private shuttle from La Fortuna to Los Chiles?
$240 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $295 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $380 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is the road flat, or are there many curves?
Mostly flat. This trip crosses the northern plains, so there are far fewer curves than on the routes to the Central Valley or Guanacaste. The slow points are towns, one-lane bridges and farm traffic.
Do you take us across the border into Nicaragua?
No. Our transfer ends on the Costa Rican side, in Los Chiles or at the border area you indicate. Border formalities and onward transport in Nicaragua are arranged separately.
Can we combine the transfer with a Caño Negro boat tour?
Yes. Book the tour with a local operator and tell us the times; we drop you at the dock and, if you need it, pick you up again later with a second transfer or extra hours.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You pay online by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on Tilopay's secure page; SINPE Móvil or a bank transfer can be arranged on WhatsApp. Cancel up to 48 hours before pickup for a full refund. Within 48 hours there is no refund, except for a flight cancellation documented by the airline.
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
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 → Los Chiles?
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.