Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio
From Arenal to Manuel Antonio, the classic volcano-to-beach combination: we pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you down the Pacific coast to your hotel on the Manuel Antonio hillside. You pay one flat fare for the vehicle, with taxes and tolls included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio
Leaving Arenal for Manuel Antonio 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 Manuel Antonio.
Prices are per vehicle, not per passenger, and nothing is added later: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats come with every booking. Go Standard for the fastest trip or VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
Your destination
Arriving in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is the area of hills, beaches and rainforest just south of the town of Quepos, around Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is small but famous: white-sand coves, trails through the forest and easy sightings of monkeys, sloths and iguanas. Most hotels sit on the winding road that climbs from Quepos to the park entrance, many with ocean views.
Among the places we drive to are Si Como No, Tulemar, Arenas del Mar, Gaia, Hotel Parador, Makanda by the Sea, Shana by the Beach and La Mariposa. Quepos has the Pez Vela marina, supermarkets and the town's restaurants. The park has traditionally closed one day a week (Tuesday), so check the current days before you plan your visit.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 5 h of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Manuel Antonio
What to do in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park
Trails to white-sand coves with monkeys, sloths and iguanas; a guide helps you spot the wildlife.
Catamaran and kayak trips
Boat trips along the coast and its islands, many with snorkelling stops.
Quepos and the marina
Restaurants and the Pez Vela marina in Quepos, a few minutes from the hotels.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 220 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 5 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 to Quepos, then the hill road up to Manuel Antonio
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 Parrita the highway crosses the oil-palm plantations to Quepos. From the town, a narrow, winding road climbs the hill towards the national park, with the hotels on either side.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio
From the volcano to Manuel Antonio, the view changes along the way:
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.
Oil-palm plantations
Between Parrita and Quepos the highway runs through kilometres of African oil-palm plantations.
The Manuel Antonio hill road
The road between Quepos and the park climbs through forest with sudden views over the Pacific and its rocky islands.
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.
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
The Costanera Sur (Route 34) is a good, wide road, though weekend and holiday traffic towards the beaches can be heavy, especially on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. In the rainy season, roughly May to November, afternoon storms are common on the Pacific side.
Route 34 is in good condition all the way to Quepos. The road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio is narrow and steep, and busy in the late afternoon; inside the area, many hotel driveways are very steep. The fare-table time of approximately 5 h reflects a long drive with both a mountain crossing and a coastal stretch.
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
- Swap the jacket for sunscreen before you arrive: the coast is hot and humid most of the year.
- Plan your park visit for the morning after you arrive; the park opens early and is cooler before midday.
- Keep snacks and food out of sight on the hotel balcony: the local monkeys and raccoons are experts.
- 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 Fortuna → Manuel Antonio
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?
Approximately 5 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 220 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 Manuel Antonio?
$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.
Can you drive up to hotels with steep driveways?
Yes. Our drivers know the Manuel Antonio hill road and its hotels. Give us the name of your hotel or villa when you book; for private villas, send the location pin.
Can we stop at the Tárcoles crocodile bridge on the way?
Yes. It is on Route 34, roughly halfway between the mountains and Manuel Antonio. With VIP the stop is part of the plan; on Standard, ask the driver for a brief stop if traffic allows.
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.
Do you collect from hotels outside La Fortuna town?
Most of them, yes, at the same fare. The exceptions are Chateau Arenal, Arenal Observatory Lodge, the hotels in El Castillo and Lost Iguana (+$20 per vehicle) and Rancho Margot (+$40). Every vehicle we use can handle the gravel roads to those hotels.
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 Manuel Antonio
These are some of the hotels in Manuel Antonio that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Si Como No Resort & Spa
- Tulemar Resort
- Arenas del Mar
- Gaia Hotel & Reserve
- Hotel Parador Resort & Spa
- Makanda by the Sea
- Shana by the Beach
- La Mariposa Hotel
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book La Fortuna → Manuel Antonio?
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