Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Montezuma
Going to the bohemian village and waterfalls of Montezuma? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you door to door to the southern Nicoya Peninsula. The fare is per vehicle, not per person, and taxes are already in it.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from La Fortuna to Montezuma
Leaving Arenal for Montezuma 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 Montezuma.
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 Montezuma
Montezuma is a small, bohemian village on the eastern side of the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Nicoya rather than the open Pacific. Its centre is a few streets of cafés, craft stalls and small hotels by the sea, and a short trail from the village leads up a river to the Montezuma waterfalls.
The coast around it alternates rocky points and quiet beaches, and the Cabo Blanco reserve is a short drive away. Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, reached along the beach, is one of the best-known places to stay. The village is compact, so tell us your hotel when you book and we will tell you where the driver can stop.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 7 h 15 min of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Montezuma
What to do in Montezuma
Montezuma waterfalls
A river trail from the village to the falls; wear proper shoes and take care on the rocks.
Boat trip to Tortuga Island
Day trips to the island in the Gulf of Nicoya leave from the area.
Village life
Cafés, craft stalls and small beaches within walking distance of the centre.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 250 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 7 h 15 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 out of Arenal, then, depending on the time and season, the land route or the Gulf of Nicoya crossing (we confirm when you book)
- Last stretch
- From Cóbano, the steep road down to Montezuma
The southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula is one of the longest trips from Arenal, and there is more than one way to get there. Depending on the time of day and the season, we choose the route on your travel day and confirm it with you when you book, together with the pickup time.
The final part of the trip crosses the southern peninsula to Cóbano and then drops down a steep, winding road to Montezuma, with views over the gulf on the way down.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Montezuma
From the volcano to Montezuma, the view changes along the way:
Dry hills and cattle farms
Inland, the peninsula is a patchwork of pasture, teak plantations and dry forest that turns gold between January and April.
Arenal at the end of the day
On the Arenal side, the green lowlands and, with luck, the volcano's cone in the last light.
The Gulf of Nicoya
From the road down to Montezuma you see the calm gulf and its islands.
Montezuma village
A handful of streets by the sea, with cafés, craft stalls and the path towards the waterfalls.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Prefer to sightsee on the way? Tropical Experts VIP costs $80 more per vehicle and includes one to two hours of stops, a bilingual driver who acts as your guide, a welcome kit of local beers, soft drinks and snacks, and sparkling water. We offer it on every route; here, you can ask for. Tell us what you would like to see and we will plan it: VIP stops are not limited to a fixed list.
Want more time? Each extra hour is $35 (up to 4) and is added in the calculator. The Standard service goes direct, with a restroom stop if you need one.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Because the time of day and the season affect which route makes sense, we confirm the itinerary with you when you book. Rain, traffic and queues can add time to a long day, so we recommend not scheduling anything important for the evening of arrival.
The road between Cóbano and Montezuma is steep and winding; other roads in the area mix paved and gravel sections. In the dry season dust is constant; in the rainy season, heavy rain can slow the final kilometres.
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
- Take water, snacks and something to read: this is one of the longest transfers in the country.
- The waterfall trail follows a river and has slippery rocks: wear proper shoes and do not jump from the high falls.
- Bring cash in colones; there are few ATMs in the village.
- 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 | $400 | $480 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $445 | $525 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $530 | $610 |
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 → Montezuma
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Montezuma?
Approximately 7 h 15 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 250 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that.
How much is a private shuttle from La Fortuna to Montezuma?
$400 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $445 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $530 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Why is the time different in each direction?
Our fare table gives approximately 7 h 15 min from La Fortuna to Montezuma and approximately 6 h 45 min from Montezuma to La Fortuna. We confirm the route and the pickup time with you when you book.
Do we take the ferry?
It depends on the time of day and the season. We choose the route for your travel day and confirm it with you when you book. The fare is the one in the table either way.
Can you drive to our hotel on the beach?
Some hotels can only be reached on foot. We take you to the closest point a vehicle can reach, and the hotel usually helps with the luggage.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, with a 100% refund to the same card. Within 48 hours there is no refund, except for a documented flight cancellation. Changes of date, time or address are free, subject to availability.
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 Montezuma
These are some of the hotels in Montezuma that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Ylang Ylang Beach Resort
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book La Fortuna → Montezuma?
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.