Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Nosara (Guiones)
Off to the surf and yoga of Nosara and Playa Guiones? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you around Lake Arenal and across the Nicoya Peninsula to your door. 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 Nosara
Shared shuttles run to a timetable and stop at several hotels. With us the van is booked for your party only: you set the departure time from La Fortuna, the driver waits while you check out, and the drive to Nosara goes door to door.
The fare is per vehicle and final: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats are included, and there is nothing to pay the driver. Choose Standard to go direct, or add Tropical Experts VIP (+$80) for one to two hours of sightseeing stops.
Your destination
Arriving in Nosara
Nosara is the area of beaches, forest and small settlements on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, best known for Playa Guiones, a long beach with gentle, consistent waves that has made it one of the country's surf and yoga centres. Development has been kept low and green, with houses and hotels hidden in the trees behind the beach.
Among the places we drive to are The Harmony Hotel, Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, Olas Verdes and The Gilded Iguana. Just to the north is the Ostional refuge, famous for the mass nestings of olive ridley turtles. The local roads are mostly gravel, dusty in the dry season and muddy when it rains.
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 Nosara
What to do in Nosara
Surf at Playa Guiones
Long, gentle waves suit learners and longboarders; surf schools line the beach paths.
Yoga
Nosara is one of Costa Rica's yoga centres, with daily classes at several studios and retreats.
Ostional turtles
The nearby refuge is known for mass nestings of olive ridley turtles at certain times of year.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 205 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 5 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 around Lake Arenal to Cañas, Route 1, Route 18 over the Tempisque bridge, then Nicoya peninsula roads
- Last stretch
- From Nicoya, paved roads towards Sámara and then gravel roads into Nosara
Beyond the bridge the road runs through the town of Nicoya and then out towards the Pacific on smaller roads, through hills of dry forest and cattle farms. This is the part of the trip where the time goes, because the last stretch is slower than the distance suggests.
From the town of Nicoya the route heads towards the Pacific on paved roads, and then the last stretch into Nosara runs on gravel, through hills of forest and farmland. This final part is slow and dusty in the dry season, muddy in the wet.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Nosara
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from La Fortuna to Nosara you will see:
The Tempisque bridge
The long bridge over the Tempisque River, the gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula, with wide views of the river and its wetlands.
Lake Arenal
The north shore of the lake and the wind farms of Tilarán, at the Arenal end of the trip.
Playa Guiones
A long, straight beach backed by forest, with surfers spread out along its gentle breaks.
Nicoya's hills
Cattle farms, teak plantations and dry forest on the way from Nicoya to the coast.
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:
Lake Arenal views
Short stops along the north shore of the lake when the clouds lift and the volcano shows across the water.
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.
Nicoya's colonial church
A short walk around the main square of Nicoya and its whitewashed colonial church, right on the way.
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 142 around Lake Arenal is paved but narrow and winding, and it has been closed by landslides after heavy rain (July 2024, July 2026); if it is closed we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. The highway and Route 18 across the Tempisque are easy driving.
The gravel roads around Nosara are the slow part of the trip; dust is constant in the dry season and potholes and puddles appear in the rainy one. All our vehicles drive them regularly, and the driver adjusts the pace.
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
- Bring cash in colones for small purchases on arrival; beach towns on the peninsula have fewer ATMs.
- Bring a bandana or buff for the dust if you plan to walk or cycle the gravel lanes.
- Shops and ATMs are limited; take some cash in colones.
- 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 | $390 | $470 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $435 | $515 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $520 | $600 |
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 → Nosara
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Nosara?
Approximately 5 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 205 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 Nosara?
$390 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $435 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $520 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do you take a ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula?
Not on this route: from Arenal we cross to the peninsula by road, over the Tempisque bridge on Route 18. It is the most direct way from the north.
Are the roads to Nosara unpaved?
The last stretch into Nosara is gravel, and most local lanes are too. All our vehicles drive gravel roads; it is slower and dustier, which is part of the fare-table time of approximately 5 h.
Do you go to houses on the forest lanes of Guiones?
Yes. Send us the location pin and the house name; the driver goes to your gate.
Can you drive us to a yoga retreat outside the centre?
Yes. Give us the retreat's name and location pin; many are on gravel lanes, which all our vehicles drive.
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 Nosara
These are some of the hotels in Nosara that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- The Harmony Hotel
- Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
- Olas Verdes Hotel
- The Gilded Iguana
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