Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Playa Avellanas
Heading for the surf breaks of Playa Avellanas, south of Tamarindo? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you via Lake Arenal and Liberia to your surf lodge or house. 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 Playa Avellanas
A private transfer means the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. You choose the pickup time, we collect you at the door of your La Fortuna hotel and the only stops on the way to Playa Avellanas are the ones you ask for. No shared-shuttle timetable, no detours to other people's hotels.
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 Playa Avellanas
Playa Avellanas is a long surf beach south of Tamarindo, past Hacienda Pinilla, with several reef and beach breaks that work on different tides. It has kept a relaxed, rural feel: a few surf lodges, rentals among the trees and beachside restaurants rather than a town.
The best-known spot is a beach restaurant famous for its resident pig, but most people come for the waves and the sunsets. Supplies and nightlife are in Tamarindo, about half an hour away; give us the exact name of your lodge or house when you book.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 4 h of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Playa Avellanas
What to do in Playa Avellanas
Surf several peaks
Reef and beach breaks along the bay, each working on different tides.
Lunch on the beach
Beach restaurants under the trees, popular after a session.
Sunset walks
A long beach with dramatic sunsets and few buildings.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 220 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 around Lake Arenal, Route 1 north, Route 21 across Guanacaste, then the Huacas–Tamarindo roads
- Last stretch
- From Villarreal, rural roads south past Hacienda Pinilla; the last stretch may be gravel
From Huacas, local roads lead south and west to Tamarindo, Playa Grande and the beaches beyond. The coast here is a chain of separate bays, so the last few kilometres depend on exactly where you are staying.
After Villarreal the route heads south on rural roads, past the entrance to Hacienda Pinilla, to Playa Avellanas. The final kilometres may be gravel depending on maintenance, and the beach appears through the trees.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Playa Avellanas
What to look out for on the road to Playa Avellanas:
Lake Arenal
A long stretch along the north shore of the largest lake in the country, with views to the volcano on clear days.
Tilarán's turbines
The wind farms on the ridges above the lake, one of the reasons Costa Rica produces most of its electricity from renewable sources.
The Avellanas breaks
Several surf peaks along the beach, busy at dawn and at sunset.
Rural Santa Cruz
Cattle pastures and dry forest on the back roads between Villarreal and Avellanas.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Our VIP upgrade (+$80 per vehicle) turns the transfer into a short tour: one to two hours of stops chosen with you, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. It is available on any route in the country. Ideas for this one:
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.
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 slow part of the day is the road around Lake Arenal. Driving guides published in 2025 and 2026 agree that Route 142 is fully paved but tight: a narrow carriageway, sharp bends, barely any hard shoulder and long unlit stretches. Gusts of wind are frequent near Tilarán, and heavy rain has brought down the slopes between Nuevo Arenal and La Fortuna more than once, most recently in July 2026 and before that in July 2024.
The main roads are paved; the access to Avellanas and some lodges may include gravel sections, dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rains. All our vehicles drive them.
Should a closure or severe weather stop the transfer altogether, you can reschedule or get your money back in full, as our terms set out.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Surfboards are welcome: tell us how many when you book so we send a vehicle with room for them.
- Bring cash for the beach restaurants; not every small place takes cards.
- Stock up on groceries in Tamarindo or Villarreal; ask the driver for a stop.
- 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 | $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 → Playa Avellanas
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Playa Avellanas?
Approximately 4 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 Playa Avellanas?
$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.
Do you take the lake road or the inland road?
Normally the lake road, Route 142 via Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán. If it is closed by a landslide, we use the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, which takes longer.
Is the road to Avellanas paved?
Most of it. The last stretch and some lodge driveways may be gravel. All our vehicles drive gravel roads.
Do you carry surfboards?
Yes. Tell us how many boards and their length when you book so we send a vehicle with room for them.
Can we stop in Tamarindo on the way?
Yes, Tamarindo is close to the route; ask the driver for a short stop for supplies.
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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