Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
Heading for the reggae, surf and jungle beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you across the country to the southern Caribbean. 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 Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
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 Puerto Viejo (Caribbean) 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 Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the liveliest town on the southern Caribbean coast, with a mix of Afro-Caribbean, indigenous Bribri and international influences, reggae bars, cafés and surf shops. Its reef break, Salsa Brava, is one of the most powerful waves in the country, and the coast road south leads to the beaches of Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, backed by jungle.
Hotels and cabins are spread along that road, among them Le Caméléon, Hotel Aguas Claras, Banana Azul and Cariblue. Many visitors cycle between beaches. This Puerto Viejo is on the Caribbean; there is another Puerto Viejo in Sarapiquí, so check the destination when you book.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 5 h 15 min of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
What to do in Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
The beaches south of town
Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, each a short bike ride apart.
Jaguar Rescue Center
A wildlife rescue centre near Playa Chiquita that runs guided visits.
Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge
Forest trails and coral reef at the southern end of the coast road.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 285 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 5 h 15 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 east to Muelle, Route 4 through Sarapiquí, then Route 32 towards the Caribbean
- Last stretch
- Route 32 to Limón, Route 36 south past Cahuita to Puerto Viejo
Route 32 is the backbone of the province of Limón: banana plantations, freight depots and long straight stretches, with plenty of trucks heading to and from the port. The landscape gets wetter, flatter and greener as you go.
From Limón, Route 36 follows the coast south, past Cahuita, to the junction for Puerto Viejo. The town is a few minutes off the main road, and the coast road continues south towards Cocles, Punta Uva and Manzanillo.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo
From the volcano to Puerto Viejo (Caribbean), the view changes along the way:
Banana country
Along Route 32 the plantations stretch for kilometres, with blue bags protecting the bunches and cable lines that carry the fruit to the packing plants.
The lowland rainforest
Between the farms, patches of tall, humid forest with palms and enormous trees; this is the wettest side of the country.
Salsa Brava
The reef break right in front of town, where big waves break over shallow coral.
The coast road to Manzanillo
A jungle-lined road south of town that links Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva.
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:
A riverside break in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
A coffee or lunch beside the Sarapiquí River, roughly halfway, is an easy stop to ask for.
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
Rain on the Caribbean side follows its own calendar: it can pour in months that are dry elsewhere, and many visitors find September and October among the calmer months on the southern Caribbean coast. Heavy downpours can slow the drive at any time of year.
Route 36 is a two-lane coastal road; south of Puerto Viejo the coast road is narrow and shared with cyclists and pedestrians. Route 32 carries heavy truck traffic and has long-running roadworks. Rain can arrive in any month on the Caribbean side.
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
- Have a light rain jacket and repellent ready for the arrival: the Caribbean is humid and showers come quickly.
- Rent a bike on your first day: it is the local way to move between Puerto Viejo's beaches.
- Check that your booking says Puerto Viejo (Caribbean), not Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí.
- 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.
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 → Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)?
Approximately 5 h 15 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 285 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 Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)?
$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.
Which way do you drive between Arenal and the Caribbean?
Across the northern lowlands via Muelle and Route 4 to Sarapiquí, then along Route 32 on the Caribbean side. It avoids the mountain roads of the Central Valley, but Route 32 carries heavy truck traffic and roadworks.
Is this Puerto Viejo de Talamanca or Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí?
This route goes to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, on the southern Caribbean coast. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí is a different town in the northern lowlands; for that one, book the La Fortuna to Sarapiquí route.
Do you go to Cocles, Punta Uva or Manzanillo?
Yes, we drive to hotels along the coast road south of Puerto Viejo. Give us the exact address; places far towards Manzanillo add a few minutes.
Can you drop us in Manzanillo?
Yes, we drive to hotels along the coast road as far as Manzanillo. Give us the exact address when you book.
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
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)
These are some of the hotels in Puerto Viejo (Caribbean) that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Le Caméléon Boutique Hotel
- Hotel Aguas Claras
- Banana Azul
- Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort
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 → Puerto Viejo (Caribbean)?
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.