Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Rincón de la Vieja
From one volcano to another: we pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you to the lodges at the foot of Rincón de la Vieja, near Liberia, for its fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs. 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 Rincón de la Vieja
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 Rincón de la Vieja goes door to door.
One price covers the whole vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats, with nothing to pay on the day. Standard takes you straight there; VIP, for $80 more per vehicle, adds sightseeing stops and a driver who doubles as a guide.
Your destination
Arriving in Rincón de la Vieja
Rincón de la Vieja is an active volcano north-east of Liberia, protected by a national park. Its best-known sector, Las Pailas, has a loop trail past bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles and small volcanic lakes, and the slopes around it are full of waterfalls and hot springs.
The lodges sit on the ranches at the foot of the volcano, among them Hacienda Guachipelín and Buena Vista del Rincón, and offer horse riding, canopy lines, river tubing and hot springs. It is adventure country with a cowboy accent, and the air is drier and hotter than in Arenal.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 15 min of driving, even a late-morning departure from La Fortuna leaves most of the day free.
In Rincón de la Vieja
What to do in Rincón de la Vieja
Las Pailas trail
A loop past mud pots, fumaroles and a volcanic lagoon in the national park.
Hot springs and mud baths
Several lodges have thermal pools and volcanic mud baths.
Adventure on the ranches
Horse riding, zip lines and river tubing on the slopes of the volcano.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 165 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h 15 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 around Lake Arenal to Cañas, then Route 1 (Inter-American Highway) north
- Last stretch
- From Liberia, rural roads towards the volcano; the final stretch may be gravel
The route starts with the lake road, Route 142, along the north shore of Lake Arenal and over the hills of Tilarán. At Cañas it joins the Inter-American Highway (Route 1), the main north–south road of Central America, and follows it north through the plains of Guanacaste.
From Liberia the route leaves the Inter-American Highway towards the volcano, climbing through ranch land on rural roads. The last kilometres to some lodges are gravel, and the volcano fills the view ahead.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Rincón de la Vieja
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
The Guanacaste volcano chain
Miravalles, Rincón de la Vieja and Orosí rise inland from the highway on clear days.
Lake Arenal
The north shore of the lake, with the wind turbines of Tilarán on the ridges above.
Rincón de la Vieja volcano
The broad, forested massif of the volcano rises ahead as you leave Liberia.
Ranch land
Cattle pastures, horses and long stone or wire fences on the rural roads to the lodges.
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:
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.
Wildlife stops
When coatis, monkeys or birds appear by the lake road, we pull over so you can see them.
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
If Route 142 is closed on your travel day, we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua, joining Route 1; it takes longer and we tell you before setting off. Once on the Inter-American Highway the driving is straightforward, and in the dry season, roughly December to April, Guanacaste is hot, dusty and sunny.
The Inter-American Highway is fast; the roads from Liberia to the lodges are rural and partly gravel, dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rains. Some lodge roads cross private ranch land; the driver knows the access points.
If we cannot run the transfer because of a road closure or extreme weather, you choose between a new date and a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Wear closed shoes if you plan a hike on arrival: volcanic trails are rocky.
- Bring closed shoes for the Las Pailas trail, which is rocky and hot around the fumaroles.
- Book your park visit or lodge activities for the morning, when it is cooler.
- 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 | $280 | $360 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $325 | $405 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $410 | $490 |
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 → Rincón de la Vieja
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Rincón de la Vieja?
Approximately 3 h 15 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 165 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 Rincón de la Vieja?
$280 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $325 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $410 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is Route 142 around the lake the only way?
It is the usual way. If it is closed, we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, which takes longer; we tell you before leaving.
Do you drive to Hacienda Guachipelín and Buena Vista?
Yes. We drive to the lodges around Rincón de la Vieja, including Hacienda Guachipelín and Buena Vista del Rincón. Give us the exact lodge when you book.
Is the road to the lodges gravel?
Partly. The final stretch to several lodges is gravel or rough rural road. All our vehicles drive it regularly.
Can you take us straight to the national park entrance?
Yes, or to your lodge. Park entrance fees are paid separately.
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 Rincón de la Vieja
These are some of the hotels in Rincón de la Vieja that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Hacienda Guachipelín
- Buena Vista del Rincón
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
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