Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to RIU Guanacaste (Playa Matapalo)
Staying all-inclusive at the RIU on Playa Matapalo? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you to the lobby of Riu Guanacaste or Riu Palace Costa Rica. 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 RIU Guanacaste
Leaving Arenal for RIU Guanacaste 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 RIU Guanacaste.
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 RIU Guanacaste
The two RIU resorts, Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica, stand side by side on Playa Matapalo, a long beach on the Guanacaste coast in the Sardinal area, not far from Playas del Coco. They are large all-inclusive hotels with their own pools, restaurants and entertainment, so most guests spend their days inside the resort and on the beach.
Both share the same entrance road, but they have separate lobbies, so tell us which one you are staying at. Liberia airport is relatively close, which makes the RIU a common first or last stop of a Costa Rica trip that also includes Arenal.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 30 min of driving, even a late-morning departure from La Fortuna leaves most of the day free.
In RIU Guanacaste
What to do in RIU Guanacaste
Resort life
Pools, restaurants and entertainment inside the RIU complex, with the beach in front.
Excursions from the lobby
Tour desks at the resort sell trips to Rincón de la Vieja, catamarans and more.
Beach walks
Playa Matapalo is long and good for walking at sunrise or sunset.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 180 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 around Lake Arenal to Cañas, Route 1 north to Liberia, then Route 21 west
- Last stretch
- From Route 21 near Sardinal, the road west to Playa Matapalo
From Liberia, Route 21 heads west towards the coast, past the turn-off for the airport, and local roads take you down to the bays. The lake section is the slow one; the rest is open, sunny lowland driving.
After Liberia, the route follows Route 21 west and then the road through Sardinal towards the coast at Playa Matapalo. The resort road ends at the RIU's main gate, and the driver takes you to the lobby.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and RIU Guanacaste
The landscape changes several times between Arenal and RIU Guanacaste. This is what passes the window:
Lake Arenal
The road runs along the north shore for a long stretch, with the water on one side and forested hills on the other.
The Guanacaste plains
Big ranches, tall guanacaste trees and long straight roads between Cañas and Liberia, much drier than Arenal.
Playa Matapalo
The long beach in front of the RIU resorts, facing the Gulf of Papagayo.
Dry forest hills
Low hills of Guanacaste dry forest around Sardinal, gold in the dry season and green when it rains.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
If you would rather make a day of it, Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. Stops you can request on this route:
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.
Wildlife stops
When coatis, monkeys or birds appear by the lake road, we pull over so you can see them.
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
Most of the curves on this trip come on Route 142 beside Lake Arenal, a paved road with little margin: narrow lanes, few barriers, no lighting at night and crosswinds around Tilarán, as independent driving guides from 2025 and 2026 point out. After very heavy rain, landslides have closed it between Nuevo Arenal and La Fortuna, in July 2024 and July 2026.
The roads from Liberia to the RIU are paved and easy. In the dry season, December to April, the area is hot, sunny and dusty, and the Papagayo winds blow in the afternoons.
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
- If you are flying out of Liberia in a few days, this coast is a good last stop: the airport is close.
- Tell us which RIU you are staying at, Riu Guanacaste or Riu Palace; the lobbies are separate.
- Check-in at all-inclusive resorts usually opens in the afternoon; a morning departure from La Fortuna fits well.
- Travelling with children? Tell us their ages and weights when you book and the right child seat will be installed, free of charge.
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 → RIU Guanacaste
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to RIU Guanacaste?
Approximately 3 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 180 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 RIU Guanacaste?
$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.
What happens if the road around Lake Arenal is closed?
It has happened after heavy rain, in July 2024 and July 2026. We then take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. It adds time, and we let you know before leaving.
Which RIU do you go to?
Both. Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica share the entrance road on Playa Matapalo but have separate lobbies; tell us which one when you book.
Is the RIU close to Liberia airport?
Yes, it is one of the beach areas closest to Liberia airport, which is why many travellers combine it with Arenal at the start or end of their trip.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You pay online by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on Tilopay's secure page; SINPE Móvil or a bank transfer can be arranged on WhatsApp. Cancel up to 48 hours before pickup for a full refund. Within 48 hours there is no refund, except for a flight cancellation documented by the airline.
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 RIU Guanacaste
These are some of the hotels in RIU Guanacaste that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Riu Guanacaste / Riu Palace Costa Rica
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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Ready to book La Fortuna → RIU Guanacaste?
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.