Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa
Going to the surf town of Santa Teresa, at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula? We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna and drive you door to door, on the route that best fits the day. 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 Santa Teresa
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 Santa Teresa goes door to door.
There are no extras to discover later: the per-vehicle fare already includes taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, water, WiFi and child seats. Pick Standard for a direct trip, or upgrade to VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
Your destination
Arriving in Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is a long, laid-back surf town on the Pacific coast near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Its beaches have consistent waves for all levels, and the single main road behind them is lined with cafés, yoga studios, surf shops and restaurants, many of them hidden in the jungle.
Places to stay range from surf hostels to boutique hotels such as Florblanca, Nantipa, Hotel Trópico Latino and Latitude 10. The town stretches for several kilometres, so give us the exact name and location of your hotel or rental when you book.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 6 h 30 min of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Santa Teresa
What to do in Santa Teresa
Surf for every level
Several beach breaks along the coast, with schools and board rentals in town.
Yoga and wellness
Studios and retreats along the main road and in the hills.
Sunsets on the rocks
The coast faces west; the rocky points are the classic sunset spots.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 245 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 6 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 out of Arenal, then, depending on the time and season, the land route or the Gulf of Nicoya crossing (we confirm when you book)
- Last stretch
- The roads of the southern peninsula into Santa Teresa, partly gravel
Whichever way we go, the trip starts on Route 142 out of the Arenal area and ends on the roads of the southern peninsula, where the last kilometres to the beach are slower than the distance suggests. Plan on a full day of travel.
The final part of the trip runs on the roads of the southern peninsula, through the village of Cóbano and down to the coast. The last kilometres into Santa Teresa and along its main road are slower, with dust in the dry season and potholes after rain.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Santa Teresa
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
Dry hills and cattle farms
Inland, the peninsula is a patchwork of pasture, teak plantations and dry forest that turns gold between January and April.
Arenal at the end of the day
On the Arenal side, the green lowlands and, with luck, the volcano's cone in the last light.
Cóbano
The small commercial town of the southern peninsula, with banks and supermarkets, on the way to the beaches.
Santa Teresa's main road
A long, narrow road between the jungle and the beach, lined with cafés, surf shops and yoga studios.
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. Tell us what you would like to see and we will plan it: VIP stops are not limited to a fixed list.
Extra hours of stops cost $35 each, up to 4. Tell us what you would like to see when you book and we plan the timing around it. Standard goes direct, with a restroom break whenever you need it.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Roads on the southern peninsula are a mix of paved sections and gravel, especially the last kilometres to the beaches. They are dusty in the dry season and can be muddy and potholed in the wet one. All our vehicles drive gravel roads; the driver adjusts the pace to the conditions.
Parts of the road network on the southern peninsula are gravel, and Santa Teresa's main road gets very dusty in the dry season and potholed after rain. All our vehicles drive these roads; the time of approximately 6 h 30 min in our fare table reflects them.
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
- Take water, snacks and something to read: this is one of the longest transfers in the country.
- Take cash in colones: ATMs in Santa Teresa and Cóbano can run out at busy weekends.
- Book surf lessons for the morning after you arrive, when the wind is usually lighter.
- Keep water, sunscreen and a light jacket in your hand luggage, not in the boot: the weather changes on the way.
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 | $400 | $480 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $445 | $525 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $530 | $610 |
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.
“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 → Santa Teresa
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa?
Approximately 6 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 245 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that.
How much is a private shuttle from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa?
$400 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $445 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $530 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do we take the ferry or the land route?
It depends on the time of day and the season. We choose the route for your travel day and confirm it with you when you book, together with the pickup time. The fare does not change.
Is Santa Teresa close to Malpaís?
Yes, they are neighbours along the same coast, and the fare from La Fortuna is the same. Montezuma is on the other side of the peninsula's tip.
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.
Do you collect from hotels outside La Fortuna town?
Most of them, yes, at the same fare. The exceptions are Chateau Arenal, Arenal Observatory Lodge, the hotels in El Castillo and Lost Iguana (+$20 per vehicle) and Rancho Margot (+$40). Every vehicle we use can handle the gravel roads to those hotels.
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 Santa Teresa
These are some of the hotels in Santa Teresa that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Nantipa — A Tico Beach Experience
- Florblanca Resort
- Hotel Trópico Latino
- Latitude 10 Resort
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Ready to book La Fortuna → Santa Teresa?
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.