Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Sarapiquí
Swapping the volcano for the rainforest rivers of Sarapiquí? We pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you east across the northern plains to your lodge in Sarapiquí. 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 Sarapiquí
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 Sarapiquí goes door to door.
Prices are per vehicle, not per passenger, and nothing is added later: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats come with every booking. Go Standard for the fastest trip or VIP (+$80) to stop along the way.
Your destination
Arriving in Sarapiquí
Sarapiquí is the lowland rainforest region around the town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, on the Caribbean slope of the country. Its name comes from the Sarapiquí River, which is the main attraction: rafting and calm float trips, plus birding along the banks. The forests here are hot, humid and full of wildlife.
The area is also home to well-known research and conservation sites, such as the La Selva Biological Station and the Tirimbina reserve, as well as chocolate and pineapple farm tours. Lodges are scattered along the river roads, and Selva Verde Lodge is one of the best known.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 2 h 15 min of driving, even a late-morning departure from La Fortuna leaves most of the day free.
In Sarapiquí
What to do in Sarapiquí
River trips
Rafting on the faster sections of the Sarapiquí or a calm float to watch birds and iguanas along the banks.
Research forests
Guided walks in reserves such as La Selva and Tirimbina, known for birds, frogs and giant trees.
Chocolate and fruit farms
Tours that show how cacao and tropical fruit are grown and processed in the region.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 80 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 2 h 15 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 142 east to Muelle, then Route 4 (Corredor Noratlántico) to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
- Last stretch
- Route 4 into Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and the river roads to the lodges
This is one of the easier drives from La Fortuna. The road leaves Arenal eastwards to the Muelle crossroads, the hub of the northern plains, and from there the route spreads out across flat, open country of cattle farms, sugarcane and pineapple.
The last part follows Route 4 into Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, a busy river town with a market and a dock. From there, local roads lead to the lodges along the river and into the forest.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Sarapiquí
What to look out for on the road to Sarapiquí:
Pineapple and sugarcane
The northern plains are one of Costa Rica's big farming areas; you will see pineapple fields, cane and grazing land on both sides of the road.
The Muelle crossroads
A busy junction town with fruit stands and roadside sodas; a natural place for a short break.
The Sarapiquí River
A wide river that runs from the mountains to the San Juan River on the Nicaraguan border, with rafting boats and fishing canoes.
Pineapple country
The Sarapiquí area is one of the country's big pineapple-growing regions; plantations line Route 4 for kilometres.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) the transfer includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver who doubles as your guide, a welcome kit with local beers, soft drinks and bocas, and sparkling water on board. VIP stops are available on any route in the country. On this one, you can ask for:
A riverside break in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
A coffee or a fruit stop by the river in town before heading to the lodge.
Each additional hour of stops is $35, with a maximum of 4. Not booking VIP? Standard still includes a restroom or snack break on request.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Heavy rain is common in the northern lowlands for much of the year and can flood low spots for a few hours. When that happens we take a detour or wait for the water to drop; we tell you if it changes the timing.
Route 4 is paved and mostly flat, with farm trucks and buses, and some bridges are narrow. Sarapiquí is one of the rainiest areas of the country, so short delays from heavy downpours are possible in any month.
If a road closure or extreme weather means we cannot run your transfer on the day, our terms give you the choice of rescheduling or a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- This is a good morning-after-the-volcano trip: you can do a dawn activity in Arenal and still leave before lunch.
- Bring rain gear and quick-dry clothes; Sarapiquí is humid all year.
- If you have booked a rafting trip for the same afternoon, tell us so we time the pickup accordingly.
- 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 | $180 | $260 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $235 | $315 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $320 | $400 |
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 → Sarapiquí
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Sarapiquí?
Approximately 2 h 15 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 80 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 Sarapiquí?
$180 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $235 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $320 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is the road flat, or are there many curves?
Mostly flat. This trip crosses the northern plains, so there are far fewer curves than on the routes to the Central Valley or Guanacaste. The slow points are towns, one-lane bridges and farm traffic.
Do you go to lodges outside Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí?
Yes. We drive to any lodge in the Sarapiquí area at the same fare; just give us the exact name or address when you book.
Can we do a tour in Sarapiquí on the way?
With VIP you have one to two hours of stops, and you can add extra hours at $35 each. Tour tickets, such as rafting or a chocolate farm, are paid separately to the operator.
Can we do a rafting trip on arrival day?
Often yes, because the drive is only about 2 h 15 min. Check the tour's start time and tell us, so we plan the pickup in La Fortuna.
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 Sarapiquí
These are some of the hotels in Sarapiquí that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Selva Verde Lodge
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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