Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Sierpe (boats to Drake Bay)
Catching the boat to Drake Bay? We pick you up in La Fortuna and drive you all the way down the Pacific coast to the dock at Sierpe, timed for your boat. One closed price for the whole vehicle, taxes included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from La Fortuna to Sierpe
This is a door-to-door service. We pick you up at reception in La Fortuna, you travel with your own group in a vehicle reserved for you, and we drop you at the entrance of your hotel, rental or house in Sierpe. Rest stops happen when you want them.
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 Sierpe
Sierpe is a small river town on the Sierpe River, at the edge of the Térraba-Sierpe wetland, the largest mangrove system in Costa Rica. For most travellers it is the gateway to Drake Bay and the northern side of the Osa Peninsula: the boats leave from the town dock and wind through the mangroves to the river mouth and along the coast.
Our transfer ends at the dock in Sierpe or at your hotel in town. The boat to Drake Bay is a separate service, usually arranged by your lodge; give us the boat time when you book so we plan the pickup with a margin, because this is one of the longest drives from Arenal.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 6 h 45 min of driving ahead, most travellers leave La Fortuna in the morning so they arrive in daylight.
In Sierpe
What to do in Sierpe
The boat to Drake Bay
A ride through the mangroves of the Sierpe River and along the coast to Drake Bay.
Mangrove tours
Boat trips in the Térraba-Sierpe wetland to see birds, crocodiles and monkeys.
Stone spheres
The Finca 6 site near Palmar Sur, part of the UNESCO-listed Diquís settlements.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 330 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 6 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 702 to San Ramón, down to the coast, the Costanera Sur (Route 34) to Palmar Norte, then the road to Sierpe
- Last stretch
- Route 34 to Palmar Norte, then the local road through Palmar Sur to Sierpe
South of Quepos the highway runs between the sea and the mountains of the Fila Costeña, through oil-palm plantations and over countless rivers. The coast gets wilder and greener the further south you go.
The Costanera continues south past Uvita and Ojochal to Palmar Norte. There the route crosses the Térraba River to Palmar Sur and follows a flat local road through plantations to Sierpe and its dock.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Fortuna and Sierpe
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
Oil-palm country
Between Parrita and Quepos the highway crosses kilometres of African oil-palm plantations laid out in neat rows.
The Tárcoles River bridge
Crocodiles on the sandbanks below the bridge on Route 34, a classic stop on the way.
The Diquís stone spheres
Around Palmar Sur, on the way to Sierpe, are the pre-Columbian stone spheres of the Diquís delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Sierpe River
A wide river lined with mangroves, where the boats to Drake Bay start their journey.
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:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Finca 6 and the stone spheres
The Finca 6 site near Palmar Sur, part of the UNESCO-listed Diquís settlements, with a small museum and original spheres (entrance paid on site; check opening days).
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
The South Pacific is one of the wettest parts of the country between about May and November, with heavy afternoon storms; in the dry months the light is clear and the sea calm. Rain can add time to a long drive, so we recommend an early start.
Route 34 is paved and good; the road from Palmar to Sierpe is flat and local. The challenge is the length: with a mountain crossing and nearly the whole Pacific coast, plan a full day and an early start.
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 cash in colones for fruit stands and small sodas along the Costanera.
- Leave La Fortuna very early if your boat to Drake Bay is in the afternoon; boats depend on the tide.
- Pack a small dry bag for the boat: luggage can get wet on the crossing.
- 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 | $510 | $590 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $555 | $635 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $640 | $720 |
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 → Sierpe
How long is the drive from La Fortuna to Sierpe?
Approximately 6 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 330 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 Sierpe?
$510 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $555 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $640 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is there a place to eat on such a long drive?
Yes. There are sodas and restaurants along the Costanera and in the mountain towns, and the driver stops whenever you ask. With VIP you can turn a meal into one of the planned stops.
Is the boat to Drake Bay included?
No. Our transfer ends at the Sierpe dock. The boat is a separate service, usually arranged by your lodge in Drake Bay; give us its time when you book.
What if our boat arrives late?
Boat times depend on the sea and the tide. Message us on WhatsApp if you are delayed; we track your arrival and adjust the pickup.
What if we miss the boat to Drake Bay?
We plan the pickup with a margin so that does not happen. Tell us the boat time and your lodge; on the day, we keep in touch on WhatsApp.
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 Sierpe
These are some of the hotels in Sierpe that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Sierpe — muelle a Drake
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 → Sierpe?
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.