Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from La Paz Waterfall Gardens to La Fortuna
Leaving La Paz Waterfall Gardens or Peace Lodge for Arenal? We collect you at the park and drive you down the Cinchona road and across the San Carlos plains to your hotel in La Fortuna. 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 Paz Waterfall Gardens to La Fortuna
Getting from La Paz Waterfall Gardens to Arenal is a long day if you have to piece it together. With us the van comes to your door in La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the driver loads the luggage and your group rides alone, all the way to reception in La Fortuna.
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.
Leaving La Paz Waterfall Gardens
From La Paz Waterfall Gardens to La Fortuna: the logistics
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a private nature park on the slopes near Vara Blanca, between the Poás and Barva volcanoes. Its trails and stairways follow the La Paz River past a series of waterfalls, and the park also has gardens and animal exhibits, from hummingbirds and butterflies to frogs and wild cats. Peace Lodge, its hotel, sits inside the property.
We collect you at the park entrance or at Peace Lodge reception. If you visit the gardens on the morning of departure, tell us how long you plan to stay: the drive to La Fortuna is about 2 h 30 min, so a pickup after lunch still gets you to Arenal in daylight.
In La Fortuna we drop you at reception. Most hotels sit along Route 142 between the town and the volcano, a few minutes apart. Arenal often hides in cloud during the afternoon, so do not worry if you cannot see it on arrival.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 2 h 30 min of driving, a pickup after breakfast in La Paz Waterfall Gardens gets you to La Fortuna for lunch or the early afternoon.
Before you go
Before you leave La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Visit before the mist
If you stay at Peace Lodge, walk the waterfall trail early; by afternoon the cloud often settles over the canyon.
Dry shoes for the drive
The trails are wet; keep a dry pair of shoes for the trip down to the lowlands.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 90 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 2 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 126 via Cinchona down to San Miguel, Route 140 and Route 4, then Route 142 west
- First stretch
- Route 126 down through Cinchona towards San Miguel
From the park the road descends Route 126 through Cinchona, past the San Fernando waterfall, towards San Miguel and the lowlands. The first half hour is all bends and views.
The drive starts high in the mountains, often in cloud, and works its way down on narrow, winding roads through small farming villages. It is slow going for the first hour, and that is normal.
Along the way
What you'll see between La Paz Waterfall Gardens and La Fortuna
From La Paz Waterfall Gardens to the volcano, the view changes along the way:
Hummingbird feeders
At the roadside cafés around Cinchona, feeders attract several species of hummingbird at very close range.
Rivers and gorges
The road follows and crosses fast mountain rivers; after rain you will see waterfalls running down the road cuts.
Cloud on the slopes
Above about 1,000 m the vegetation turns to wet mountain forest, with tree ferns at the roadside and frequent mist.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Tropical Experts VIP adds $80 per vehicle and gives you one to two hours of stops, a bilingual driver acting as guide, a welcome kit (local beers, soft drinks and Costa Rican snacks) and sparkling water. We offer VIP stops on every route; on this drive these are the ones we suggest:
Soda y Mirador Cinchona
A coffee and a few photos at the Cinchona lookout café, facing the San Fernando waterfall and its hummingbird feeders.
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
On this route the weather matters more than the traffic. In the wettest months, September and October around La Fortuna, allow extra time; the driver adapts the speed to the visibility.
Our terms cover the rare day when a closure or extreme weather stops the transfer: you can move it to another date or receive a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Pack wet clothes from the waterfall trails in a separate bag before the pickup.
- If you are staying at Peace Lodge, ask reception to call us when you are ready; we wait inside the property.
- Pack the warm clothes at the top of the bag: you will be taking them off once you reach the lowlands.
- If you get carsick, take the front seat or the first row and look ahead on the curves.
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 | $215 | $295 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $270 | $350 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $355 | $435 |
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.
“Muy agradable el servicio, nos encantó.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: La Paz Waterfall Gardens → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from La Paz Waterfall Gardens to La Fortuna?
Approximately 2 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 90 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 Paz Waterfall Gardens to La Fortuna?
$215 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $270 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $355 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is the mountain road safe in the rainy season?
Yes, driven calmly. The roads are paved but narrow and foggy at times, so the driver adjusts the speed and we leave margin in the schedule. If a landslide closes the road, we look for the alternative or reschedule with you.
Can we visit the gardens on the way and continue to another destination?
Yes, as a VIP transfer with extra hours, or as a booking to the park plus a second transfer later. Tell us the plan and we will price it in the calculator or on WhatsApp.
Is it cold at La Paz?
Cooler than La Fortuna, yes. At around 1,400 m the air is fresh and often misty, so a light jacket is a good idea all year.
Can you pick us up at Peace Lodge after the visit?
Yes. Tell us when you expect to finish; we wait at the lodge or the park entrance at the agreed time.
Pick-up and drop-off
Hotels we drive to 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 pick up from in La Paz Waterfall Gardens
These are some of the hotels in La Paz Waterfall Gardens that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Peace Lodge · La Paz Waterfall Gardens
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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