Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Manuel Antonio
Your driver is waiting at Liberia Airport (LIR) with your name on a sign, and takes you directly to your hotel above Manuel Antonio National Park. Price per vehicle, final, with taxes and tolls included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Manuel Antonio
Shared shuttles leave when they fill up and stop at several hotels. Ours is a private vehicle: you choose the pickup, the driver is at arrivals tracking your flight and the drive to Manuel Antonio goes door to door, at the pace of your group.
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 knows the area and recommends the best places.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 5 h of driving ahead, this is a full travel day: an early flight puts you at the hotel in daylight, while a late landing means part of the drive is after dark.
Your destination
Arriving in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is the area of hills, beaches and rainforest just south of the town of Quepos, around Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is small but famous: white-sand coves, trails through the forest and easy sightings of monkeys, sloths and iguanas. Most hotels sit on the winding road that climbs from Quepos to the park entrance, many with ocean views.
After Parrita the highway crosses the oil-palm plantations to Quepos. From the town, a narrow, winding road climbs the hill toward the national park, with the hotels on either side.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 5 h without stops
- Main roads
- Route 1 south through Guanacaste, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34) along the Pacific
- Last stretch
- Route 34 to Quepos, then the hill road up to Manuel Antonio
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
Near the gulf the route turns toward the coast and joins the Costanera Sur, Route 34, which follows the Pacific shore south past the Tárcoles River. From there it is a wide, paved coastal highway to Manuel Antonio.
Along the way
What you'll see between Liberia Airport and Manuel Antonio
Keep the camera within reach. Between the airport and Manuel Antonio you will see:
The Guanacaste plains
Big ranches, tall guanacaste trees and long straight roads; in the dry season the land turns gold.
The Gulf of Nicoya
As the highway nears the coast, the calm water of the gulf and its islands appear to the west.
Quepos
The port town at the foot of the Manuel Antonio hill, with its marina and waterfront.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Add Tropical Experts VIP (+$80) and the drive becomes a short day out, with a bilingual driver with local knowledge and stops of your choice. Here are the ones we suggest on this route:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Manuel Antonio
Route 1 is a wide highway with steady truck traffic. Route 34 is a good, wide road, but beach traffic around Jacó is heavy on Friday and Sunday afternoons and on long weekends.
Route 34 is in good condition all the way to Quepos. The road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio is narrow and steep, and busy in the late afternoon; inside the area, many hotel driveways are very steep.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- It is a long drive: book a morning flight if you can, and keep water and snacks at hand.
- Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays; plan your visit for another day.
- Bringing surfboards, bikes or diving gear? Tell us when you book so we send a vehicle with room for it.
Fares
Prices for this route
One flat price for the whole vehicle, not per person. Prices in US dollars with taxes included; you pay online when you book and nothing to the driver.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large bags | Standard | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hyundai Staria1–5 passengers |
1–5 | 5 | $375 | $455 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $420 | $500 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $505 | $585 |
Extra hour of stops: $35 per hour, up to 4 hours. Photos show each model; you get the vehicle type you choose.
Reviews
What travelers say
Short excerpts from real reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica on Google and Tripadvisor.
5.0 · 112 Google reviews · 5.0 · 36 Tripadvisor reviews
Use this company!
“This company did an excellent job. Great communication, very good drivers, friendly, clean new vehicles and on time. (Always early). Very reasonable pricing.”
Fantastic Costa Rica trip
“Tropical Experts provided reliable and comfortable private transfers for our family of 6 during our 16 day trip around Costa Rica. John and his team were friendly and professional.”
Costa Rica private transportation
“We had a great time in Costa Rica thanks to Johnson, He provided great, safe transportation and helped with activities. I recommend him and his team 100%”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Liberia Airport (LIR) → Manuel Antonio
How long is the drive from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Manuel Antonio?
Approximately 5 h of driving. 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 Liberia Airport (LIR) to Manuel Antonio?
$375 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $420 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $505 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Should we split the trip with a night on the way?
If you land late, yes: a night in Jacó or near Puntarenas breaks the long drive, and we can book it as two transfers.
Is San José airport closer for the central Pacific?
Yes. San José (SJO) is much closer to Herradura, Jacó and Manuel Antonio. If your best flight lands in Liberia, we drive from LIR all the same, and many travelers combine Guanacaste and the central Pacific on one trip.
What happens if our flight is delayed or lands at night?
Nothing extra to pay. We track the flight number you give us and adjust the pickup, and we run transfers 24/7. If the airline cancels the flight, we move your transfer to the new date at no charge.
Where will the driver meet us at Liberia Airport (LIR)?
Just outside the terminal exit, with a sign bearing your name. We send you the driver's name, photo and plate the day before.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Manuel Antonio
These are some of the hotels in Manuel Antonio that our online booking form already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Arenas del Mar
- Gaia Hotel & Reserve
- Si Como No Resort & Spa
- Tulemar Resort
- Hotel Parador Resort & Spa
- Makanda by the Sea
- Shana by the Beach
- La Mariposa Hotel
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