Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Liberia Airport (LIR) to RIU Guanacaste (Playa Matapalo)
From the arrivals exit at Liberia Airport (LIR) to the lobby of your RIU resort on Playa Matapalo: one driver, one vehicle, your group only. 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 Liberia Airport (LIR) to RIU Guanacaste
A private transfer means the vehicle is booked for your group alone. After a long flight you skip the taxi line, the rental-car counter and the shared-shuttle timetable: your driver tracks your flight, waits if it lands late and takes you from the terminal to RIU Guanacaste, with stops only when you ask for them.
The fare is per vehicle and final: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats are included, and there is nothing to pay the driver. Choose Standard to go direct, or add Tropical Experts VIP (+$80) for one to two hours of sightseeing stops.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 45 min of driving ahead, most travelers go straight to the hotel and still have time for the pool or a late lunch.
Your destination
Arriving in RIU Guanacaste
The two RIU resorts, Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica, stand side by side on Playa Matapalo, a long beach on the Guanacaste coast in the Sardinal area, not far from Playas del Coco. They are large all-inclusive hotels with their own pools, restaurants and entertainment, so most guests spend their days inside the resort and on the beach.
Both share the same entrance road, but they have separate lobbies, so tell us which one you are staying at.
In RIU Guanacaste
What to do in RIU Guanacaste
Resort life
Pools, restaurants and entertainment inside the RIU complex, with the beach in front.
Excursions from the lobby
Tour desks at the resort sell trips to Rincón de la Vieja, catamarans and more.
Beach walks
Playa Matapalo is long and good for walking at sunrise or sunset.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 45 min without stops
- Main roads
- Local paved roads west of the airport toward the Gulf of Papagayo coast
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
Past Sardinal the road reaches the coast at Playa Matapalo, where the RIU resorts share one entrance road; the security gate checks the vehicle in and the driver takes you to your resort's lobby.
Along the way
What you'll see between Liberia Airport and RIU Guanacaste
What passes the window on the way from the airport to RIU Guanacaste:
Dry forest and ranches
Brahman cattle and wide-crowned guanacaste trees, the national tree, which are leafless and golden in the dry season and bright green once the rains arrive.
The first view of the Gulf
The road drops toward the sea with views of the bays, islands and the Papagayo coastline.
Playa Matapalo
The long beach in front of the RIU resorts, facing the Gulf of Papagayo.
Sardinal
The farming town on the way to the coast, the last stop before the resorts.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you add one to two hours of sightseeing stops with a bilingual driver who knows the area and recommends the best stops. On this route you can ask for:
A first look at the Papagayo coast
A stop at a lookout over the gulf or a coffee in Sardinal before check-in.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to RIU Guanacaste
In the dry season, from December to April, the area is hot and very sunny; in the green season, roughly May to November, afternoon showers are common but rarely last long. The coast catches the afternoon wind, which keeps the beaches pleasant.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Keep sunscreen and water in your carry-on: you step out of the airport into some of the hottest, sunniest weather in the country.
- Liberia airport is very close: with a morning flight you can be at the pool by midday.
- Tell us which RIU you are staying at, Riu Guanacaste or Riu Palace; the lobbies are separate.
- If you get carsick, take the front seat or the first row and look ahead on the curves.
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 | $125 | $205 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $180 | $260 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $265 | $345 |
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
“John from Tropical Experts was absolutely amazing! He picked us up from the airport right on time and immediately made us feel comfortable and welcomed in Costa Rica.”
Costa Rica Bday trip
“John was very gracious, accommodating and knowledgeable. John had the best beverages and snacks and the bus was always very clean.”
“Absolute wonderful driver and impeccable service. Would recommend our driver over anyone else in Costa Rica. We will be calling on him the next time we are in the country.”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Liberia Airport (LIR) → RIU Guanacaste
How long is the drive from Liberia Airport (LIR) to RIU Guanacaste?
Approximately 45 min 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 RIU Guanacaste?
$125 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $180 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $265 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Can we stop at a supermarket before the all-inclusive?
Yes. On Standard, ask the driver for a short stop on the way; most guests pick up sunscreen or snacks.
Which RIU do you go to?
Both. Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica share the entrance road on Playa Matapalo but have separate lobbies; tell us which one when you book.
Do you go through the resort gates?
Yes. Give us the hotel name and the reservation name when you book; the security gate lets the vehicle in and the driver takes you to your resort's lobby.
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.
How much luggage fits?
The Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers) takes 5 large bags plus carry-ons and the Toyota Hiace and Maxus V90 take more. Bringing golf clubs, surfboards or bikes? Tell us when you book so we send the right vehicle.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in RIU Guanacaste
These are some of the hotels in RIU Guanacaste 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.
- Riu Guanacaste / Riu Palace Costa Rica
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book Liberia Airport (LIR) → RIU Guanacaste?
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