Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Montezuma to La Fortuna
Leaving Montezuma's beaches and waterfalls for the volcano? We collect you at your hotel and drive you to La Fortuna, on the route that best fits the time and season. 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 Montezuma to La Fortuna
This is a door-to-door service. Your driver meets you at your hotel, rental or house in Montezuma, your group travels on its own in a vehicle reserved for you, and we drop you at the entrance of your hotel in La Fortuna.
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.
Leaving Montezuma
From Montezuma to La Fortuna: the logistics
Montezuma is a small, bohemian village on the eastern side of the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Nicoya rather than the open Pacific. Its centre is a few streets of cafés, craft stalls and small hotels by the sea, and a short trail from the village leads up a river to the Montezuma waterfalls.
We collect you at your hotel in Montezuma or at the closest point a vehicle can reach. The village centre is small and busy; we confirm the meeting point, the route and the pickup time with you when you book.
Once you are in La Fortuna you are close to everything the area is known for: the La Fortuna waterfall, the national park trails, the hot rivers and the lake. The driver leaves you at your hotel door and can point you to a good place for dinner.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 6 h 45 min of driving, many travellers leave Montezuma after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Montezuma
Meeting point
The village centre is small and busy; agree the exact meeting point with the driver.
Beach hotels
If your hotel is reached along the beach, allow time to bring the luggage to the road.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 250 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 6 h 45 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Depending on the time and season, the land route or the Gulf of Nicoya crossing, then Route 142 to La Fortuna (we confirm when you book)
- First stretch
- The steep road up from Montezuma to Cóbano
The day starts with the climb from Montezuma up the steep road to Cóbano, with a last look over the Gulf of Nicoya. From there the route we have confirmed with you continues.
Leaving the southern Nicoya Peninsula for Arenal is a full travel day, and there is more than one way to do it. Depending on the time of day and the season, we choose the route and confirm it with you when you book, together with the pickup time.
Along the way
What you'll see between Montezuma and La Fortuna
Some of what you will pass on the way to La Fortuna:
Montezuma village
A handful of streets by the sea, with cafés, craft stalls and the path towards the waterfalls.
Arenal at the end of the day
On the Arenal side, the green lowlands and, with luck, the volcano's cone in the last light.
Dry hills and cattle farms
Inland, the peninsula is a patchwork of pasture, teak plantations and dry forest that turns gold between January and April.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Prefer to sightsee on the way? Tropical Experts VIP costs $80 more per vehicle and includes one to two hours of stops, a bilingual driver who acts as your guide, a welcome kit of local beers, soft drinks and snacks, and sparkling water. We offer it on every route; here, you can ask for. Tell us what you would like to see and we will plan it: VIP stops are not limited to a fixed list.
If one or two hours are not enough, add extra hours at $35 each (maximum 4). Without VIP, the driver still stops for restrooms or a snack when you ask.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Because the time of day and the season affect which route makes sense, we confirm the itinerary with you when you book. Rain, traffic and queues can add time to a long day, so we recommend not scheduling anything important for the evening of arrival.
Should a closure or severe weather stop the transfer altogether, you can reschedule or get your money back in full, as our terms set out.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Agree a meeting point with the driver if your hotel is on the beach and cannot be reached by car.
- Choose an early pickup: our fare table gives approximately 6 h 45 min from Montezuma to La Fortuna.
- Ask for an early pickup; arriving in La Fortuna before dark makes the last part of the day easier.
- 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 | $400 | $480 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $445 | $525 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $530 | $610 |
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: Montezuma → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Montezuma to La Fortuna?
Approximately 6 h 45 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 250 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that.
How much is a private shuttle from Montezuma to La Fortuna?
$400 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $445 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $530 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do we take the ferry?
It depends on the time of day and the season. We choose the route for your travel day and confirm it with you when you book. The fare is the one in the table either way.
Can you drive to hotels on the beach?
Some hotels in Montezuma are reached only on foot along the beach. In that case we take you to the closest point a vehicle can reach; the hotel usually helps with the luggage.
Why is the trip to Arenal shorter than the trip here?
Our fare table gives approximately 6 h 45 min from Montezuma to La Fortuna and approximately 7 h 15 min the other way. We confirm the route and pickup time when you book.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You pay online by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on Tilopay's secure page; SINPE Móvil or a bank transfer can be arranged on WhatsApp. Cancel up to 48 hours before pickup for a full refund. Within 48 hours there is no refund, except for a flight cancellation documented by the airline.
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 Montezuma
These are some of the hotels in Montezuma that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Ylang Ylang Beach Resort
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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