Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Nosara (Guiones) to La Fortuna
Leaving Nosara's beaches and dusty jungle lanes for the volcano? We collect you at your hotel or rental and drive you across the peninsula and around Lake Arenal to La Fortuna. 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 Nosara to La Fortuna
A private transfer means the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. We collect you at your accommodation in Nosara at the time you choose and drive straight to the door of your hotel in La Fortuna, with stops only when you ask for them.
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 Nosara
From Nosara to La Fortuna: the logistics
Nosara is the area of beaches, forest and small settlements on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, best known for Playa Guiones, a long beach with gentle, consistent waves that has made it one of the country's surf and yoga centres. Development has been kept low and green, with houses and hotels hidden in the trees behind the beach.
We collect you at your hotel or house in Nosara. Many properties are on gravel lanes in the forest; send us the location pin when you book. Because this is a five-hour drive according to our fare table, most travellers choose a morning pickup.
La Fortuna is a small town, and your hotel may be in the centre or several kilometres out on the road to the volcano. Either way, we go to the door. Arriving before dark leaves time to settle in and plan the hanging bridges, the waterfall or a volcano hike for the next day.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 5 h of driving, many travellers leave Nosara after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Nosara
Dust-proof packing
Bag electronics and cameras the night before; the gravel roads are dusty.
Gate meeting
If your house is on a narrow forest lane, meet the driver at the gate.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 205 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 5 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Nicoya peninsula roads, Route 18 over the Tempisque bridge, Route 1 to Cañas, then Route 142 around Lake Arenal
- First stretch
- Gravel roads out of Nosara to the paved roads towards Nicoya
From Nosara the first part of the day is on gravel roads through the hills to the paved road, then on to the town of Nicoya and Route 18 across the Tempisque.
From the Pacific side of the peninsula, the van climbs inland on local roads to the town of Nicoya and takes Route 18 east, across the long bridge over the Tempisque River, back to the Inter-American Highway.
Along the way
What you'll see between Nosara and La Fortuna
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from Nosara to La Fortuna you will see:
Nicoya's hills
Cattle farms, teak plantations and dry forest on the way from Nicoya to the coast.
Lake Arenal
The north shore of the lake and the wind farms of Tilarán, at the Arenal end of the trip.
The Tempisque bridge
The long bridge over the Tempisque River, the gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula, with wide views of the river and its wetlands.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
If you would rather make a day of it, Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. Stops you can request on this route:
The lake lookout (mirador)
Time to stretch your legs and take photos from a lookout high above the water.
Café y Macadamia
A restaurant with a view over Lake Arenal, good for a coffee or a late breakfast.
Wildlife stops
When coatis, monkeys or birds appear by the lake road, we pull over so you can see them.
Nicoya's colonial church
A short walk around the main square of Nicoya and its whitewashed colonial church, right on the way.
Want more time? Each extra hour is $35 (up to 4) and is added in the calculator. The Standard service goes direct, with a restroom stop if you need one.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Route 142 around Lake Arenal is paved but narrow and winding, and it has been closed by landslides after heavy rain (July 2024, July 2026); if it is closed we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. The highway and Route 18 across the Tempisque are easy driving.
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
- Pack electronics and cameras in a closed bag: dust gets in everywhere.
- Plan a morning pickup; you reach La Fortuna in the afternoon after about 5 hours of driving.
- If you are staying on a gravel road, have the bags ready at the gate: the van may not be able to turn in very narrow driveways.
- 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 | $390 | $470 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $435 | $515 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $520 | $600 |
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.
“The van was on time, assisted us with our luggage… His English is extremely good… you will be taken care of to the highest regard.”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Nosara → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Nosara to La Fortuna?
Approximately 5 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 205 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 Nosara to La Fortuna?
$390 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $435 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $520 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do you take a ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula?
Not on this route: from Arenal we cross to the peninsula by road, over the Tempisque bridge on Route 18. It is the most direct way from the north.
Do you go to houses on the forest lanes of Guiones?
Yes. Send us the location pin and the house name; the driver goes to your gate.
Can we see the turtles at Ostional?
Ostional, just north of Nosara, is a protected refuge where olive ridley turtles nest in large numbers at certain times. Visits are regulated and arranged with local guides, separately from the transfer.
Will the gravel road slow the pickup?
A little. The first part of the trip is on gravel, which is why our fare table allows approximately 5 h to La Fortuna.
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 pick up from in Nosara
These are some of the hotels in Nosara that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- The Harmony Hotel
- Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
- Olas Verdes Hotel
- The Gilded Iguana
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:
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book Nosara → La Fortuna?
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.