Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Ojochal to La Fortuna
Leaving Ojochal and the southern Costa Ballena for Arenal? We collect you at your hotel or house and drive you up the Pacific coast and over the mountains to La Fortuna. 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 Ojochal to La Fortuna
Shared shuttles leave at fixed times and collect other passengers on the way. Ours is booked for your party only: you set the pickup time in Ojochal, we wait while you check out, and the drive to La Fortuna goes door to door.
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 Ojochal
From Ojochal to La Fortuna: the logistics
Ojochal is a small village in the forested hills just inland from the southern end of the Costa Ballena, south of Uvita. It has an unusually international community and is known in the region for its restaurants, with cooking far more varied than you would expect in a village this size.
We collect you at your hotel or house in Ojochal. Many properties are on steep side roads; send us the location pin and, if there is a gate, the contact or code, so the driver can reach the door.
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 6 h 15 min of driving, many travellers leave Ojochal after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Ojochal
Low tide at Ventanas
If you want to see the caves, go at low tide and set the pickup afterwards.
Steep driveway?
Meet the driver at the gate if your driveway is very steep or narrow.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 285 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 6 h 15 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- The Costanera Sur (Route 34) north past Quepos and Jacó, inland to San Ramón, then Route 702 to La Fortuna
- First stretch
- Hill roads down to Route 34 northbound
From the Ojochal hills the van joins Route 34 heading north, past Uvita and Dominical, through the palm plantations and on along the coast towards Jacó.
From the South Pacific the van heads north on the Costanera Sur (Route 34), with the mountains on the right and the sea on the left, past Quepos, Parrita and Jacó to the Tárcoles River.
Along the way
What you'll see between Ojochal and La Fortuna
Some of what you will pass on the way to La Fortuna:
The southern Costa Ballena
Long beaches backed by rainforest, quieter than those further north.
The Fila Costeña
The coastal mountain range rises steeply behind the South Pacific beaches, with waterfalls visible from the road after rain.
Oil-palm country
Between Parrita and Quepos the highway crosses kilometres of African oil-palm plantations laid out in neat rows.
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:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Extra hours of stops cost $35 each, up to 4. Tell us what you would like to see when you book and we plan the timing around it. Standard goes direct, with a restroom break whenever you need it.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
The South Pacific is one of the wettest parts of the country between about May and November, with heavy afternoon storms; in the dry months the light is clear and the sea calm. Rain can add time to a long drive, so we recommend an early start.
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
- Agree with the driver a meeting point at the gate if your driveway is very steep.
- This is one of the longest drives to Arenal; an early pickup gets you there before dark.
- Keep a sweater handy for the mountain section and the evening in La Fortuna.
- 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 | $430 | $510 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $475 | $555 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $560 | $640 |
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: Ojochal → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Ojochal to La Fortuna?
Approximately 6 h 15 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 285 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 Ojochal to La Fortuna?
$430 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $475 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $560 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is there a place to eat on such a long drive?
Yes. There are sodas and restaurants along the Costanera and in the mountain towns, and the driver stops whenever you ask. With VIP you can turn a meal into one of the planned stops.
Can you reach lodges on the steep roads of Ojochal?
Yes. All our vehicles drive gravel and steep roads. Send us the location pin and gate details when you book so the driver goes straight there.
Is Ojochal close to Uvita?
Yes, a short drive south of Uvita on Route 34. The fare from La Fortuna is slightly higher because of the extra distance.
Can we stop for lunch on the way back?
Yes. Quepos, Jacó or the mountain towns have plenty of places; tell the driver when you are hungry.
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 Ojochal
These are some of the hotels in Ojochal that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Villas Alturas · Ojochal
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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