Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna
Leaving the waves of Playa Avellanas for the volcano? We collect you at your lodge or rental and drive you inland via Liberia and around Lake Arenal to La Fortuna. You pay one flat fare for the vehicle, with taxes and tolls included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna
Getting from Playa Avellanas to Arenal is a long day if you have to piece it together. With us the van comes to your door in Playa Avellanas, the driver loads the luggage and your group rides alone, all the way to reception in La Fortuna.
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 Playa Avellanas
From Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna: the logistics
Playa Avellanas is a long surf beach south of Tamarindo, past Hacienda Pinilla, with several reef and beach breaks that work on different tides. It has kept a relaxed, rural feel: a few surf lodges, rentals among the trees and beachside restaurants rather than a town.
We collect you at your surf lodge or rental in Avellanas. Some properties are on gravel roads near the beach; send us the location pin and, if there is a gate, a contact number.
The trip ends at the entrance of your hotel in La Fortuna or around Arenal. Town has restaurants, supermarkets and tour offices within a few blocks, and many hotels on the volcano road have their own thermal pools for your first evening.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 4 h of driving, many travellers leave Playa Avellanas after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Playa Avellanas
Dawn patrol
Surf early and take a late-morning pickup.
Dust
The roads are dusty in the dry season; keep cameras bagged.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 220 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Local roads to Huacas, Route 21 and Route 1 to Cañas, then Route 142 around Lake Arenal
- First stretch
- Rural roads from Avellanas north to Villarreal and the Huacas area
From Avellanas the van takes the rural roads north past Hacienda Pinilla to Villarreal and the Huacas area, then Route 21 towards Liberia.
The final third of the day is the climb to Tilarán and the road around Lake Arenal, Route 142. It is the curviest and the most scenic part of the trip, and it delivers you to the foot of the volcano.
Along the way
What you'll see between Playa Avellanas and La Fortuna
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna you will see:
Rural Santa Cruz
Cattle pastures and dry forest on the back roads between Villarreal and Avellanas.
Lake Arenal
A long stretch along the north shore of the largest lake in the country, with views to the volcano on clear days.
Dry forest and ranches
Guanacaste's dry tropical forest turns gold and leafless in the dry season and bright green when the rains come.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) the transfer includes one to two hours of sightseeing stops, a bilingual driver who doubles as your guide, a welcome kit with local beers, soft drinks and bocas, and sparkling water on board. VIP stops are available on any route in the country. On this one, you can ask for:
Lake Arenal views
Short stops along the north shore of the lake when the clouds lift and the volcano shows across 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.
Each additional hour of stops is $35, with a maximum of 4. Not booking VIP? Standard still includes a restroom or snack break on request.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Our fallback is the inland road via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, longer but reliable; if we need it, you hear from us before departure. On the Inter-American Highway itself driving is simple. Expect strong sun and dry, dusty landscapes from about December to April and greener, wetter months after that.
If a road closure or extreme weather means we cannot run your transfer on the day, our terms give you the choice of rescheduling or a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Pack boards in bags the night before and tell us how many when you book.
- The roads around Avellanas are dusty in the dry season; keep electronics in a bag.
- La Fortuna can be 8 to 10 °C cooler than the beach in the evening; keep long trousers handy.
- 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 | $315 | $395 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $360 | $440 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $445 | $525 |
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: Playa Avellanas → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna?
Approximately 4 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 220 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 Playa Avellanas to La Fortuna?
$315 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $360 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $445 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do you take the lake road or the inland road?
Normally the lake road, Route 142 via Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán. If it is closed by a landslide, we use the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1, which takes longer.
Do you carry surfboards?
Yes. Tell us how many boards and their length when you book so we send a vehicle with room for them.
Is Avellanas close to Tamarindo?
It is south of Tamarindo, past Hacienda Pinilla, around half an hour by road. From La Fortuna the fare is the same as to Tamarindo.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, with a 100% refund to the same card. Within 48 hours there is no refund, except for a documented flight cancellation. Changes of date, time or address are free, subject to availability.
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:
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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