Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Brasilito Beach to La Fortuna
Leaving Brasilito and its neighbour, Playa Conchal, for the volcano? We collect you at your hotel or rental in the village and drive you inland to La Fortuna. Taxes and tolls are part of the fare, which is per vehicle.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from Brasilito Beach to La Fortuna
A private transfer means the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. We collect you at your accommodation in Brasilito Beach 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.
One price covers the whole vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats, with nothing to pay on the day. Standard takes you straight there; VIP, for $80 more per vehicle, adds sightseeing stops and a driver who doubles as a guide.
Leaving Brasilito Beach
From Brasilito Beach to La Fortuna: the logistics
Brasilito is a small, down-to-earth village on the north Guanacaste coast, with a football pitch, sodas and a beach where fishing boats still land. It sits right next to Playa Conchal: you can walk south along the sand to Conchal's famous shell beach, which makes Brasilito a practical and more affordable base for it.
We collect you at your hotel or rental in Brasilito. The village is small; give us the property name or location pin, and the driver will be at your door at the agreed time.
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 4 h of driving, many travellers leave Brasilito Beach after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Brasilito Beach
Shake out the sand
Conchal's shell sand gets everywhere; shake bags and shoes before packing.
Cash for small places
Settle small bills in cash the evening before.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 190 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Coast roads to Huacas, Route 21 to Liberia, Route 1 south to Cañas, then Route 142 around Lake Arenal
- First stretch
- The coast road from Brasilito inland towards Huacas
From the village the van takes the short road inland to the Huacas area and then Route 21 towards Liberia.
From the beaches north of Tamarindo the van heads inland past Huacas on local roads and joins Route 21 towards Liberia, through dry Guanacaste ranch land. At Liberia it turns south on the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) to Cañas.
Along the way
What you'll see between Brasilito and La Fortuna
What to look out for on the road to Arenal:
The walk to Conchal
From Brasilito beach you can see the start of Playa Conchal, a short walk south along the sand.
Lake Arenal and its wind farms
The north shore of the lake and the turbines on the ridges near Tilarán.
Guanacaste ranch country
Long fences, brahman cattle and the wide crowns of guanacaste trees, the national tree, along Route 21.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Our VIP upgrade (+$80 per vehicle) turns the transfer into a short tour: one to two hours of stops chosen with you, a bilingual driver-guide, a welcome kit and sparkling water on board. It is available on any route in the country. Ideas for this one:
Lake Arenal views
Short stops along the north shore of the lake when the clouds lift and the volcano shows across the water.
The lake lookout (mirador)
Time to stretch your legs and take photos from a lookout high above the water.
Wildlife stops
When coatis, monkeys or birds appear by the lake road, we pull over so you can see them.
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
If Route 142 is closed on your travel day, we take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua, joining Route 1; it takes longer and we tell you before setting off. Once on the Inter-American Highway the driving is straightforward, and in the dry season, roughly December to April, Guanacaste is hot, dusty and sunny.
If we cannot run the transfer because of a road closure or extreme weather, you choose between a new date and a full refund.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Shake out the shells and sand before packing; Conchal sand gets into everything.
- If your rental is on a gravel street, have the bags at the gate at the agreed time.
- Pack beach clothes and wet swimsuits in a separate bag before the pickup.
- 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.
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
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: Brasilito Beach → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Brasilito Beach to La Fortuna?
Approximately 4 h of driving according to our fare table, for about 190 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 Brasilito Beach 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.
What if Route 142 around the lake is closed?
Then we drive the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. It takes longer, and we warn you before setting off. Closures have happened after heavy rain, most recently in July 2026.
Is Brasilito close to Playa Conchal?
Yes, it is right next door. You can walk from Brasilito beach to Conchal along the sand in a few minutes. From La Fortuna, the fare to both is the same.
Can we stop for groceries on the way?
Yes. Ask the driver for a supermarket stop in Liberia or near Huacas; it only takes a few minutes.
Why is the trip to Arenal shorter than the trip here?
Our fare table gives approximately 4 h from Brasilito to La Fortuna and approximately 4 h 30 min the other way. We confirm the pickup time when you book.
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 Brasilito Beach
These are some of the hotels in Brasilito Beach that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Hotel Conchal Garden
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