Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Playa Conchal to La Fortuna
Leaving Reserva Conchal or a villa by Playa Conchal for the volcano? We collect you at the lobby or your door and drive you via Liberia and around Lake Arenal 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 Playa Conchal 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 Playa Conchal, we wait while you check out, and the drive to La Fortuna goes door to door.
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 Playa Conchal
From Playa Conchal to La Fortuna: the logistics
Playa Conchal takes its name from the tiny crushed shells that make up much of its sand, which give the water a clear, turquoise colour on calm days. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Guanacaste, with snorkelling around the rocks at the northern end.
We collect you at the lobby of The Westin or the W, or at your residence inside Reserva Conchal. Security at the gate checks the vehicle in; the pickup time we confirm allows for the internal roads.
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 Conchal after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Playa Conchal
Leave the shells
Take photos, not shells: leave the beach as you found it.
Resort check-out
Large resorts can have morning queues; check out the evening before if possible.
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
- From the Reserva Conchal gate inland to Huacas and Route 21
From the hotel the van follows the internal roads to the Reserva Conchal gate and then the coast road inland past Huacas to Route 21 and Liberia.
From Cañas the road climbs to Tilarán and follows Route 142 along the north shore of Lake Arenal. The lake section is the slowest part of the day and the greenest: you swap dry forest for rainforest in less than an hour.
Along the way
What you'll see between Playa Conchal and La Fortuna
Some of what you will pass on the way to La Fortuna:
The shell sand
Look closely at Conchal's beach: much of it is made of tiny fragments of shell rather than ordinary sand.
The Liberia ring of highways
The city of Liberia is where the plains route meets the road to the coast; the airport is just to the west.
Lake Arenal and its wind farms
The north shore of the lake and the turbines on the ridges near Tilarán.
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.
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.
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
Most of the curves on this trip come on Route 142 beside Lake Arenal, a paved road with little margin: narrow lanes, few barriers, no lighting at night and crosswinds around Tilarán, as independent driving guides from 2025 and 2026 point out. After very heavy rain, landslides have closed it between Nuevo Arenal and La Fortuna, in July 2024 and July 2026.
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
- Large resorts can have long check-out lines in the morning; do it the night before if possible.
- Please do not take shells from the beach; it is better to leave them where they are.
- Pack beach clothes and wet swimsuits in a separate bag before the pickup.
- 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 | $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 Conchal → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Playa Conchal 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 Playa Conchal 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.
Do you enter Reserva Conchal?
Yes. We go through the security gate to the lobby of The Westin, the W or your residence. Give us the reservation name when you book.
How far is it, and why is the distance an estimate?
About 190 km by road, measured to neighbouring Brasilito, because the beach itself is reached through Reserva Conchal or on foot. The final kilometres inside the resort add little time.
Is the drive back to Arenal shorter?
Our fare table gives approximately 4 h from Conchal to La Fortuna and approximately 4 h 30 min the other way. We confirm the pickup time when you book.
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 Playa Conchal
These are some of the hotels in Playa Conchal that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- The Westin Reserva Conchal
- W Costa Rica — Reserva Conchal
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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