Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Puerto Jiménez (Osa Peninsula) to La Fortuna
Leaving the Osa Peninsula for the volcano? We collect you at your lodge or hotel in Puerto Jiménez and drive you north along the Pacific coast to La Fortuna in one long, comfortable day. 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 Puerto Jiménez to La Fortuna
Getting from Puerto Jiménez to Arenal is a long day if you have to piece it together. With us the van comes to your door in Puerto Jiménez, the driver loads the luggage and your group rides alone, all the way to reception in La Fortuna.
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 Puerto Jiménez
From Puerto Jiménez to La Fortuna: the logistics
Puerto Jiménez is the main town of the Osa Peninsula, on the calm shore of the Golfo Dulce, and the usual base for visiting Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. It is a small, friendly town with a waterfront, an airstrip, sodas and tour offices, and scarlet macaws are a common sight in its trees.
We collect you at your hotel in Puerto Jiménez or at the lodge you indicate. This is the longest transfer in our fare table, approximately 8 h 30 min of driving, so we usually suggest a very early pickup and a lunch stop on the way.
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 8 h 30 min of driving, many travellers leave Puerto Jiménez after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Puerto Jiménez
Very early pickup
This is the longest trip in our fare table; plan to leave right after an early breakfast.
Food and water
Pack snacks and water; the driver stops for meals, but it is a long day.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 420 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 8 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 245 to Chacarita, Route 2 to Palmar Norte, the Costanera Sur (Route 34) north, inland to San Ramón, then Route 702
- First stretch
- Route 245 along the Golfo Dulce to Chacarita and Route 2
From Puerto Jiménez the van follows Route 245 north along the Golfo Dulce to Chacarita, joins the Inter-American Highway (Route 2) to Palmar Norte and then turns onto the Costanera Sur for the long run north.
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 Puerto Jiménez and La Fortuna
Keep the camera within reach. On the way from Puerto Jiménez to La Fortuna you will see:
Scarlet macaws
In Puerto Jiménez and along Route 245, pairs of scarlet macaws feed in the almond trees and fly over the road.
The Tárcoles River bridge
Crocodiles on the sandbanks below the bridge on Route 34, a classic stop on the way.
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.
Finca 6 and the stone spheres
A short detour near Palmar to the Finca 6 site of the Diquís stone spheres, a UNESCO World Heritage site (entrance paid on site; check opening days).
Need more than two hours? Add up to 4 extra hours at $35 each when you book. On Standard the driver goes straight there and stops for the restroom whenever you ask.
Before you travel
Road conditions and 2026 roadworks
Route 34, the Costanera Sur, is wide and paved all the way south but it carries trucks and weekend beach traffic around Jacó. Route 702 over the mountains is narrow, winding and often foggy on the high part, with a rough stretch reported in 2026 between Ángeles Sur and Bajo Rodríguez.
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
- Choose a very early pickup: arriving in La Fortuna before dark makes a long day easier.
- Keep a warm layer: you leave the hot, humid Golfo Dulce and arrive at the cooler foot of Arenal.
- Book the pickup for the morning; this is a full-day trip and La Fortuna is best reached before dark.
- 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 | $570 | $650 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $615 | $695 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $700 | $780 |
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: Puerto Jiménez → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Puerto Jiménez to La Fortuna?
Approximately 8 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 420 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 Puerto Jiménez to La Fortuna?
$570 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $615 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $700 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.
Do you drive to lodges beyond Puerto Jiménez?
Tell us the lodge when you book. The fare in the table is for Puerto Jiménez; lodges farther along the peninsula, on gravel roads, may need a different price or time, which we confirm before you pay.
Are Corcovado tours included?
No. The transfer covers the drive. Corcovado is visited with certified guides and permits, which are booked separately with local operators or your lodge.
Can you pick us up at the Puerto Jiménez airstrip?
Yes, if you arrive by small plane, we can meet you at the airstrip. Give us the flight time.
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 Puerto Jiménez
These are some of the hotels in Puerto Jiménez that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Lapa Ríos Lodge
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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