Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from RIU Guanacaste (Playa Matapalo) to La Fortuna
Leaving the RIU resorts on Playa Matapalo for a few days at the volcano? We collect you at the lobby and drive you via Liberia and around Lake Arenal to your hotel in 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 RIU Guanacaste to La Fortuna
Getting from RIU Guanacaste to Arenal is a long day if you have to piece it together. With us the van comes to your door in RIU Guanacaste, the driver loads the luggage and your group rides alone, all the way to reception in La Fortuna.
What you see is what you pay, per vehicle: fuel, tolls, taxes, insurance, water, WiFi and child seats are all in the price. Standard is the direct trip; VIP adds $80 per vehicle and turns the drive into a day with stops.
Leaving RIU Guanacaste
From RIU Guanacaste to La Fortuna: the logistics
The two RIU resorts, Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica, stand side by side on Playa Matapalo, a long beach on the Guanacaste coast in the Sardinal area, not far from Playas del Coco. They are large all-inclusive hotels with their own pools, restaurants and entertainment, so most guests spend their days inside the resort and on the beach.
We collect you at the lobby of Riu Guanacaste or Riu Palace Costa Rica. Check-out lines can be long in the morning, so allow time before the pickup; the driver waits at the lobby entrance.
Once you are in La Fortuna you are close to everything the area is known for: the La Fortuna waterfall, the national park trails, the hot rivers and the lake. The driver leaves you at your hotel door and can point you to a good place for dinner.
We confirm the pickup time with you when you book. With approximately 3 h 30 min of driving, a pickup after breakfast in RIU Guanacaste gets you to La Fortuna for lunch or the early afternoon.
Before you go
Before you leave RIU Guanacaste
Wristband and bill
Settle any extras and hand in the wristband at check-out.
Early queue
Morning check-out queues can be long; go down a little early.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 180 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 21 to Liberia, Route 1 south to Cañas, then Route 142 around Lake Arenal
- First stretch
- The resort road to Sardinal and Route 21
From the resort the van takes the road back through Sardinal to Route 21 and heads east to Liberia, where it turns south on the Inter-American Highway.
At Cañas the road turns up into the hills to Tilarán and on to the north shore of Lake Arenal. The last stretch, Route 142 along the lake, is the slowest and most scenic part, and it ends at the foot of the volcano.
Along the way
What you'll see between RIU Guanacaste and La Fortuna
From RIU Guanacaste to the volcano, the view changes along the way:
Dry forest hills
Low hills of Guanacaste dry forest around Sardinal, gold in the dry season and green when it rains.
The Guanacaste plains
Big ranches, tall guanacaste trees and long straight roads between Cañas and Liberia, much drier than Arenal.
Lake Arenal
The road runs along the north shore for a long stretch, with the water on one side and forested hills on the other.
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:
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.
Café y Macadamia
A restaurant with a view over Lake Arenal, good for a coffee or a late breakfast.
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
Route 142 around Lake Arenal is paved but narrow and curvy, with little shoulder, few guard rails and almost no street lighting, according to independent driving guides from 2025 and 2026. Strong wind is common around Tilarán. The lakeside section between La Fortuna and Nuevo Arenal has been closed by landslides after heavy rain, in July 2024 and again in July 2026.
And if a road closure or extreme weather makes the transfer impossible, our terms let you choose: a new date or your money back in full.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Do the check-out the night before if the hotel allows it; morning lines at large resorts can be long.
- Keep your all-inclusive wristband until the last minute; the lobby staff will ask for it at check-out.
- Bring a sweater for the evening in La Fortuna, which is cooler and wetter than the coast.
- Bringing surfboards, bikes or diving gear? Tell us when you book so we send a vehicle with room for it.
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 | $280 | $360 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $325 | $405 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $410 | $490 |
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.
“We had a great experience… our driver John… very professional, friendly, and drove safely… shared so much interesting information about Costa Rica… Highly recommended!”
Read all our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: RIU Guanacaste → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from RIU Guanacaste to La Fortuna?
Approximately 3 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 180 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 RIU Guanacaste to La Fortuna?
$280 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $325 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $410 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
What happens if the road around Lake Arenal is closed?
It has happened after heavy rain, in July 2024 and July 2026. We then take the inland alternative via Guatuso, the Tenorio Volcano area and Bijagua to Route 1. It adds time, and we let you know before leaving.
Is the RIU close to Liberia airport?
Yes, it is one of the beach areas closest to Liberia airport, which is why many travellers combine it with Arenal at the start or end of their trip.
Can we stop to buy anything on the way?
Yes. If you want snacks, sunscreen or anything else not sold at the resort, ask the driver for a supermarket stop in Liberia.
Do we pay the driver anything?
No. The fare is paid in full when you book, by card through Tilopay or by SINPE Móvil or bank transfer arranged on WhatsApp. There are no surcharges on the day and nothing to pay the driver; tips are up to you.
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 RIU Guanacaste
These are some of the hotels in RIU Guanacaste that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Riu Guanacaste / Riu Palace Costa Rica
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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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book RIU Guanacaste → La Fortuna?
Pick your date, vehicle and service in the calculator, pay online and get your voucher by email — or message us and we'll book it with you.