Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from Santa Teresa to La Fortuna
Leaving Santa Teresa's waves for the volcano? We collect you at your hotel or house and drive you to your hotel in La Fortuna, on the route that best fits the time and season. You pay per vehicle, never per seat, and the price already includes taxes.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from Santa Teresa to La Fortuna
A private transfer means the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. We collect you at your accommodation in Santa Teresa 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.
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 Santa Teresa
From Santa Teresa to La Fortuna: the logistics
Santa Teresa is a long, laid-back surf town on the Pacific coast near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Its beaches have consistent waves for all levels, and the single main road behind them is lined with cafés, yoga studios, surf shops and restaurants, many of them hidden in the jungle.
We collect you at your hotel or house in Santa Teresa. The main road is busy and dusty, and many properties are up side lanes; send us the location pin. We confirm the route and the pickup time with you when you book, according to the day and the season.
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 6 h 30 min of driving, many travellers leave Santa Teresa after breakfast so they reach La Fortuna with time to spare.
Before you go
Before you leave Santa Teresa
Dusty main road
Pack the night before and keep a buff handy; the main road is dusty in the dry season.
Gate or main road
If your house is up a steep lane, agree with the driver where to meet.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Distance
- about 245 km between the town centres (our measurement, approx.)
- Driving time
- approx. 6 h 30 min without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Depending on the time and season, the land route or the Gulf of Nicoya crossing, then Route 142 to La Fortuna (we confirm when you book)
- First stretch
- The roads of the southern peninsula out of Santa Teresa
The day starts on Santa Teresa's main road and the roads of the southern peninsula towards Cóbano. From there, the route we have confirmed with you takes over.
The first part runs on the roads of the southern peninsula, slow and partly gravel near the beaches; the last part is the familiar approach to La Fortuna on Route 142, with the volcano ahead if the clouds allow.
Along the way
What you'll see between Santa Teresa and La Fortuna
The scenery changes more than once on the way to Arenal. This is what passes the window:
Santa Teresa's main road
A long, narrow road between the jungle and the beach, lined with cafés, surf shops and yoga studios.
The Gulf of Nicoya
Islands, mangroves and fishing boats in the gulf that separates the peninsula from the mainland.
Dry hills and cattle farms
Inland, the peninsula is a patchwork of pasture, teak plantations and dry forest that turns gold between January and April.
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.. Tell us what you would like to see and we will plan it: VIP stops are not limited to a fixed list.
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
Roads on the southern peninsula are a mix of paved sections and gravel, especially the last kilometres to the beaches. They are dusty in the dry season and can be muddy and potholed in the wet one. All our vehicles drive gravel roads; the driver adjusts the pace to the conditions.
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 and dusty gear separately and tell us about them when you book.
- Ask for an early pickup if you want to reach La Fortuna before dark.
- Dust is part of life on these roads in the dry season; keep cameras and phones in a bag.
- 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 | $400 | $480 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $445 | $525 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $530 | $610 |
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: Santa Teresa → La Fortuna
How long is the drive from Santa Teresa to La Fortuna?
Approximately 6 h 30 min of driving according to our fare table, for about 245 km. Stops, rain and traffic come on top of that.
How much is a private shuttle from Santa Teresa to La Fortuna?
$400 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $445 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $530 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Do we take the ferry or the land route?
It depends on the time of day and the season. We choose the route for your travel day and confirm it with you when you book, together with the pickup time. The fare does not change.
Is Santa Teresa close to Malpaís?
Yes, they are neighbours along the same coast, and the fare from La Fortuna is the same. Montezuma is on the other side of the peninsula's tip.
Can we leave Santa Teresa after lunch?
It is a long trip, approximately 6 h 30 min of driving, so we recommend a morning pickup. We confirm the route and timing with you.
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.
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 Santa Teresa
These are some of the hotels in Santa Teresa that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Nantipa — A Tico Beach Experience
- Florblanca Resort
- Hotel Trópico Latino
- Latitude 10 Resort
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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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book Santa Teresa → 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.