Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Bajos del Toro
Your driver is waiting at San José Airport (SJO) with your name on a sign, and takes you directly to your lodge in the Bajos del Toro valley. Price per vehicle, final, with taxes and tolls included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from SJO Airport to Bajos del Toro
Shared shuttles leave when they fill up and stop at several hotels. Ours is a private vehicle: you choose the pickup, the driver is at arrivals tracking your flight and the drive to Bajos del Toro goes door to door, at the pace of your group.
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.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 2 h of driving ahead, plan on arriving at the hotel in the afternoon or early evening if you land around midday.
Your destination
Arriving in Bajos del Toro
Bajos del Toro is a small farming village in a deep, misty valley on the edge of the Juan Castro Blanco and Poás highlands, a world away from the busy towns. It is known above all for its waterfalls: Catarata del Toro, which drops into the crater of an old volcano, and the Blue Falls nearby, a set of turquoise cascades reached on foot.
Accommodation is spread out along the valley, from simple cabins to El Silencio Lodge & Spa. Evenings are cool and quiet, with trout on the menu in the local restaurants.
The last part of the drive follows Route 708 over the ridge and down into the valley, a narrow and winding mountain road through pasture and cloud forest. The Catarata del Toro entrance and the lodges are along this road.
In Bajos del Toro
What to do in Bajos del Toro
Catarata del Toro
A tall waterfall dropping into an old volcanic crater, with a viewpoint and a steep trail down toward the base.
The Blue Falls
A set of turquoise cascades in the forest, reached on foot along rivers and stairways.
Trout and country cooking
Small restaurants in the valley serve fresh trout and traditional mountain dishes.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 2 h without stops
- Main roads
- Route 1 west toward Grecia and Sarchí, then the mountain road (Route 708) over the ridge and down into the valley
- Last stretch
- Route 708, a narrow mountain road into the valley
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
The roads in these mountains are paved but narrow and full of curves, and the driver chooses the best approach to Bajos del Toro on the day, depending on traffic, fog and the state of the roads. The time depends more on the bends than on the distance.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Bajos del Toro
What passes the window on the way from the airport to Bajos del Toro:
Coffee country
The lower slopes above Alajuela and Heredia are covered in coffee farms, with the plants in neat rows under shade trees.
Cloud forest
On the passes the forest is draped in moss and bromeliads, and the mist can roll across the road in minutes.
Catarata del Toro
The entrance to the waterfall, with a viewpoint above the old volcanic crater into which the falls plunge.
Trout farms and dairy pastures
Small trout ponds and dairy farms line the valley road, a reminder that this is working countryside.
Sarchí
The town of painted oxcarts on the way up from the Central Valley; the giant oxcart in the main square is a classic photo.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
With Tropical Experts VIP (+$80 per vehicle) you add one to two hours of sightseeing stops with a bilingual driver who knows the area and recommends the best stops. On this route you can ask for:
A coffee farm or roadside stand
The slopes are dotted with coffee farms and stands selling cheese and strawberries; with VIP the driver plans a stop at one of them.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Bajos del Toro
It is cooler and wetter in the mountains than at the airport, especially in the afternoon. A morning pickup usually gives the clearest views.
Route 708 is paved but narrow and steep in places, with sharp bends and little room to pass; mist is common in the afternoon. Some lodge driveways are gravel. All our vehicles drive these roads regularly.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Keep a warm layer and a rain jacket in your carry-on: the mountains are much cooler than the airport.
- Phone signal can be weak in the valley: save your lodge's address and contacts on your phone before you land.
- The trails to the waterfalls have many steps; if you plan to hike, wear shoes with grip.
Fares
Prices for this route
One flat price for the whole vehicle, not per person. Prices in US dollars with taxes included; you pay online when you book and nothing to the driver.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large bags | Standard | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hyundai Staria1–5 passengers |
1–5 | 5 | $180 | $260 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $235 | $315 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $320 | $400 |
Extra hour of stops: $35 per hour, up to 4 hours. Photos show each model; you get the vehicle type you choose.
Reviews
What travelers say
Short excerpts from real reviews of Tropical Experts Costa Rica on Google and Tripadvisor.
5.0 · 112 Google reviews · 5.0 · 36 Tripadvisor reviews
“We came in with many large bags and a small dog. He could not have been more gracious and helpful. He safely took us from SJO to Atenas and helped with all the bags.”
Stop looking for your driver! You found him!
“So glad we went this route! Our plane was delayed 6 hours and our driver waited and drove us to our Airbnb in the middle of the night.”
Reliable and Affordable Transfer with Excellent Service
“The driver was already waiting at the airport when I landed, and the whole trip went smoothly with no delays at all.”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: SJO Airport → Bajos del Toro
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Bajos del Toro?
Approximately 2 h of driving. 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 San José Airport (SJO) to Bajos del Toro?
$180 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $235 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $320 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Can a normal van reach Bajos del Toro?
Yes. Route 708 is paved; it is narrow and steep in places, and our drivers use it regularly. Some lodge driveways are gravel, and we drive those too.
Can you take us to the Catarata del Toro entrance instead of a hotel?
Yes. Give us the address you prefer, the waterfall entrance or your lodge. Entrance fees to the waterfalls are paid on site and are not part of the transfer.
What happens if our flight is delayed or lands at night?
Nothing extra to pay. We track the flight number you give us and adjust the pickup, and we run transfers 24/7. If the airline cancels the flight, we move your transfer to the new date at no charge.
Are WiFi and child seats included?
Yes. WiFi, bottled water, child seats, tolls, taxes and insurance are all in the fare. Tell us the ages and weights of the children when you book and the right seat will be installed before we pick you up.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Bajos del Toro
These are some of the hotels in Bajos del Toro that our online booking form already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- El Silencio Lodge & Spa
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Plan the rest of your trip
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