Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Manuel Antonio
Land at San José Airport (SJO), meet your driver at arrivals with a sign bearing your name and ride straight to your hotel above Manuel Antonio National Park. You pay one closed fare for the vehicle, with tolls and taxes included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio
Landing after a long flight is not the moment to piece a trip together. With us the van is reserved for your party only, the driver follows your flight number, helps with the luggage and drives you directly to Manuel Antonio. No strangers, no detours to other people's hotels.
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.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 3 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 Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is the area of hills, beaches and rainforest just south of the town of Quepos, around Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is small but famous: white-sand coves, trails through the forest and easy sightings of monkeys, sloths and iguanas. Most hotels sit on the winding road that climbs from Quepos to the park entrance, many with ocean views.
Among the places we drive to are Si Como No, Tulemar, Arenas del Mar, Gaia, Hotel Parador, Makanda by the Sea, Shana by the Beach and La Mariposa. Quepos has the Pez Vela marina, supermarkets and the town's restaurants. The park has traditionally closed one day a week (Tuesday), so check the current days before you plan your visit.
After Parrita the highway crosses the oil-palm plantations to Quepos. From the town, a narrow, winding road climbs the hill towards the national park, with the hotels on either side.
In Manuel Antonio
What to do in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park
Trails to white-sand coves with monkeys, sloths and iguanas; a guide helps you spot the wildlife.
Catamaran and kayak trips
Boat trips along the coast and its islands, many with snorkelling stops.
Quepos and the marina
Restaurants and the Pez Vela marina in Quepos, a few minutes from the hotels.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 3 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 27 toll motorway west, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34)
- Last stretch
- Route 34 to Quepos, then the hill road up to Manuel Antonio
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
From the airport the van heads west to Route 27, the toll motorway that leaves the Central Valley and descends towards the Pacific. After the hills around Atenas and Orotina the air gets warmer and the coffee farms give way to dry forest and mango trees.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Manuel Antonio
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
The Tárcoles River bridge
The bridge on Route 34 where American crocodiles rest on the sandbanks below; people walk the pavement to look.
The Carara forest
Protected forest beside the highway near Tárcoles, known for its scarlet macaws; you may see them cross the road at dawn and dusk.
Oil-palm plantations
Between Parrita and Quepos the highway runs through kilometres of African oil-palm plantations.
The Manuel Antonio hill road
The road between Quepos and the park climbs through forest with sudden views over the Pacific and its rocky islands.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Tropical Experts VIP costs $80 more per vehicle and includes one to two hours of stops. Along this drive, you can ask for:
Tárcoles River bridge
A stop at the bridge on Route 34 to see the American crocodiles resting on the sandbanks below.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Manuel Antonio
Route 27 is a modern toll motorway and the quickest way from the airport to the Pacific. The tolls are already in your fare. Traffic builds on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings and holiday weekends, when everyone heads to or from the beaches, and that is when a three-hour drive can grow.
Route 34 is in good condition all the way to Quepos. The road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio is narrow and steep, and busy in the late afternoon; inside the area, many hotel driveways are very steep.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Landing in the afternoon? The sun sets around 5:30 p.m. all year, so a late landing means part of the drive is in the dark. It is safe and we know the road; just tell us the flight number.
- Plan your park visit for the morning after you arrive; the park opens early and is cooler before midday.
- Keep snacks and food out of sight on the hotel balcony: the local monkeys and raccoons are experts.
- 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
One closed 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 | $220 | $300 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $275 | $355 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $360 | $440 |
Extra hour of stops: $35 per hour, up to 4 hours. Photos show each model; you get the vehicle type you choose.
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: SJO Airport → Manuel Antonio
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Manuel Antonio?
Approximately 3 h of driving according to our fare table. 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 Manuel Antonio?
$220 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $275 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $360 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Can you drive up to hotels with steep driveways?
Yes. Our drivers know the Manuel Antonio hill road and its hotels. Give us the name of your hotel or villa when you book; for private villas, send the location pin.
Can we stop at the Tárcoles crocodile bridge on the way?
Yes. It is on Route 34, roughly halfway between the mountains and Manuel Antonio. With VIP the stop is part of the plan; on Standard, ask the driver for a brief stop if traffic allows.
Is Manuel Antonio National Park open every day?
It has traditionally closed one day a week, on Tuesdays, and visitor numbers are limited. Rules can change, so check the current schedule and buy entrance tickets in advance; they 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.
Where will the driver meet us at San José Airport (SJO)?
Just outside the terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. The day before, we send you the driver's name, photo and plate, and you can reach us on WhatsApp at any hour.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Manuel Antonio
These are some of the hotels in Manuel Antonio that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Arenas del Mar
- Gaia Hotel & Reserve
- Si Como No Resort & Spa
- Tulemar Resort
- Hotel Parador Resort & Spa
- Makanda by the Sea
- Shana by the Beach
- La Mariposa Hotel
More routes
Related routes
Every page below has its own prices, road notes and FAQ.
See all 600+ routes and prices
Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book SJO Airport → Manuel Antonio?
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.