Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Ojochal
A private vehicle reserved for your group meets you at San José Airport (SJO) and drives you door to door to your lodge in the hills of Ojochal. One flat price per vehicle, taxes included.
- Private vehicle
- Door-to-door
- Taxes & tolls included
- Child seats free
- 24/7
The service
Your private transfer from SJO Airport to Ojochal
This is a door-to-door service. The driver meets you at the airport with a sign, loads the bags and drives your group, and only your group, to Ojochal. If your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no extra cost.
The fare is per vehicle and final: taxes, tolls, fuel, insurance, bottled water, WiFi and child seats are included, and there is nothing to pay the driver. Choose Standard to go direct, or add Tropical Experts VIP (+$80) for one to two hours of sightseeing stops.
We confirm the pickup details with you when you book. With approximately 4 h 15 min of driving ahead, this is a full travel day: an early flight puts you at the hotel in daylight, while a late landing means part of the drive is after dark.
Your destination
Arriving in Ojochal
Ojochal is a small village in the forested hills just inland from the southern end of the Costa Ballena, south of Uvita. It has an unusually international community and is known in the region for its restaurants, with cooking far more varied than you would expect in a village this size.
Nearby beaches include Playa Ventanas, with its sea caves visible at low tide, and the southern sections of Marino Ballena National Park. Most accommodation is in villas and small lodges on the hills, reached by side roads off Route 34, several of them steep and gravel.
The Costanera continues south past Uvita, between the beaches of Marino Ballena and the forested hills. The Ojochal turn-off leaves the highway inland, and the village and its lodges are spread along the side roads.
In Ojochal
What to do in Ojochal
Dinner in the village
Ojochal's small restaurants are the main event; book ahead on weekends.
Playa Ventanas
Sea caves that fill and empty with the tide, best visited at low tide.
Southern Marino Ballena
Quiet beaches of the national park within a short drive.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h 15 min without stops
- Main roads
- Route 27 toll highway, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34) south past Quepos
- Last stretch
- Route 34 past Uvita to the Ojochal turn-off, then hill roads
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
From there the road runs south along the Pacific past Jacó, Parrita and Quepos and on into the South Pacific. South of Quepos the highway runs between the sea and the Fila Costeña mountains through oil-palm plantations and over countless rivers, and the coast gets wilder and greener the further south you go.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Ojochal
Keep the camera within reach. Between the airport and Ojochal you will see:
The Tárcoles River bridge
Crocodiles on the sandbanks below the bridge on Route 34, a classic stop on the way south.
Oil-palm country
Between Parrita and Quepos the highway crosses kilometers of African oil-palm plantations laid out in neat rows.
Playa Ventanas
A beach a few minutes from Ojochal, known for the sea caves that the tide washes through.
The southern Costa Ballena
Long beaches backed by rainforest, quieter than those further north.
Tropical Experts VIP
VIP stops on this route
Add Tropical Experts VIP (+$80) and the drive becomes a short day out, with a bilingual driver with local knowledge and stops of your choice. Here are the ones we suggest on this route:
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 Ojochal
Route 34, the Costanera Sur, is wide and paved all the way south but it carries trucks and weekend beach traffic around Jacó. Route 27 is a toll highway, with the tolls included in your fare, and it can slow down on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings.
Route 34 is paved and good; the driving time comes from the distance. Side roads in Ojochal are narrow and steep, and some are gravel; after heavy rain they can be slippery, and the driver takes them slowly.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Have cash in colones for fruit stands and small sodas along the Costanera.
- Bring a light rain jacket: afternoon storms are frequent on the Costa Ballena in the green season.
- Book dinner on your first night: Ojochal's restaurants are small and popular.
- Traveling 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 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 | $365 | $445 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $410 | $490 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $495 | $575 |
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
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.”
Better than advertised!
“Driver was ready and waiting at the airport for our very early flight arrival. Van is clean, comfortable and spacious. Wi-Fi provided and complete control of the music.”
“Kermis and Johnson are very professional and punctual. Always on time, polite and respectful. Definitely would recommend 10/10”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: SJO Airport → Ojochal
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Ojochal?
Approximately 4 h 15 min 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 Ojochal?
$365 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $410 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $495 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Is Ojochal close to Marino Ballena National Park?
Yes, the park's beaches around Uvita are a short drive north.
Can you reach lodges on the steep roads of Ojochal?
Yes. All our vehicles drive gravel and steep roads. Send us the location pin and gate details when you book so the driver goes straight there.
Is there a place to eat on such a long drive?
Yes. There are sodas and restaurants along the Costanera and the driver stops whenever you ask. With VIP you can turn a meal into one of the planned stops.
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.
How much luggage fits?
The Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers) takes 5 large bags plus carry-ons and the Toyota Hiace and Maxus V90 take more. Bringing golf clubs, surfboards or bikes? Tell us when you book so we send the right vehicle.
Drop-off and pickup
Hotels we drive to in Ojochal
These are some of the hotels in Ojochal 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.
- Villas Alturas · Ojochal
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Plan the rest of your trip
Ready to book SJO Airport → Ojochal?
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.