Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Sarapiquí
A private vehicle reserved for your group meets you at San José Airport (SJO) and drives you door to door to your lodge on the Sarapiquí River. 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 Sarapiquí
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 Sarapiquí. 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 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 Sarapiquí
Sarapiquí is the lowland rainforest region around the town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, on the Caribbean slope of the country. Its name comes from the Sarapiquí River, which is the main attraction: rafting and calm float trips, plus birding along the banks. The forests here are hot, humid and full of wildlife.
The area is also home to well-known research and conservation sites, such as the La Selva Biological Station and the Tirimbina reserve, as well as chocolate and pineapple farm tours. Lodges are scattered along the river roads, and Selva Verde Lodge is one of the best known.
The last part follows Route 4 into Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, a busy river town with a market and a dock. From there, local roads lead to the lodges along the river and into the forest.
In Sarapiquí
What to do in Sarapiquí
River trips
Rafting on the faster sections of the Sarapiquí or a calm float to watch birds and iguanas along the banks.
Research forests
Guided walks in reserves such as La Selva and Tirimbina, known for birds, frogs and giant trees.
Chocolate and fruit farms
Tours that show how cacao and tropical fruit are grown and processed in the region.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 2 h without stops
- Main roads
- Route 32 through Braulio Carrillo National Park, then Route 4 north via Horquetas to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí (or, on request, the Vara Blanca road past La Paz Waterfall Gardens)
- Last stretch
- Route 4 into Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and the river roads to the lodges
- 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 Sarapiquí 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 Sarapiquí
Keep the camera within reach. Between the airport and Sarapiquí you will see:
Coffee country
The lower slopes above Alajuela and Heredia are covered in coffee farms, with the plants in neat rows under shade trees.
The Sarapiquí River
A wide river that runs from the mountains to the San Juan River on the Nicaraguan border, with rafting boats and fishing canoes.
Pineapple country
The Sarapiquí area is one of the country's big pineapple-growing regions; plantations line Route 4 for kilometers.
The Caribbean slope
As the road descends, the forest gets taller and wetter, with heliconias, banana plants and palm-heart farms.
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:
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.
A riverside break in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
A coffee or a fruit stop by the river in town before heading to the lodge.
Before you travel
Road conditions on the way to Sarapiquí
These are mountain roads: paved, narrow, steep in places and with many curves. Fog is common in the afternoon, and after heavy rain small landslides can close a lane for a while; the driver slows down and knows the alternatives.
Route 4 is paved and mostly flat, with farm trucks and buses, and some bridges are narrow. Sarapiquí is one of the rainiest areas of the country, so short delays from heavy downpours are possible in any month.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- If curvy roads make you dizzy, sit in the front and tell the driver; he will take the bends gently.
- Rafting on the Sarapiquí River usually runs in the morning; if you have a trip booked for the day you land, tell us the time.
- Bring rain gear and quick-dry clothes; Sarapiquí is humid all year.
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 | $170 | $250 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $225 | $305 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $310 | $390 |
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.”
Excellent transfer service in Costa Rica with friendly professional drivers
“Our drivers were prompt, professional and friendly, stopping along the way for us to have lunch or to get groceries.”
Costa Rica Bday trip
“John was very gracious, accommodating and knowledgeable. John had the best beverages and snacks and the bus was always very clean.”
Read all our reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: SJO Airport → Sarapiquí
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Sarapiquí?
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 Sarapiquí?
$170 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $225 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $310 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
Can we stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens on the way?
If the driver takes the Vara Blanca route, the gardens are on the way. Tell us when you book so we plan the route and the time, with extra hours or VIP.
Do you go to lodges outside Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí?
Yes. We drive to any lodge in the Sarapiquí area at the same fare; just give us the exact name or address when you book.
Can we do a tour in Sarapiquí on the way?
With VIP you have one to two hours of stops, and you can add extra hours at $35 each. Tour tickets, such as rafting or a chocolate farm, are paid separately to the operator.
Is the road to Sarapiquí paved?
Yes, the main road, Route 4, is paved and flat. Some lodge driveways are gravel, and all our vehicles drive them.
Are the mountain roads OK after dark?
Yes. They are paved and our drivers use them every week. Fog and curves make them slower at night, so with a late flight we allow a little more time and confirm the plan with you.
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 Sarapiquí
These are some of the hotels in Sarapiquí 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.
- Selva Verde Lodge
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