Private shuttle · door-to-door
Private Shuttle from San José Airport (SJO) to Uvita (Costa Ballena)
Land at San José Airport (SJO), meet your driver at arrivals with a sign bearing your name and ride straight to your hotel in Uvita and the Costa Ballena. 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 Uvita
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 Uvita. 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 4 h 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 Uvita
Uvita is the heart of the Costa Ballena, the coast named after the humpback whales that visit it. Its best-known sight is the Marino Ballena National Park, where a sandbar and rocky reef at Punta Uvita form the shape of a whale's tail, best seen at low tide. Humpbacks from both hemispheres pass through these waters at different times of year, which makes whale-watching possible over several months.
The village itself is small, with supermarkets, sodas and tour offices along Route 34, while hotels and villas are spread over the green hills behind it, often with long ocean views. Among the places we drive to are Kurà Design Villas, Oxygen Jungle Villas and Hotel Cristal Ballena.
In Uvita
What to do in Uvita
The whale's tail at low tide
Walk out onto the sandbar at Punta Uvita in Marino Ballena National Park when the tide is out.
Whale-watching
Boat tours from Uvita in the seasons when humpbacks are present.
Waterfalls in the hills
Several small waterfalls and swimming holes lie a short drive inland.
The route
What to expect on the drive
- Driving time
- approx. 4 h without stops (our fare table)
- Main roads
- Route 27 toll motorway, then the Costanera Sur (Route 34) south past Quepos
- Pickup point
- Just outside the terminal exit, with a name sign
The first part is the same as for the central Pacific: west on Route 27, the toll motorway that leaves the Central Valley, and down to the coast near Orotina, where the Costanera Sur (Route 34) begins.
Along the way
What you'll see between SJO Airport and Uvita
Some of what you will pass on this drive:
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 kilometres of African oil-palm plantations laid out in neat rows.
The Fila Costeña
The coastal mountain range rises steeply behind the South Pacific beaches, with waterfalls visible from the road after rain.
The whale's tail
From the hills you can sometimes see the sandbar at Punta Uvita that gives Marino Ballena National Park its famous shape.
Costa Ballena viewpoints
Route 34 between Dominical and Uvita has wide views over the coast and its long beaches.
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 Uvita
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 motorway, with the tolls included in your fare, and it can slow down on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings.
Hill roads to villas around Uvita can be very steep and partly gravel, and slippery after rain.
From the road
Driver's tips for this route
- Land early if you can: arriving in daylight makes the last stretch, often on smaller roads, easier.
- Check the tide table before visiting the whale's tail: it is only fully exposed at low tide.
- Bring cash in colones; ATMs in the village can run out at busy weekends.
- 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 | $335 | $415 |
 Toyota Hiace6–9 passengers |
6–9 | 9 | $380 | $460 |
 Maxus V9010–12 passengers |
10–12 | 12 | $465 | $545 |
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 → Uvita
How long is the drive from San José Airport (SJO) to Uvita?
Approximately 4 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 Uvita?
$335 in a Hyundai Staria (1–5 passengers), $380 in a Toyota Hiace (6–9) and $465 in a Maxus V90 (10–12). Prices are per vehicle, in US dollars, with taxes included. VIP adds $80 per vehicle.
When is whale season in Uvita?
Humpbacks arrive from the southern hemisphere roughly from July to October and from the northern hemisphere roughly from December to April. Sightings vary year to year; tours are booked with local operators.
Can you drive up to villas in the Uvita hills?
Yes. All our vehicles enter steep and gravel roads. Send us the location pin and any gate code or contact when you book.
Can you drop us in Uvita village before going up to the villa?
Yes. A quick stop at a supermarket in the village before going up the hill is easy to arrange.
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.
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 Uvita
These are some of the hotels in Uvita that our calculator already lists. We go to any address in the area: if yours is not here, write it in the booking.
- Kurà Design Villas
- Oxygen Jungle Villas
- Hotel Cristal Ballena
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