TicoTrekker logoTicoTrekkerLa Fortuna · Costa Rica

Private transfer from San José to La Fortuna

Door-to-door private transportation from San José to La Fortuna with a local professional driver. One price for the whole vehicle.

Price
$207.00/ vehicle
Duration
~3 h
Capacity
up to 14 passengers

7–14 people $253.00

Final price per vehicle · all taxes and fees included

Larger group? We can tailor your transfer and offer a better rate. Fill in the form with your request and send it — we'll review it and reply with an exact quote.

Book on WhatsApp

✓ Private vehicle with A/C

✓ Door-to-door

✓ Tolls & bottled water included

✓ WhatsApp support

On the way

TicoTrekker van with Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna
Private transfer driving toward Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna
Arenal Volcano from the old lava fields

About this route

From San José and the SJO airport area, the drive leaves the Central Valley through coffee country, with the option (on request) of a short stop in Sarchí for its painted oxcarts or near La Paz Waterfall on the mountain road. The last stretch runs through San Carlos farmland with Arenal Volcano filling the windshield on clear days; roads into La Fortuna are paved all the way.

We recommend morning departures, before the afternoon showers that are common from May to November; any time of day works if your flight or hotel needs it. Short stops along the way can be requested when you book; we confirm them with you in advance.

In La Fortuna you can hike the lava trails of Arenal Volcano National Park, cross the Mistico hanging bridges, swim below La Fortuna Waterfall and end the day in the area's hot springs.

Return trip: La Fortuna → San José

The route

From the Central Valley the drive climbs west past Grecia and Sarchí, then up through the cool highlands of Zarcero before descending to Ciudad Quesada and the northern plains to La Fortuna.

An alternative road crosses near Poás and the La Paz Waterfall area, a greener mountain route. Your driver picks the best road for weather and traffic on the day.

Leaving San José or Alajuela in the early afternoon usually means heavier traffic out of the city; morning departures are often smoother. Mountain fog and rain can add time in the wet season.

Estimated time: about 3 h, depending on traffic, weather and departure time.

Shuttle vs private transfer

FeatureShared shuttleTicoTrekker
PricePer seat, each passenger pays$207.00 per vehicle (1–6), all included
ScheduleFixed departure timesLeave at the time you choose
PickupSeveral hotel stopsDoor to door, only your group
FlightFixed time even if delayedFlight monitoring included
KidsAsk firstChild seat on prior request
StopsNot on requestRestroom, photo or quick-meal (45 min) stops on request

Flight arrival tips

  • Juan Santamaría (SJO) is in Alajuela. After immigration and customs, walk out through the main arrivals exit; your driver waits outside with a sign with your name.
  • Share your flight number when you book so we can monitor your flight and plan the pickup time. Up to 2 hours of airport waiting time is included.
  • We monitor your flight, so if it is delayed your driver adjusts the pickup time automatically. If you are held up at customs, send us a WhatsApp message.

Questions about this route

Can we stop at Sarchí, Zarcero or La Paz Waterfall?
Short stops can be requested when you book, such as the painted oxcarts of Sarchí, Zarcero's topiary park or the La Paz Waterfall area. They depend on time, weather and the road and are not guaranteed; entrance fees are not included. On request you can also stop for restrooms or a quick meal of up to 45 minutes.
How much luggage can we bring?
Tell us the number of suitcases and boards when booking and we assign a vehicle with enough room. Large groups with lots of luggage travel in a large van.
Do you have child seats?
Yes, on prior request, $5 per seat. Tell us your children's ages when booking and we have it ready for your trip.
How do we pay?
By card, bank transfer or cash, as agreed when your booking is confirmed. The price is per vehicle with all taxes and fees included.
What is the cancellation policy?
Full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before, 50% between 48 and 24 hours, and no refund under 24 hours or for no-shows.

Travelers on this route

“We were in Costa Rica for 10 days and hired Tico Trekker's full-day service for our entire trip. Fabian greeted us right on time at SJO Airport with a warm welcome. We were a family of eight, and the van provided was spacious, clean, and very comfortable throughout the trip. Fabian was extremely polite, courteous, and very knowledgeable about all the places we visited, including Tamarindo, La Fortuna, La Paz Waterfall, and Poás Volcano.”

Mehul Prajapati · Google · Apr 2026

Questions about this route

Our guarantees

What you can count on.

Airport pickup timing

Share your flight details so our team can plan your pickup. The included waiting window is up to 2 hours at the airport and 30 minutes at hotels; after that it is $10 per hour.

Your name on a sign at the airport

Your driver meets you at the main arrivals exit of SJO or Liberia holding a sign with your name.

Clear cancellation window

Full refund more than 48 hours before pickup, 50% between 48 and 24 hours, no refund under 24 hours or no-show.

One price per vehicle

Prices are for the whole vehicle, not per person — with all taxes and fees included. Tolls and bottled water are included.

Google reviews

5.0

Google rating · 66 reviews

The ride becomes part of the welcome.

Swipe to see more ←→

Luis Miguel Lastra

Aug 2026

Queremos expresar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a TikoTrekker por haber sido parte fundamental de nuestra experiencia en Costa Rica. Desde el primer traslado hasta el último, recibimos un servicio impecable. Siempre puntuales, organizados y atentos a cualquier necesidad, lo que nos permitió disfrutar del viaje con total tranquilidad. Más que un conductor o un operador de transporte, sentimos que viajábamos con un amigo que conocía a la perfección el país y quería que disfrutáramos cada momento.

Olatz Lizaso

Apr 2026

Somos un grupo de 12 personas que lleva un tiempo viajando por Costa Rica, y contar con los servicios de Fabián ha sido siempre un acierto. Desde el primer contacto para hacer la reserva demuestra una gran profesionalidad, además de ser siempre muy puntual en cada encuentro. Durante el trayecto es siempre amable, atento y muy servicial. El vehículo es espacioso, limpio y muy cómodo. Super recomendable si buscáis un shuttle de confianza en Costa Rica.

Mehul Prajapati

Apr 2026

We were in Costa Rica for 10 days and hired Tico Trekker's full-day service for our entire trip. Fabian greeted us right on time at SJO Airport with a warm welcome. We were a family of eight, and the van provided was spacious, clean, and very comfortable throughout the trip. Fabian was extremely polite, courteous, and very knowledgeable about all the places we visited, including Tamarindo, La Fortuna, La Paz Waterfall, and Poás Volcano.

Araceli Saavedra

Jun 2026

Fabian deserves more than 5 stars! He showed up on time and was courteous and friendly. He recommended several places to try and routes to take to our next destination. He even had fresh fruit cut up for us and cold water for after our tours. I would highly recommend him. Pricing is very reasonable! We felt safe the entire time.

Ulupi Acharya

Apr 2026

We had an excellent experience with Fabian during our spring break trip to Costa Rica. We always felt safe thanks to his careful and reliable driving. His vehicle was consistently very clean and well-maintained. He was also incredibly flexible and accommodating. We would highly recommend him to anyone traveling in Costa Rica.

Paula Maria Gonzalez

Mar 2026

Un servicio excelente, 2 veces hemos contratado sus servicios durante nuestra estadía en Costa Rica y sin duda volveríamos a repetir. Transporte cómodo y rápido, valioso para los largos viajes en carretera por el país. Fabián, nuestro conductor, siempre atento a nuestras necesidades y muy profesional.

Listyanna

Sep 2025

Fabian has been such a pleasure as our private driver. He picked out great sodas for us to eat and took us to all the activities we wanted to do. Honest, reliable and early, flexible. We wanted to have a driver that was local and authentic and that is what he is. He knows tons of people in La Fortuna and just made our entire trip FUN!

Luz Velázquez

Jan 2026

Nuestra experiencia en Costa Rica fue sencillamente genial. Al viajar con niños pequeños, nos preocupaba la logística, pero el equipo nos brindó recomendaciones valiosas incluso antes de nuestra llegada. Queremos agradecer especialmente a Fabián, quien estuvo siempre atento a nuestros tiempos y a cualquier necesidad que surgía. ¡Altamente recomendados!

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