Private transfers & shuttles
Compare private transfers, airport transportation, and shared shuttles between Costa Rica’s airports, cities, beaches, and major travel destinations.
Book by destination
How we move you
Flight-tracked pickups at SJO and LIR, private vans between beach and volcano hubs, or a driver for the whole day when your itinerary doesn't fit a single route.
01From $55Meet & greet · any hotel
Your driver tracks the flight into Juan Santamaría or Liberia, waits through delays, and meets you in arrivals — fixed price to your hotel, no surge.
02From $75Beach · volcano · cloud forest
Door-to-door between the stops travelers actually change — La Fortuna, Monteverde, Quepos / Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Jacó, and more.
03From $180/dayYour itinerary · our wheel
Keep the same vehicle for 8–10 hours when you want multiple stops, a custom day trip, or a flexible route that a single transfer can’t cover.
Sample fares
Indicative private rates per vehicle (up to 8 passengers). Confirm live inventory on city transfer pages or request a quote.
| From | To | Est. time | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJO Airport | La Fortuna / Arenal | 3 hrs | $95 | View |
| SJO Airport | Monteverde | 3.5 hrs | $95 | View |
| SJO Airport | Manuel Antonio | 3 hrs | $85 | View |
| SJO Airport | Tamarindo | 5 hrs | $140 | View |
| LIR Airport | Tamarindo | 1 hr | $55 | View |
| LIR Airport | La Fortuna | 2.5 hrs | $85 | View |
| La Fortuna | Monteverde | 2.5 hrs | $65 | View |
| Monteverde | Manuel Antonio | 5 hrs | $95 | View |
The process
01
Select your pickup location, destination, date, and number of passengers.
02
Secure checkout. Receive a confirmation with your driver's contact details.
03
For airport pickups we track your flight in real time. No need to call us.
04
Your driver is waiting in arrivals. From there, just enjoy the scenery.
Open a city transfer catalog for live options, or tell us your route, date, and group size — we'll reply with a quote.
Travel guide
When getting around Costa Rica people usually have to choose among private transfers, shared shuttles, hiring cars, domestic flights, and public buses. For those travelling between the main destinations, private and shared transfers are one of the simplest alternatives since they eliminate the need to deal with unknown roads, arrange connections between buses, or go and pick up a rental car after a long flight.
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and Guanacaste Airport (LIR) are the principal airports from which a great many international journeys start. Travelers usually go on to places like La Fortuna, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, and other beach or inland destinations.
Private transport provides your group with its own vehicle and typically includes a direct pickup from an airport, a hotel, or your accommodation. It is particularly convenient for families, for groups of people carrying extra luggage, or for anyone who is arriving on a schedule that doesn't coincide with the fixed shuttle departure times.
Shared shuttles usually cost less per person since they run on fixed routes and might have extra pickup points or drop-off locations. They are a good option for single travellers and for couples who are looking for an alternative to driving.
Before you book, make sure you check if the price is given on a per-person or per-vehicle basis, as well as the luggage limits, the coverage for pickup, the cancellation terms, and the number of stops that are expected over the course of the journey.
Airport transfer services are offered at both SJO and LIR airports for a number of Costa Rica's main tourist destinations, and the best airport for you will depend very much on your itinerary.
SJO serves as a common gateway to San José, La Fortuna, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and the Caribbean side. LIR is particularly convenient for many of the destinations in Guanacaste such as Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Papagayo, and the adjacent Pacific beaches.
The time it takes to travel in Costa Rica may be greater than the distance indicated on a map, since traffic, the roads between the mountains, weather conditions, ferry crossings, and the state of the roads can all have an impact on how long a journey takes, therefore it's advisable not to plan tight connections right after arriving by plane.
It is useful to take private transfers when convenience and flexibility are most important, and shared shuttles provide a reasonable compromise between cost and comfort on well-established tourism routes.
Buses are usually the cheapest choice, but the routes may require more planning and involve extra connections. While hiring a car gives the greatest flexibility, it also means taking on the responsibilities of using a navigational system, parking, dealing with road conditions, and driving during the journey.
There isn't a single most suitable mode of transport for all Costa Rica itineraries; a reasonable trip could involve a number of different methods, such as a private transfer from the airport on arrival, the use of shared shuttles when travelling between the main destinations, and hiring a car for part of the trip.
Common routes include:
Use the main transfer hubs for your destination to compare services, starting prices, pickup details, and current availability.
The prices displayed for My Travel Setup are merely preliminary figures or basic rates and may differ depending on the operator, date, route, group size, vehicle type, and availability. It is necessary to check the exact fare and the included services before making a booking.
Good to know
Private transfers and shuttle services are convenient for the majority of the main tourist routes; although public buses are less expensive they usually do require more planning, whereas domestic flights can be a good option for certain longer routes.
A private transfer is booked for your group and typically goes straight to your destination, while shared shuttles run on set routes and might stop at extra passenger destinations.
It is useful to book in advance when arriving at an airport, when travelling on fixed dates, when travelling with a large group or on popular routes; it also enables you to confirm the pickup arrangements and prices before your trip.
