Everything you need to know to get around Costa Rica like an expert
In our blog you’ll find practical tips, detailed guides, and all the information you need to make your Costa Rica trip unforgettable. From choosing the best transportation to the secrets of each destination.
Shared shuttles cost around $55-70 per person on a fixed schedule. A private van runs $170-$397 on your schedule. The honest break-even point is about four travelers, but the real difference shows up in hours, not dollars. Here's the math from a company that only runs private, including when shared is genuinely the better choice.
Real 2026 numbers from a Costa Rican operator: private shuttles run $109 to $397 per vehicle for 1-5 passengers depending on the route, taxes and tolls included. Here's the full price breakdown, the per-person math, and the one airport mistake that costs travelers $200 and four extra hours.
September and October are Costa Rica's wettest months, and the rain changes how long every drive takes. Here is the real drive time for each major route, which roads actually get harder, and the one region that is at its best while the Pacific is soaked.
Tamarindo is the beach town that has a little of everything: waves you can actually learn on, sunsets that stop the whole street, fresh seafood, and the liveliest nights in Guanacaste. Here is what is actually worth your time, from the team that drives travelers there every week.
Volcano first, beach second: La Fortuna to Tamarindo is the classic Costa Rica connection. Here is exactly how far it is, how long the drive really takes, the two scenic routes we use, and every way to travel it, from a team that drives this road every week.
Some Costa Rica routes look quick on a map but aren't. Here are 5 transfers - SJO to Tamarindo, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio and more - that fool people.
Everything for a Guanacaste trip - which airport (Liberia/LIR is closest to Tamarindo), the best beaches, dry vs green season, and how to get around.
Jaco is 1.5 hours from San Jose (SJO) airport. Compare every way to get there - private shuttle, rental car, bus and taxi - with real times and costs.
How a 1968 eruption turned a quiet town into Costa Rica's adventure capital - the story of Arenal volcano, its hot springs, and how to visit today.
The 5 best multi-stop routes through Costa Rica - volcano, cloud forest and beaches - with transfer times, days needed, and how to travel each stress-free.
Tamarindo is Guanacaste's most popular beach town, and getting there hinges on one decision most people make blind: which airport you fly into. Here is how to actually get to Tamarindo from LIR, from SJO, and from La Fortuna.
Volcano hikes, hanging bridges, a 70-meter waterfall, sloths, and the turquoise Río Celeste. Here's what's actually worth doing in La Fortuna, from a local team that lives and guides right here.
You already booked the waterfall, the chocolate tour, the hanging bridges, maybe a canopy zip-line. The tricky part is getting between them. Here is how hiring our minibus and a private driver for 8 to 10 hours turns a packed itinerary into one easy, relaxed day around La Fortuna.
Which airport should you fly into, how do you get from the airport to La Fortuna or Tamarindo, and is it really safe to drive in Costa Rica? Here are clear, honest answers to the questions travelers ask us most, from a local team that drives these roads every day.
Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia is the fastest way into Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Here is what to expect when you land at LIR and the six most popular transfers from the airport to Guanacaste's best beaches and the Arenal region.
Juan Santamaria International Airport is where most Costa Rica trips actually begin. Here is what to expect when you land in San Jose and the six most popular transfers from SJO to the country's best destinations.
There is a town at the bottom of Lake Arenal. There is a road around it that almost no tourist drives. And there is a reason kitesurfers from around the world fly here every December. The full story of Costa Rica's biggest — and most misunderstood — lake.
You planned the whole trip but forgot about the ride from the airport. SJO and LIR are very different beasts — here's what we wish someone had told us before our first pickup.
Not all shuttle services are created equal. As someone who has been in Costa Rica's tourism transport industry for nearly two decades, here are the 7 things I always tell travelers to look for before booking a private shuttle.
From sea turtles in Tortuguero to jaguars in Corcovado — a region-by-region look at the animals that make Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
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From $5 casados at family-run sodas to volcano-view fine dining at Don Rufino — here's what eating in La Fortuna actually looks like, with real names, real prices, and zero fluff.
From eating gallo pinto for breakfast without thinking twice to giving directions based on landmarks that don't exist anymore—here are the signs that Costa Rica has officially claimed you as one of its own.
Wondering what a private airport shuttle in Costa Rica actually looks like? Here's a step-by-step look at the experience — from booking to arrival at your hotel.
Think Costa Rica is cheap, dangerous, or that you can see it all in a long weekend? Think again. We're breaking down the 5 biggest misconceptions that surprise first-time visitors—and what to actually expect.
Planning your trip to Costa Rica's Gold Coast? Here's your complete guide to Guanacaste: shuttle prices, best beaches, insider tips, and answers to the most common questions travelers ask.
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