Boat on a Tortuguero canal, the last leg of the trip from Guanacaste
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    Guanacaste → Tortuguero

    Guanacaste & Liberia (LIR) to Tortuguero Transfer

    Going from the Pacific beaches to the Caribbean is one of the longest trips in Costa Rica, and there is no road into Tortuguero. We drive you in a private car from Liberia airport, your hotel in Liberia or any Guanacaste beach to La Pavona dock, and you can add the boat to Tortuguero in the same booking.

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    Local family-owned
    Instant confirmation
    Secure card payment
    Free 48h cancellation
    Pickup at Liberia airport (LIR), Liberia or any Guanacaste beach
    About 290 km from Liberia, roughly 6 hours to La Pavona
    Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Nosara: about 6½ to 7½ hours
    Priced by driving distance, shown before you book
    Add the shared boat (₡6,000 per person) or a private boat
    Return trip Tortuguero → Guanacaste too

    How the trip works

    Your driver picks you up at Liberia airport, your hotel in Liberia or anywhere in Guanacaste and drives across the country to La Pavona, the dock where the road ends: about 290 km from Liberia and up to about 370 km from the Nicoya beaches. From there, boats cross the canals to Tortuguero Village in about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

    Shared boats leave La Pavona about every hour from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Leave Liberia by about 8:00 AM, or the beaches by about 7:00 AM, to reach an afternoon boat with time for stops. If you leave later, add a private boat and go as soon as you arrive.

    One long day or a night in La Fortuna?

    It is a full travel day. Many travelers break it with a night in La Fortuna (Arenal), about halfway, and continue the next morning; in that case book our car from La Fortuna to La Pavona for the second day.

    Landing at Liberia airport in the afternoon? Spend the night in Guanacaste or La Fortuna and travel to Tortuguero the next morning, so you reach the boats in daylight.

    What it costs

    The car is priced by the driving distance from your pickup point to La Pavona, and the booking form shows the total before you pay. The boat is added per person on the shared boat (₡6,000 one way, ₡10,000 round trip) or as a private boat for ₡50,000. The car (and a private boat) is paid by card when you book; the shared boat is paid on the day.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    About 6 hours by car from Liberia to La Pavona (about 290 km), then 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by boat. From Tamarindo or Playas del Coco, count 6½ to 7½ hours of driving.

    Yes. Choose LIR Airport in the booking form, or type your hotel's address anywhere in Guanacaste; the price follows the driving distance.

    To catch a shared boat, leave Liberia by about 8:00 AM, or Tamarindo and the beaches by about 7:00 AM; the last shared boat leaves La Pavona at 4:30 PM. With a private boat you can leave later.

    Many people do: La Fortuna (Arenal) is about halfway. Spend a night there and book our car from La Fortuna to La Pavona for the next morning.

    Yes. Book the trip the other way: boat to La Pavona, then the private car to Liberia, the airport or your beach hotel.

    When you book, by card. You see the full price before you pay, and your confirmation arrives by email right away. A shared boat is paid on the day.

    Ready to book?

    Book in a minute and pay securely by card. Your confirmation arrives by email right away.

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