Spider monkeys in the trees at Tortuguero
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    Central Pacific → Tortuguero

    Manuel Antonio (Quepos) to Tortuguero Transfer

    From the Central Pacific to Tortuguero you cross the whole country, and the last part is always by boat. We drive you in a private car from your hotel in Manuel Antonio, Quepos or Jacó 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 any hotel in Manuel Antonio, Quepos or Jacó
    About 275 km from Manuel Antonio, roughly 5 to 5½ hours
    From Jacó: about 210 km, roughly 4 hours
    Priced by driving distance, shown before you book
    Add the shared boat (₡6,000 per person) or a private boat
    Return trip Tortuguero → Manuel Antonio too

    How the trip works

    Your driver picks you up in Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Jacó or anywhere on the Central Pacific and drives across the Central Valley to La Pavona, the dock where the road ends: about 275 km from Manuel Antonio. 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 Manuel Antonio by about 9:00 AM, or Jacó by about 10:00 AM, to reach an afternoon boat with time for a stop. If you leave later, add a private boat and go as soon as you arrive.

    Private car or bus?

    There is no direct bus from the Pacific to La Pavona. By public bus you go through San José, change terminals, then ride to Cariari and La Pavona, and the trip takes all day. A private car goes straight to the dock on your schedule, with stops when you want them.

    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 5 to 5½ hours by car to La Pavona (about 275 km), then 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by boat. Plan a full travel day.

    Yes. Type your hotel's address in the booking form; the price follows the driving distance. From Jacó it is about 4 hours to La Pavona, from Uvita about 6.

    To catch a shared boat, leave Manuel Antonio by about 9:00 AM; the last shared boat leaves La Pavona at 4:30 PM. With a private boat you can leave later.

    Not a direct one. By public bus you go through San José, then to Cariari and La Pavona, with several changes, and it takes all day.

    Yes. Book the trip the other way: boat to La Pavona, then the private car to Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Jacó or anywhere else in Costa Rica.

    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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