Costa Rica Tour Transportation: How To Use Tours To Travel Between Destinations
Last updated on July 19th, 2021 at 03:18 pm EST
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Rafting is one activity type that can provide transportation between cities
Get the Costa Rica info you need by browsing our article's TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Costa Rica tour transportation efficiency
- Costa Rica tour transportation and logistics
- Costa Rica tours that provide transportation between two destinations
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from San Jose
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Liberia
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from La Fortuna / Arenal
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Monteverde
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Manuel Antonio
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from the Guanacaste beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions)
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Samara and Nosara
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Guapiles
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Siquirres
- Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Turrialba
Costa Rica tour transportation efficiency
As we mention in our related blog post Costa Rica Transportation: 12 Ways To Get Around Costa Rica, city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours (i.e., Costa Rica tour transportation) permit travelers to get to and from trip destinations the most time- and cost-efficient way possible. Specifically, the tours combine a day’s activity with a pick-up in one city and a drop-off in another, allowing you to not only save the cost of arranging separate transportation between destinations but also previous vacation time.
Costa Rica tour transportation and logistics
What happens to my luggage?
Travelers who participate in city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours don’t return to their departure location upon tour completion, so they must bring all of their luggage with them during the tour. This action begs the question, “What happens to my luggage while I participate in the tour?” If you’re wondering the same, here’s what you should know.
Depending on the type of tour you select and the operator who runs the activity, one of two things will happen the day of your tour: you’ll either be taken to a central office, an operation center, or another tour hub where your luggage will be stored for the day, or else your luggage will be stored in the tour operator’s tour bus. If you’re wondering if your luggage will be safe, know this: though anything can happen and 100% security can never be guaranteed, your luggage should be safe so long as you choose a reputable tour operator. When luggage is stored in tour vehicles, the vehicle is locked and the driver typically stays closeby. When luggage is stored at central offices, operation centers, or other tour hubs, such as the one we describe in our related blog post Pacuare River Rafting Tour: Must-Know Info From A Former Rafting Guide, luggage is often stored in giant, suitcase-friendly lockers.
As an added precaution or for your own peace of mind, you’re welcome to bring luggage locks, a small padlock, or another type of bag lock with you to Costa Rica to prevent any individual from being able to access your things. Keep in mind, though, that tour operators assume a degree of liability and responsibility for your luggage while you participate in their tour, and they don’t want you to misplace items on their watch either. Though playing it safe by bringing your own locks is smart, not assuming that Costa Rican tour operators are out to steal your stuff is just as important.
Will the tour operator know where to take me? How will I know where to go?
All city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours require advance reservations. At the time of reservation, you’ll need to provide the tour operator with the name of your pick-up and drop-off destinations (e.g., San Jose and La Fortuna), as well as the names of your hotels in both areas (e.g., Hotel Presidente and La Pradera Del Arenal). On the day of your tour, the tour operator will have a list of the number of travelers they need to pick up in each city and at each hotel, as well as the number of travelers who will require transport to a new city upon tour completion (this list is sometimes called the “tour roster”). When the tour finishes, your tour guide will tell you which bus is headed to your chosen destination. Simply grab your luggage, board that bus, and you’ll be on your way!
Tip:
Make sure you organize your vacation itinerary well in advance of your trip to avoid the need to make last-minute changes to your Costa Rica tour transportation. This is because, on the part of the tour operator, a large amount of work has gone into ensuring that a driver and vehicle will be available to pick you up and drop you off at your desired cities. For this reason, last-minute changes are typically difficult to process (especially when the tour operator can no longer offer availability for a pick-up or drop-off in the city you wish to change your reservation to), and more often than not, strict cancelation policies apply.
Tip:
Many tour operators will offer pick-ups and drop-offs at hotels and hostels only, not at vacation home rentals, Airbnbs, etc. In the event that the accommodations you have selected for your trip do not qualify to receive a complimentary tour pick-up and/or drop-off, request to be picked up and dropped off at qualifying locations nearest to where you plan to stay in each city in order to minimize your walking distance and/or taxi fare.
Tip:
When selecting your Costa Rica hotels, ensure that they fall within the pick-up and drop-off zones of any tour operators you plan to use for city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours. Pick-ups and drop-offs that fall outside of tour operators’ Costa Rica tour transportation zones may incur additional tour fees. For more information about tour operators’ pick-up and drop-off zones (as well as general information surrounding the importance of location when choosing a Costa Rica hotel), please see our related blog post: Costa Rica Tour Transportation: Hotel Pick-Ups And Drop-Offs
Costa Rica tours that provide transportation between two destinations
Through our work at Pura Vida! eh? Inc., we have had the pleasure of getting to know hundreds of great tour operators, some of which offer city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours (also referred to as “adventure connections”). The following is a list of Costa Rica tour transportation options that can be arranged to provide a pick-up and drop-off in different cities. If you’d like specific details regarding any of the particular tours listed below, please leave a comment for us in the open forum on the Pura Vida! eh? Inc. website here and we’ll get back to you asap with the tour-related information you need. 🙂
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Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from San Jose
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
- Sarapiqui River Rafting Tour
- Balsa River Rafting Tour
- Safari Float Tour
- Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping Tour
- La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Coffee Tour Combo
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Manuel Antonio
- Tarcoles River Boat (Crocodile) Tour
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from San Jose to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Liberia
Tours that include transportation from Liberia to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from Liberia to Monteverde
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from Liberia to Samara and Nosara
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from La Fortuna / Arenal
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
- Sarapiqui River Rafting Tour
- Balsa River Rafting Tour
- Safari Float Tour
- Lost Canyon Canyoning Tour
- Canopy Zip-lining Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Liberia
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
- Rio Celeste (Tenorio Volcano National Park) Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Monteverde
- Extreme Hiking Tour
- Horseback Riding Tour
- Mountain Biking Tour
- Stand-Up Paddle Tour
- Kayak Tour
- Mountain Biking and Stand-Up Paddle Tour Combo
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Manuel Antonio
- Balsa River Rafting Tour
- Tarcoles River Boat (Crocodile) Tour
- Carara National Park Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to the Guanacaste Beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions)
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
- Rio Celeste (Tenorio Volcano National Park) Tour
- Mountain Biking Tour
- Stand-Up Paddle Tour
- Mountain Biking and Stand-Up Paddle Tour Combo
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Samara and Nosara
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from La Fortuna / Arenal to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Monteverde
Tours that include transportation from Monteverde to Liberia
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from Monteverde to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Extreme Hiking Tour
- Horseback Riding Tour
- Mountain Biking Tour
- Stand-Up Paddle Tour
- Kayak Tour
- Mountain Biking and Stand-Up Paddle Tour Combo
Tours that include transportation from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
- Tarcoles River Boat (Crocodile) Tour
Tours that include transportation from Monteverde to the Guanacaste Beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions)
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from Monteverde to Samara and Nosara
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Manuel Antonio
Tours that include transportation from Manuel Antonio to San Jose
- Tarcoles River Boat (Crocodile) Tour
Tours that include transportation from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Balsa River Rafting Tour
- Carara National Park Tour
Tours that include transportation from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde
- Carara National Park Tour
- Tarcoles River Boat (Crocodile) Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from the Guanacaste beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions)
Tours that include transportation from the Guanacaste Beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions) to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
- Rio Celeste (Tenorio Volcano National Park) Tour
Tours that include transportation from the Guanacaste Beaches (including the Papagayo, Hermosa, Panama, Coco, Ocotal, Brasilito, Langosta, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, and Potrero regions) to Monteverde
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Samara and Nosara
Tours that include transportation from Samara and Nosara to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Tours that include transportation from Samara and Nosara to Monteverde
- Tenorio River Rafting Tour
- Tenorio River Safari Float Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Guapiles
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Guapiles to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Siquirres
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Siquirres to Turrialba
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Costa Rica tour transportation that departs from Turrialba
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to San Jose
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to La Fortuna / Arenal
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to Guapiles
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
Tours that include transportation from Turrialba to Siquirres
- Pacuare River Rafting Tour
- Reventazon River Rafting Tour
QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you used Costa Rica tour transportation to travel between destinations before? Was it worthwhile for you?
Pura vida!
Hi again! Do you know of any service, shared or public, or tour that can get us to Parque Marino Ballena from the La Fortuna/Monteverde area, or do we have to go through San José?
Alicia –
Great question! We are not aware of a city-to-city transportation-inclusive tour that runs directly from La Fortuna (or Monteverde) to Uvita (where Marino Ballena is located). However, going through San Jose isn’t required; there are city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours that run from La Fortuna (and Monteverde) to Manuel Antonio, which will at least get you to the central Pacific coast while avoiding San Jose altogether. Uvita is another hour’s drive down the coast from Manuel Antonio, but you could always look into taking a local bus, a shared shuttle service, a private transfer service, or a taxi service from Manuel Antonio to Uvita to cover this stretch. 🙂
Pura vida!
Hello, I am planning a solo trip to Costa Rica. How far in advance would you say I have to book one of these tours? For example, if I want to take a tour from San Jose to La Fortuna but once I get to La Fortuna I realize I want to stay there longer than expected, is it feasible to book a tour from La Fortuna to my next destination within days of my departure?
Thanks in advance.
Dave –
Thanks so much for posting your inquiry!
To start, in case you haven’t already had a chance to read it, our blog post Costa Rica Day Tours: Should You Book Ahead Of Time Or Wait? should answer your question. 🙂
Although we go into much further detail in the above post, I can at last offer you some brief information below to help provide a quick answer for you at this time. To your question, “is it feasible to book a tour from La Fortuna to my next destination within days of my departure?”, the quick answer is: it will depend largely on the tour you have in mind, the tour operator who offers it, and the time of year you plan to visit. Here’s why…
Most (but not all) tour operators in Costa Rica require a minimum of 2 people to run tours. Since you mentioned that you are planning a solo trip to Costa Rica, if the particular tour you have your eye on requires a minimum of 2 people to run and you only plan to book it for yourself, the tour operator (assuming it is company that requires a minimum of 2 people) will not be able to confirm the tour reservation until at least 1 other person books the same tour as you for the same date. If the tour is a popular one and/or you plan to visit Costa Rica at a busy time of year, this wouldn’t create as big of an issue for you as if you were planning to participate in a less common activity at a slower time of year. This being said, if you do plan to participate in popular activities during a busy time of year, that also invites the issue of availability, since availability can be limited for some tours during certain travel periods.
The other issue you run into if you opt to wait until the last minute to book is that you may end up having to pay full price for the tour. As described in our related blog post How To Save Money On Costa Rica Tours, discounts are available for many tours, however since the reservation deadlines to be followed in order to access those discounts typically requires reservations to be placed a few days in advance of any tour date, waiting until the last minute to book may be too late to reserve the item at its lowest rate.
Pura vida! 🙂
Hi! I hope to start transport at La Fortuna to go on the Pacuare River Rafting Tour and arrange transport to the San Jose airport afterwards. I see that transport goes to San Jose, but does that include the airport? And would that be included in the tour fee? Thank you!
Laura –
Great question! For the Pacuare River Rafting Tour, pick-ups and drop-offs directly at the SJO Airport are not permitted by the tour operator, but they can leave you across the street at either the Rostipollo’s restaurant or the Denny’s restaurant (these would be the closest locations). It is important to note that although the restaurants are located across the street from the airport, there is a large, multi-lane highway that separates both from the airport itself, so walking between the two destinations would not be advised. The safest option would be to take a taxi ride (a very short and inexpensive one) between the restaurants and the airport.
Pura vida! 🙂