MonteTours Blog

How To Get From La Fortuna to Tortuguero

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from La Fortuna to Tortuguero annually. If you’re planning on going this route and are unsure which means of transportation is best, this article is for you.

I’ve helped hundreds of tourists find the best option from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. And in this article, I will discuss the three main ways to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero, from public buses and a boat to the shuttle & boat service.

Let’s dive in and find out which option is best for you.

Transportation Options From La Fortuna to Tortuguero

1. Public Transportation
2. Driving (Car Rental)
3. Shuttle & Boat

There are four ways to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. You can use public transportation, go on a group shuttle & boat, or drive a rental car and then take a boat. Generally, the group shuttle & boat service is more convenient, whereas the other two can be more complicated. 

Public transportation is the cheapest option from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. However, it can get very complicated. Taking a shuttle & boat service is much more straightforward. Renting a car is not very practical, but it’s another alternative. 

Keep scrolling to find out how each option ranks against the other based on its pros and cons so that you can make the best of your trip from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. 

Let’s explore each option’s pros and cons to help determine the best way for you to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero, starting by comparing prices and times.

Top 3 Cheapest Transportation Options From La Fortuna to Tortuguero

Notes:

• The above rates do not include the 13% IVA tax.
• These prices assume there is a minimum of two travelers.
• Renting a car consists of the base rate, insurance, fuel, and parking at La Pavona.
• Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on market conditions and demand.
• Public Transportation (taxis) will only take cash (USD or Colones).

Note: The above prices are estimations to give you an idea.

Top 3 Fastest Ways to Get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero

Keep reading more detailed information on each service and how they work.

How to Get From La Fortuna to Tortuguero by Bus

There are no buses from La Fortuna to La Pavona Pier (from where you must take the ferry to Tortuguero, explained in the following section). Instead, you first take a taxi from La Fortuna to La Pavona, which will take about 3.5 hours and cost about $220. Then you must take the ferry from La Pavona to Tortuguero, which will take another 1.5 hours and $3 per person.

Considering the lack of public buses and the high taxi price tag, public transportation from La Fortuna to Tortuguero is generally the least popular among travelers. Let’s explore the other ways to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero.

Driving From La Fortuna to Tortuguero

You can’t drive from La Fortuna directly to Tortuguero. You must first go to La Pavona, which will take about 3.5 hours, and leave your car in a parking lot. Then take a ferry (a midsize boat) from La Pavona to Tortuguero, which will take another 1.5 hours through the canals of the Rio La Suerte and the Tortuguero River to finally reach Tortuguero town.

Where Do You Park Your Car in Tortuguero?

If you plan to drive to Tortuguero, you must leave your car in a parking lot at La Pavona, the pier to Tortuguero. At La Pavona, you will find safe parking lots for $10 cash per night. However, you should avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle.

La Pavona to Tortuguero Boat Times

The boat from La Pavona to Tortuguero departs from La Pavona Pier daily at 7:30 am, 1 pm, and 4:30 pm, going through the canals and arriving at the Tortuguero Pier 1.5 hours later. And if you plan to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the ride, then take the first boat as the weather is better in the mornings.

Compared to all the other ways to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero, driving is the fastest way, as shown in the following comparison table. 

Aspects to Consider When Driving from La Fortuna to Tortuguero

Driving from La Fortuna to Tortuguero is simple, but it’s not necessarily easy. There are crazy local drivers, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions, and narrow roads in bad shape. 

Costa Ricans drive significantly faster than foreigners. In addition to this, since we know the roads, as locals, we can make risky moves that might scare someone who has never driven in our country. For example, it’s common to see local drivers going full speed, passing multiple vehicles on a relatively narrow road.

If you live in Costa Rica and have been through that route thousands of times, you will not see anything particularly wrong with this. But if you come from a developed country where the roads are much broader, and there are usually multiple lines on all the highways, you might see such a move as imprudent. 

On the other hand, you have the unpredictable weather conditions of Costa Rica. You might be driving with a clear sky when suddenly a cloud forms ahead, pouring rain all over the place. Driving under changing weather conditions might not be such a big problem during the summertime from December through April, but it can get extremely challenging during the rainy season. 

In Costa Rica, the rainy season is not so bad from May through August. However, it can get scary sometimes during September and October, especially if you stumble upon a storm while driving. These are the top 2 rainy months and the top months for accidents on the road. 

The rain also causes a lot of damage to the roads, which worsens during the rainy season. Many potholes come to life during this time of the year, and it takes a couple of months for the government to repair the cracks. 

A tourist’s main problem with potholes is that they can make a vehicle’s tire explode. Exploding tires do not usually cause many accidents in Costa Rica. However, they can easily create a trip very stressful for a tourist, who will need to phone in the car rental to get another vehicle and then file the insurance paperwork. It’s not dramatic, but it can ruin a few hours of your dream vacation time. 

Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool

After considering the above drawbacks, if you decide that renting a car is still a good option, it may be time to find a reasonable Rental Car. And I recommend using the . You can find the best car rental deals in one place. All you need to do is choose the city or airport where you plan to pick up a car, and the Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool will instantly display the best deals across the major rental car companies in Costa Rica. Give it a try. 

CHECK THE COSTA RICA RENTAL COMPARISON HERE

Let’s discuss the third way to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero.

La Fortuna to Tortuguero Shuttle & Boat

Getting a Group Shuttle & Boat from La Fortuna to Tortuguero is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. A group shuttle is a daily shared transportation service from La Fortuna to Tortuguero. A modern Van with air conditioning and Wi-Fi will pick you up at your lodge in La Fortuna and take you to La Pavona. Then our boat will take you from La Pavona to Tortuguero.

Generally, taking a group shuttle, or a “shared shuttle,” as the locals call it, is the most recommended door-to-door way to get from Arenal to Tortuguero for most travelers. Group shuttles are convenient and provide the best balance, saving time and money for travelers in most cases.

Here at Arenal Tours, we offer group shuttles, where you share the shuttle service with fellow travelers and the cost, making it an excellent option for solo travelers and couples. Using our group shuttle to get to Tortuguero will be far more convenient than public transportation.

Using our group shuttle is also more manageable and less stressful than renting a car and driving. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but it’s usually around $65 per person per way. 

BOOK A GROUP SHUTTLE & BOAT FROM LA FORTUNATO TORTUGUERO HERE 

Here’s the end of this article. Thank you for reading this far, and feel free to share this info with fellow travelers as you deem appropriate. Happy travels and ¡Pura Vida, amigos!

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of MonteTours Costa Rica. I lived in Arenal and La Fortuna before I moved to Monteverde, and I often travel to Arenal and La Fortuna to visit my loved ones. I love nature, adventure, and mountain biking. My partner and I love spending time outdoors and dining out. And we have more than 30 years of combined experience traveling around Costa Rica.

We love helping visitors so they can have a memorable experience in our country. If you need help planning your perfect trip to Costa Rica, send us a message, and we will happily assist you!