From the southern Caribbean beaches to the canals of the north, one early start and a vehicle reserved for you alone.
Tortuguero has no road. The village and its canals are reached only by water, and the journey there from the southern Caribbean coast is one of the trickier links to plan in a Costa Rica Caribbean itinerary. This Puerto Viejo to Tortuguero transfer takes care of the land portion: a private vehicle with a driver collects you at your lodging and brings you to the La Pavona dock, the river landing where boats leave for Tortuguero.
The service is private, meaning the vehicle is reserved only for you and your companions. Pickup is at 6 a.m. from your accommodation in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita or Manzanillo. The early hour lets you leave the coast while it is still cool and quiet, and reach the dock ready for the river crossing.
At La Pavona, the next step depends on how you have booked your stay. If your Tortuguero hotel organizes your boat, you board it there. Otherwise, you take the public boat to Tortuguero village; that ticket is not included and is paid on site. Please note that this private transfer to Tortuguero does not go to the airport.
Vacances au Costa Rica is a local agency based in San Francisco de Heredia since 2014. Our team answers your questions in English and can fit this transfer into a wider trip if you wish.
Your driver meets you at your lodging in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita or Manzanillo at 6 a.m., while the coast is still waking up and the air carries the smell of salt and wet vegetation. Your bags go in the back, and the vehicle is yours alone, so you travel at your own pace with no other stops for other passengers. The ride leaves the southern Caribbean behind and heads north toward La Pavona, the river dock that serves as the gateway to Tortuguero. There, depending on your booking, you step aboard the boat arranged by your Tortuguero hotel or the public boat to Tortuguero village, whose ticket is paid on site. From that point, the canals take over and the road ends.
Price per private vehicle with driver, for 1 to 8 travelers; for 9 to 10 travelers, a supplement of USD 20 per person beyond the 8th. For more than 10 travelers, a larger vehicle can be arranged on request. No payment now: we confirm availability within 48 hours, then send you a secure Banco de Costa Rica payment link.
Pickup is at 6 a.m. at your accommodation on the South Caribbean coast, whether you are staying in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita or Manzanillo.
The transfer ends at the La Pavona dock. If your Tortuguero hotel organizes your boat, you board it there. If not, you take the public boat to Tortuguero village; that ticket is not included and is paid on site.
No. It is a private transfer with a driver, reserved only for you and your group.
The rate is per vehicle for 1 to 8 travelers. For 9 or 10 travelers, a supplement applies per person, and for larger groups a bigger vehicle can be offered on request.
No. This service runs only from the South Caribbean coast to the La Pavona dock. Our team can advise you on other transfers for the rest of your trip.
Getting from the beaches of the south to the canals of Tortuguero is easier when the first leg is handled for you. With a 6 a.m. pickup, a vehicle reserved for your group and a driver who takes you straight to La Pavona, this Puerto Viejo to Tortuguero transfer lets you focus on the river crossing ahead. If you would like to add it to your trip, or check how it fits with your Tortuguero booking, our team will be glad to prepare a quote for you.
