Private Airport Transfers in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's north Pacific coast is one of the easiest parts of the country to reach: flights from North America and Europe land at Liberia's Guanacaste Airport, and the beach resorts of Guanacaste are between half an hour and a couple of hours away. The largest resorts sit on the private Papagayo Peninsula, well away from the towns, so most visitors arrive by car.

We drive from Liberia to the Papagayo Peninsula, home to the Four Seasons, the Andaz, Nekajui and Marina Papagayo, and quote any address in Guanacaste: Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Tamarindo and Nosara on the coast, or inland to Arenal and La Fortuna. Your driver tracks your flight, waits as you walk out of arrivals and takes you to the door, for one fixed price per vehicle.

Main roads in Costa Rica are generally in good condition, but heavy rain in the wet season can cause potholes and landslides, and bridges often narrow to a single lane. The UK government notes that driving standards are lower than in the UK, with speeding and risky overtaking common, and warns renters about thieves who slash a tyre and then offer help.

Private cars can only enter central San José on certain weekdays, depending on the number plate. Official taxis are red, or orange at the airport. A pre-booked transfer avoids all of this on arrival day: your driver knows the roads and the bridges, and you can sleep after the flight.

On the Pacific side, including Guanacaste, the dry season runs from December to April, with March the hottest and driest month. The rainy, or green, season runs from May to October, with November as a month of transition, and July and August often bring a drier spell known as the veranillo. Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest holiday weeks, so book early for those dates.

For Guanacaste, fly into Liberia if you can. The Papagayo Peninsula is about 45 minutes from Guanacaste Airport, while Juan Santamaría Airport near San José is more than 200 km from Liberia by road. San José's airport is the better choice for the central valley and the Caribbean coast.