How To Get From Tortuguero to La Fortuna Best Way – You can go by bus, van, car and private transfer plus the boat.
What Is The Distance From Tortuguero to La Fortuna?
The distance from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is 163 kilometers. Click here to book online La Fortuna activities and day trips
The travel time from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is around 3 hours by car from La Pavona where you can get the boat coming from Tortuguero. Read here how to get from La Fortuna to Tortuguero
What Is The Cheapest Way From Tortuguero to La Fortuna?
The cheapest way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by bus plus boat $16 USD. If you go by bus and boat the travel time will be around 10 hours from Tortuguero to La Fortuna.
What Is The Best Way From Tortuguero to La Fortuna?
The best way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by shared van for $52 USD you can book online and 4 hours travel time.
Read here Hiking Arenal Volcano and best Costa Rica Sim card for tourist
Read how to get from La Fortuna to Jaco Beach, Tortuguero to Monteverde, Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero to San Jose airport and San Jose airport to Santa Teresa
WHERE TO STAY IN LA FORTUNA
There are dormitory rooms where you can rent the bed for as low as $15 USD a night if you want the cheapest option in La Fortuna. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.
Click here if you want to find the best deals
BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
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HOW TO GET FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA FORTUNA
BOAT PLUS BUS FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA FORTUNA (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by bus plus boat. First you will have to ride the boat from Tortuguero to La Pavona and later a few buses: La Pavona to Cariari and Cariari to San Jose and get a bus to Ciudad Quesada and La Fortuna.
BOAT SCHEDULE FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA PAVONA
The boat schedule from Tortuguero to La Pavona is starting at 5 30 am, 9 am, 11 am and 2 45 pm. The boat fare from La Pavona to Tortuguero is around $5 USD and it includes a suitcase/backpack.
The boat ride from Tortuguero to La Pavona will take around 1 hour (it can be less or more). Outside these boat’s schedules (estimated time not fixed). There are also private boats (more expensive) going from Tortuguero to La Pavona.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM LA PAVONA TO CARIARI
There are only 4 daily buses leaving from La Pavona to Cariari. The bus schedule from La Pavona to Cariari is starting at 7 30 am, 10 30 am, 1 pm and 4 30 pm. The bus from La Pavona to Cariari travel time is around 2 hours and the bus fare is around $2 USD.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM CARIARI TO SAN JOSE
Once in Cariari, you will have to take a bus from Cariari to San Jose. The bus schedule from Cariari to San Jose is running every 15 minutes. The bus travel time from Cariari to San Jose is around 2 hours. The bus fare from Cariari to San Jose is around $4 USD.
BUS FROM SAN JOSE COSTA RICA TO LA FORTUNA
The bus from San Jose to La Fortuna is leaving San Jose Transportes San Carlos. There is only one direct bus from San Jose Costa Rica to La Fortuna leaving at 6 15 am and getting to La Fortuna at 11 30 pm.
You will not be able to get a direct bus from San Jose to La Fortuna. So you will have to ride the bus from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada where you can transfer to La Fortuna.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM SAN JOSE TO CIUDAD QUESADA
The bus schedule from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada with San Jose Transportes San Carlos is starting at 5 am, 5 30 am, 6 15 am, 7 40 am, 8 40 am, 10 15 am, 11 30 am, 12 45 pm, 2 pm, 3 30 pm, 4 40 pm, 6 15 pm and 7 30 pm.
The bus travel time from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada is around 2 hours and 30 minutes and the bus fare San Jose to Ciudad Quesada is $4 USD.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM CIUDAD QUESADA TO LA FORTUNA
The bus schedule from Quesada to La Fortuna is leaving every hour. The bus fare from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna is $2 USD and the travel time Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna is around 1 hour.
The total travel time from Tortuguero to La Fortuna by boat plus buses is around 10 hours and the bus fare is around $16 USD including the boat from Tortuguero to La Pavona.
SHARED VAN FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA FORTUNA (BEST WAY)
The best way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by shared van direct to your hotel. The van travel time from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is 4 hours.
The van fare from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is $52 USD and you can book online.
TAXI/UBER FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA FORTUNA
The travel time by taxi is around 3 hours from La Pavona where you are coming by boat from Tortuguero.
The taxi fare from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is around $180 USD. The prices and travel time aren’t fixed and it will depend on traffic and your final destination.
BEST WAY FROM TORTUGUERO TO LA FORTUNA BUS VS VAN PROS AND CONS
The best way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by bus plus boat if you go on a budget for a total of 12 hours travel time. You will pay around $16 USD including the bus coming from San Jose, Cariari, La Pavona to La Fortuna and the boat from Tortuguero.
The best way from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is by van for $52 USD and you can book online if you prefer comfort and get directly to your hotel in 4 hours at the beach without any other transfer.
If you wish more comfort taxi, Uber or private transportation from Tortuguero to La Fortuna is around $200 USD and 3 hours travel time to reach from La Pavona to La Fortuna.
Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.
Hanna
Wednesday 2nd of March 2022
Hallo, Ich möchte nur anmerken, dass die Zeiten der Busse überhaupt nicht stimmen. Letztendlich sind wir in San Jose gelandet und mussten von dort mot dem Taxi nach La Fortuna was unglaublich teuer war.
Hamza
Saturday 7th of January 2023
Update: The bus from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna doesn't leave every hour. Even if it's written La Fortuna on the bus, sometimes they don't stop at La Fortuna and they keep going to the next city. That's what the 4pm bus driver told me and he told me to wait for the 5pm bus which will go through La Fortuna. Hope this help anyone.
Hamza
Saturday 7th of January 2023
@Ruben Arribas,
Hello, I am doing this route today, and here are the updated changes: first, the boats from Tortuguero to La Pavona leave at 5am for the first one and at 6am for the second one. Second, when I got to La Pavona at 7:05 am, someone told me that the bus to Cariari already left and that the next one was at 10am. Fortunately, a man was driving his truck to Cariari and he agreed to give me a ride. Third, the buses from Cariari to San Jose don't leave every 15 min, they leave every two hours, the first one at 7:30 and the second at 9:30. Fourth, when I arrived to San Jose I had to go to another terminal called 7-10 where I catched a bus going to San Carlos but stopping at Ciudad Quesada, leaving at 12:45. I didn't arrive to destination yet, but I will give an update as soon as I reach La Fortuna.
Hamza
Tuesday 8th of November 2022
@Ruben Arribas,
Hello. First, thank you for the information it is very helpful. Second, did you have any update about the bus schedules? I would like to be as sure as possible about this. Thank you!
Ruben Arribas
Wednesday 2nd of March 2022
Hanna sorry to hear this! Which schedule was changed? I would love to update the blog post to provide the best information.
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