Book your shuttle in Costa Rica

As a travel agency, we handle all your logistics by booking and organizing your ride with our transportation partners. We work with all transportation providers in Costa Rica to find the ride that fits your needs. This means we coordinate your trip for a smooth experience but are not the actual transportation providers.

Pura Vida Traveling partners with trusted transportation providers in Costa Rica. While we coordinate your transportation, these companies operate the shuttles and are responsible for the rides.

Our prices come directly from our transportation providers and include a commission they pay us for booking. Typically, our prices match what you'd pay if you booked directly, though sometimes they may vary slightly. We aim to align our prices with our providers' rates whenever possible to avoid overcharging.

After booking with us, we will follow up with an email fully confirming your transportation. With this confirmation, we’ll inform you which shuttle company is scheduled for your trip and provide a contact phone number so you can contact the shuttle provider directly if needed. Each of our partners meets high safety and service standards to ensure a comfortable journey.

We try accommodating requests for specific shuttle providers based on availability, route, and timing. However, assignments depend on partner schedules, and we work to offer the best available option for your itinerary. Please email us and include your confirmation number to request a specific provider.

We recommend booking at least 72 hours in advance to secure your preferred schedule. Early bookings (5-7 days in advance) are highly recommended during peak season.

Shuttle times vary by provider and route. Shared shuttles have to pick up other passengers and can run 10-20 minutes late. We’ll confirm the available time options upon booking and email you your final schedule. Some popular routes operate several times daily, while others may have limited service. Most shuttles run in the morning and afternoon, with the latest shuttles leaving at around 5 PM. There are no shuttles with night-time departures.

Pick-up times are approximate. Your confirmed pick-up time will be based on your pick-up location and provided with your confirmation email. We recommend being ready 10-15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. This helps ensure timely departure, as some routes operate on tight schedules.

Most shuttles offer door-to-door service (from and to any Hotel or Hostel), which we will confirm based on your pickup and drop-off locations. If door-to-door service is unavailable, we will arrange pickup at the nearest accessible location. Extra charges could apply for drop-off outside the designated areas (from an Airbnb, for example). We will notify you beforehand if your pick-up or drop-off location requires an additional cost.

If you are traveling from the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, your pick-up spot will be the Britt Cafe right outside the airport on the right side of the arrivals area. You will need to pass both immigration and customs (30-120 minutes) to get to the meeting point, so if you are requesting a pick-up, make sure to book a shuttle that picks you up 60-120 minutes after your plane is scheduled to land and always provide us with your flight information so that we can be aware of any delays or cancelations.