Arenal Blog

How To Get From Arenal to Guapiles

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from Arenal to Guapiles 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 Arenal to Guapiles. And in this article, I will discuss the four main ways to get from Arenal to Guapiles, from public buses to private car services.

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

Transportation Options From Arenal to Guapiles

1. Public Transportation
2. Group Shuttles
3. Private Car Service
4. Driving (Car Rental)

There are four ways to get from Arenal to Guapiles. You can use public transportation, go on a group shuttle, hire a private transportation service, or drive a rental car. Generally, the first two options are more affordable, and the latter is more convenient.

Public transportation is the cheapest option from Arenal to Guapiles. However, hiring a private car service or a private shuttle is the fastest and easiest option. And going on a group or shared shuttle generally gives you the best balance of time and cost. 

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

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

Top 4 Cheapest Transportation Options From Arenal to Guapiles

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, and fuel.
• Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on market conditions and demand.
• Public Transportation (buses and taxis) will only take cash, USD, or Colones.

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

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

How to Get From Arenal to Guapiles by Bus

Contrary to what most people think, public transportation is usually not the cheapest way to get from Arenal to Guapiles. Besides, the trip is not straightforward because no direct bus connects these destinations. Nonetheless, this is one of the most accessible routes you can take using public transportation in Costa Rica. You must take a taxi from Arenal to La Fortuna, a bus from La Fortuna to San Jose, a taxi from the La Fortuna Bus Terminal in San Jose to the Guapiles Terminal, and then a bus from San Jose to Guapiles. The whole trip will take between seven and eight hours. 

Let’s look at the step-by-step process for getting from Arenal to Guapiles by bus. Along with the instructions, I will share the links to Google Maps landmarks and bus schedules, which will be essential to make this trip. 

1. Take a taxi from your lodge in Arenal  to La Fortuna Bus Terminal. Depending on how far your lodging is, the taxi will cost between $5 and $30 to get there. 

2. Once you arrive at La Fortuna Bus Terminal, you must take a bus from La Fortuna to San Jose, which departs from La Fortuna at 8:40 am, and costs about $6 per person. This bus takes about 3.5 hours, arriving at La Fortuna Bus Terminal in San Jose, called “Terminal 7-10,” around noon.

3. Once you arrive at Terminal 7-10, you must take a short 3-min taxi to the Guapiles Bus Terminal in San Jose, a terminal called “Los Caribenos.” Even though the distance is quick and it might be tempting to walk instead of taking a taxi, I highly recommend you avoid walking in this area of San Jose because it’s one of the most dangerous regions in the country, so take a taxi.

4. Once you arrive at the Terminal Los Caribenos, you must take the bus from San Jose to Guapiles at 1 pm. This bus costs $3 per person, and it takes about 2.5 hours to get to Guapiles. 

5. Once you arrive at Guapiles, you must take a taxi to get to your lodging. Keep in mind that some lodges are far from the Guapiles downtown,n so the cab can get significantly expensive and lengthy. That’s why it’s best to find out how far your lodging is before planning on using public transportation to get there. You might find out that other options, such as using a group shuttle, explained in an upcoming section of this post, might be more cost-efficient for you.

There you have it. That’s how you get from Arenal to Guapiles by bus. Even though the trip is relatively straightforward, you should consider that none of the above two bus routes has air conditioning, making the trip hot and uncomfortable. Additionally, you can’t purchase the tickets ahead of time and may not get a seat, so you would need to travel standing on one or both routes.

Let’s explore the other ways to get from Arenal to Guapiles.

Drive From Arenal to Guapiles

Driving is one of the fastest ways to get from Arenal to Guapiles by land, which will take between 2 and 3 hours. A more precise estimate will depend on the traffic conditions and your experience driving around the country. On average, tourists take 3 hours from Arenal to Guapiles.

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

Top 4 Fastest Ways to Get From Arenal to Guapiles 

Aspects to Consider When Driving from Arenal to Guapiles

Driving from Arenal to Guapiles 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 Costa Rica Rental Car Comparison Tool. 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. 

Arenal to Guapiles Private Shuttle

We have already explored how complicated it is to get from Arenal to Guapiles using public transportation. We also covered how driving can be problematic, so what’s the easiest way to make this trip? 

Booking a private car service is arguably the easiest way to get from Arenal to Guapiles by land.

Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a “Private Shuttle,” as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from Arenal to Guapiles. You can arrange a specific time and place with a private shuttle, and a transportation company will pick you up and take you to your lodge in Guapiles. 

Here at Arenal Tours, we offer a private door-to-door service, so you can relax and enjoy the ride while we take care of the heavy lifting and drive for you. 

That way, you don’t need to worry about carrying your personal belongings around using public transportation. Neither will you need to worry about driving in a foreign country with roads that might differ significantly from the streets you’re used to riding back home. 

Instead, you arrange the pickup time and place. Then, one of our local professional drivers will pick you up with a modern vehicle to take you from your departure place in Arenal to your destination in Guapiles.

The only disadvantage of hiring this type of transportation service is the price. Going on a private transfer is the most comfortable, convenient, and straightforward option but also pricey. 

Depending on the pickup and dropoff places, a private transfer from Arenal to Guapileswill usually cost $205 for 1 to 6 passengers. And your pickup time can also influence your pricing. For example, if you want to depart Arenal before 7 am or after 5 pm, there is a $20 additional fee for this service. Additionally, private transfer prices will increase as demand rises, especially during the busiest days, so I recommend booking ahead of time. 

Book a Private Car Service from Arenal to Guapiles here. 

Arenal to Guapiles Shuttle

Getting a group shuttle from Arenal to Guapiles is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. A group shuttle is a daily shared transportation service from Arenal to Guapiles. A modern Van with air conditioning and WiFi will pick you up at your lodge in Arenal and take you to Guapiles.

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 Guapiles 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 Guapiles will be far more convenient than riding the public bus and significantly less expensive than hiring a private transfer. 

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 from Arenal to Guapiles 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!

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• Going From Arenal to Tamarindo
• Going From Arenal to Rio Celeste
• Going From Arenal to Tortuguero
• Going From Arenal to Monteverde
• Going From Arenal to Manuel Antonio
• Going From Arenal to Rincon de la Vieja

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of Arenal Tours. 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!