Arenal Blog

How To Get From Arenal to Liberia

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from Arenal to Liberia every year. If you’re planning on going this route, and you’re not sure whether you should rent a car and drive, take a flight, take a shuttle, hire a private car service, or use the public transportation system, this article is for you.

I’ve helped hundreds of tourists find the best option from Arenal to Liberia. And in this article, I will discuss the four main ways to get from Arenal to Liberia, from public buses to private car services.

Before we dive in and find out which option is best for you, let’s answer a question I often get regarding how far Arenal is from Liberia Airport. For some reason, when people ask me that question, they usually use the terms “Lake Arenal” and “Liberia Airport,” so I will use that terminology and those two specific landmarks to answer the question. However, I encourage you to keep reading past this question for a complete answer.

How Far is Lake Arenal from Liberia Airport? 

Lake Arenal is 97 Kilometers (60 miles) from Liberia Airport. You can drive, but you can also make this trip using a group shuttle service or hiring a private car service. Driving or using a car service will take between 2 and 3 hours, whereas using a group shuttle will take between 3 and 4 hours.

Many people ask the above question considering those specific landmarks, Arenal Lake and Liberia Airport because they’re staying nearby Arenal Lake and they’re heading directly to the Airport. However, not everyone has that particular plan. You might be somewhere further from Arenal’s lake or heading to Liberia, but not necessarily to the Airport.

Therefore, in this post, I will expand on the topic by considering other regions of Arenal (not necessarily at the lake the other areas of different parts of Liberia (not necessarily the Airport). But before we do that, let’s look at another hot topic many people ask when considering whether to fly into SJO International Airport vs. Liberia International Airport.

Is Arenal Closer to San Jose or Liberia? 

Arenal is closer to Liberia than San Jose. The distance is similar, but the travel time to San Jose is longer. The 132-kilometer (82-mile) road to Liberia is rural with low traffic, taking about 3 hours. And the 135-kilometer (83-mile) route to San Jose is urban, with heavy traffic, taking about 4 hours.

Transportation From Arenal to Liberia

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

Let’s dive right in:

There are four ways to get from Arenal to Liberia. 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 Liberia. 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 other based on its pros and cons so that you can make the best of your trip from Arenal to Liberia. 

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

Top 4 Cheapest Transportation Options From Arenal to Liberia

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.

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 Liberia by Bus

The cheapest way to get from Arenal to Liberia is to use the public transportation system. However, the trip is not straightforward because no direct bus connects these destinations. You must take a taxi from Arenal to La Fortuna and then three buses to reach Liberia, and the journey will take about six hours. 

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

1. First, you must take a taxi from your lodge in Arenal to La Fortuna Bus Terminal. The bus you need leaves from there at 8 am, and you need to do the line to purchase the tickets, so depending on where in Arenal you’re staying, I recommend you take your taxi between 7 am and 7:30 am to give you enough time to get to the terminal. This first taxi can cost between $10 and $20. 

2. Once you arrive at La Fortuna Bus Terminal, you must take the 8 am bus from La Fortuna to Tilaran. After two hours of travel around Lake Arenal, this bus will get you to the Tilaran Bus Terminal around 10 am. This bus will cost a little under $5. 

3. Once you arrive at the Tilaran Bus Terminal, you must take the Reina del Campo bus from Tiralan to Cañas, which leaves Tilaran at 11:30 am, and gets to Cañas at around midday. This bus will cost a little under $1. 

4. Once you arrive at the Cañas Terminal, you need the bus from Cañas to Liberia, which departs at 12:10 pm and takes about 45 minutes to get to the Liberia Terminal, so you will finally get there around 1 pm. This bus will cost a little under $3. 

There you have it. That’s how you get from Arenal to Liberia by bus. Even though the trip is relatively inexpensive ($20 – $30 total), the journey is long, taking up half a day.

Besides, switching buses four times can be tiring. And none of the above three buses 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 some of the routes.

Over the last decade, I have helped hundreds of tourists make this trip, and only a tiny percentage of travelers go from Arenal to Liberia using public buses. Most travelers use the following alternatives;

Drive From Arenal to Liberia

Now that we know how long it takes to get from Arenal to Liberia using public transportation let’s talk about how to make this trip much faster. 

Driving is the fastest way to get from Arenal to Liberia, which will take between 3 and 4 hours. A more precise estimate will depend on the traffic conditions and your experience driving around the country. On average, tourists take 3 hours to go from Arenal to Liberia.

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

Top 4 Fastest Options to Get from Arenal to Liberia

*Going on a Private Transfer will be faster than driving if you’re not used to driving in Costa Rica.

Aspects to Consider When Driving from Arenal to Liberia

Let’s discuss a few drawbacks of driving in Costa Rica, which you should consider before renting a car from Arenal to Liberia. 

Driving Time Can Be Much Longer Than GPS Apps Estimate From Arenal to Liberia

Generally, driving from Arenal to Liberia takes 3-4 hours. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to local Costa Ricans used to driving in our country, and it’s not the case for foreigners. 

If you search on Google Maps for the route from Arenal to Liberia, Google usually estimates the driving time will be around 2.5 hours. However, from my experience working with hundreds of tourists, I rarely see anyone get across that distance in that timeframe. 

The distance between Arenal and Liberia is 132 kilometers (82 miles), which is significant but not excessive. However, the roads in Costa Rica are pretty narrow, and traffic can get out of control at any given moment should an accident block the streets. Consequently, Google estimations can be disproportional, and your driving time can escalate quickly. 

For example, one day, I drove from San Jose to Monteverde the other day, and Google estimated my driving time would be 3 hours and 50 minutes. And then, there was a landslide on Highway 1 (one of the main roads you will need to use when driving from Arenal to Liberia), which turned my travel time upside down. What was supposed to be a four-hour drive ended up being a ten-hour endeavor, and I got home at 1 am.

Even though this was an extreme case, this type of thing happens in Costa Rica regularly. Our country’s topography, with huge mountain ranges, volcanoes, and vast nature, makes the roads vulnerable to these events. Therefore, I recommend adding 30 to 90 minutes to the estimated driving time the GPS device/app gives you.

Driving is Not the Easiest Way to Get From Arenal to Liberia

Driving from Arenal to Liberia seems like a simple thing to do. After all, you might be an avid driver, and a three-to-four-hour ride might not be a big deal. However, driving in Costa Rica can be very different from how you’re used to driving at home. 

In Costa Rica, crazy local drivers, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions, and narrow roads make driving here a challenge and an overwhelming task for some. 

For example, on highway 1, one of the main routes from Arenal to Liberia, it’s common to see local drivers going full speed, passing multiple vehicles on a relatively narrow road. Witnessing a car pass like that on these roads can make some drivers feel uncomfortable and anxious. 

We, Costa Ricans, have witnessed this scenario many times before, and it still feels a bit uncomfortable for me. Getting past at full speed in such narrow streets means the car passing by comes very close to you, and it’s not cool. And it’s one of the main complaints I’ve heard from foreigners visiting Costa Rica for the first time. 

On the other hand, the weather conditions in Costa Rica are pretty unpredictable. Costa Rica has more than 300 microclimates (a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding a. And that means you can experience a handful of different atmospheric conditions over a four-hour drive. 

You might leave Arenal with a clear sky when suddenly a cloud forms thirty minutes later, pouring rain all over the place. Driving under changing weather conditions is not a big deal from December through April (Costa Rican summertime) as there are few rain showers, and they’re not too hard.

However, rain is more prominent from May through November (Costa Rican rainy season). During this time of the year, it rains more often and much harder, especially during September and October, when heavy thunderstorms are a daily norm. Generally speaking, driving during those months is significantly challenging, even for locals, especially during the afternoons when the rain is more likely to come. 

And lastly, a final aspect that makes driving in Costa Rica challenging for foreigners is the poor condition of the roads. There are many potholes, so you must be extra careful and 100% focused when driving in our country. You will want to dodge those bad boys as they can be so sharp that they can flat your vehicle’s tire.

Flat tires do not usually cause many accidents in Costa Rica, but they can still be a hassle. Since most roads are narrow, you will need to find a safe parking stop so you can change the tire. Changing tires is not super fun, and it can be incredibly discouraging if it begins to rain in the middle of the process, as it’s happened to me a few times. 

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 Liberia Private Shuttle

We have already explored how complicated it is to get from Arenal to Liberia 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 Liberia by land.

Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a “Private Shuttle,” as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from Arenal to Liberia. 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 Liberia. 

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 Liberia.

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 Liberia will usually cost $201 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 Liberia here. 

Arenal to Liberia Shuttle

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

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 Liberia 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 Liberia 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 $47 per person per way. 

Book a Group Shuttle from Arenal to Liberia 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 Guapiles
• Going From Arenal to Sarapiqui
• 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!