Arenal Blog

How To Get From Liberia to Arenal

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from Liberia to Arenal every year. And you might be planning on going this route, but you’re probably not sure whether or not you should rent a car, take a flight, hire a private car service, or use the Costa Rican public transportation system to make it, right?

You’re not alone. Many people have come to me with this question, and I’ve helped them find the best ways to get from Liberia to Arenal in the best way for them.

This article will discuss the four main ways to get from Liberia to Arenal, from public buses to private flights. Let’s dive in and find out which option is best for you.

Transport Liberia to Arenal

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 Liberia to Arenal. 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 way to get from Liberia to Arenal. On the other hand, hiring a private transportation service is the easiest and the fastest option, while going on a group shuttle gives you the best balance of price and comfort.  

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

Let’s start by comparing the different ways to get from Liberia to Arenal by how affordable each option is:

Cheapest Ways to Get from Liberia to Arenal

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.

Public Bus From Liberia to Arenal

The cheapest way to get from Liberia to Arenal is to use the public bus. However, the trip is not straightforward because no direct bus connects these destinations. And it’s not very comfortable because you may need to travel standing for a long time and the buses lack air conditioning.

There is no direct bus from Liberia to Arenal. You need to take three buses and between one and three taxis, depending on where you’re heading. And the travel time from Liberia to Arenal using the public bus will take about 7 hours.

You take the first bus from Liberia to Cañas. Then, you walk or take a taxi for a kilometer (0.7 miles) from the Cañas terminal to the Tilaran bus station. Then, you take the bus from Cañas to Tilaran, followed by a third bus from Tilaran to La Fortuna.

Note: Switching buses can be challenging if you don’t speak fluent Spanish. So even though traveling by bus is the cheapest way to get from Liberia to Arenal, it’s also a bit inconvenient, which is why I only recommend it if you are traveling on a tight budget.

However, despite these disadvantages, the good news is that this trip is affordable and doable. And I will guide you in this section on how to make it look relatively easy. I will even include links to Google Maps landmarks to make it very simple for you to make this trip, so keep the link to this article handy. You may want to refer back to it on your travel day. 

Note: The instructions will work if you’re staying nearby Liberia. For example, let’s say you flew into Liberia International Airport and spent the first night in Liberia. Then these instructions will work for the day you travel from Liberia to Arenal. However, suppose you’re arriving at Liberia’s Airport and heading to Arenal immediately. In that case, I recommend you skip this section and look for the Private Shuttle or the Group Shuttle alternatives. The reason for this is that I only recommend using public buses if you’re traveling early in the morning because the bus schedules are extremely limited later in the day. Thus, if you cannot leave Liberia in the morning, then these instructions won’t work.

Steps to Travel from Liberia to Arenal using the Public Bus System

1. First, depending on where you’re staying in Liberia, you may need a taxi to get to the Terminal de Buses Municipal de LiberiaYouou will take your first bus heading to Cañas, which departs at 7:45 am. And I recommend you get there early to buy the tickets because you can’t purchase them online, so they sell them on a first-come, first-served basis. Thus, I recommend you get there between 7:15 am and 7:30 am to get your tickets.

This bus will cost $3 and get you to Cañas by 9:30 am. The bus will arrive at a terminal that is not on Google Maps. However, it’s next to the Christian church Iglesia de Dios EC, which you can use as a landmark reference. 

2. Next, once you arrive at the Iglesia de Dios EC terminal in Cañas, you can either walk or take a taxi for one kilometer (0.7 miles) to the Tilaran Bus Station called “Parada de buses Cañas.” Please refer to the following diagram. 

Note: Even though you will walk along a highway, there is a pedestrian walkway and a pedestrian bridge to cross the street so that you won’t step on the road. However, if you have multiple bags, you may want to take a taxi instead of walking.

Taxis will be available at the Iglesia de Dios EC terminal as you step out of the Liberia – Cañas bus. Walking with bags can make you more vulnerable to criminals, and while robbery seldom happens in this small town, it’s best to be safe and avoid putting yourself in the wrong position. A taxi will charge you $3 and get you to the terminal in about 3 minutes. 

After riding a taxi or walking, you will arrive at the Tilaran Bus Station before 10 am. And then, you will need to wait for the 10:45 am bus, which goes from Cañas to Tilaran. This bus will cost $1 and get you to Tilaran by noon, arriving at Tilaran’s terminal called “Para de buses Tilaran.”

3. Once you arrive at Tilaran’s terminal, you must take the 12:15 pm bus for $5 from Tilaran to Cuidad Quesada, which stops along Arenal around 1:30 pm and La Fortuna at around 2 pm. And depending on your Hotel/Airbnb location, you may be able to stop along the bus route and walk to it.

Therefore, it’s vitally essential to prepare beforehand. Make sure you know exactly where your lodge is. And if possible, try asking your host if the place is en route. Some inns, such as Agua Inn in Nuevo Arenal or Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, are right along the bus route.

Note: Even though the 142 route passes through where most lodgings are in Arenal, it does not go through El Castillo, a sector between Arenal and La Fortuna. El Castillo is home to Arenal’s Volcano National Park and iconic lodges like Rancho Margot, Nepenthe B&B, and Essence Arenal Boutique Hostel. Therefore, if you’re heading to this area, you must wait to arrive at La Fortuna and then take a taxi to El Castillo, which will cost about $20. 

4. If the bus does not pass by the location of your lodge, then you will need to get off at La Fortuna and then take a taxi from there to Arenal, which will cost between $10 and $30, depending on the location. And it should take between 10 and 20 minutes to arrive at your lodge.

Those are the four steps to travel from Liberia to Arenal by public bus, which can be quite an adventure and a bullet-proof way to experience the local life. The trip will take about seven hours and cost between $20 and $50.

Let’s explore other options to get from Liberia to Arenal in case taking the public buses overwhelms you (or doesn’t work for you);

Drive From Liberia to Arenal

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

Driving is the fastest way to get from Liberia to Arenal, 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 to drive from Liberia to Arenal, whereas locals take 3 hours.

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

Fastest Ways to Get from Liberia to Arenal

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

Cons of Driving from Liberia to Arenal

Driving from Liberia to Arenal has a couple of caveats you should consider before you decide on renting a car to make this trip. 

Driving is Not Always the Fastest Way to Get From Liberia to Arenal

As mentioned above, driving from Liberia to Arenal takes 3-4 hours. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to those used to driving in Costa Rica. They do not necessarily apply to foreigners. 

The Google Maps average time from Liberia to Arenal uses real-time traffic speed to calculate the estimated travel time. However, most tourists drive at a significantly slower pace than locals. You will experience this if you rent a car for your trip to Costa Rica. More likely than not, you will drive more slowly than Costa Ricans, and that’s because you will probably want to enjoy the incredible scenery, while the average local will be rushing to get home from work. 

As a general rule, I recommend adding 30 to 60 minutes to the estimated driving time the GPS device/app gives you. I recommend using Waze, the most popular GPS traffic system in Costa Rica. I drive approximately 50,000 kilometers per year (about 31,000 miles), and in my experience, Waze tends to be more accurate than Google Maps. The only drawback is that you need internet data to use Waze, so you will want to buy a chip with internet data if you want to use it.

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

Driving from Liberia to Arenal is simple, but it’s not always easy. There are crazy local drivers, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions, and narrow roads in bad shape. 

As mentioned above, 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, on highway 1, one of the main routes from Liberia to Arenal, you might see someone going at 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

Now that you have the ins and outs about driving from Liberia to Arenal, it may be time to find a reasonable Rental Car. If this is your case, I recommend using the Rental Car Comparison Tool. You can find the best car rental deals in one place. Choose the city or airport where you plan to pick up a rental car, and the tool will instantly show you the best deals across the major rental car companies in Costa Rica. 

Private Car Service From Liberia to La Fortuna

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

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

Here at Arenal Tours, we offer a private door-to-door service, so you don’t need to worry about carrying your luggage or walking around the public roads, compromising your safety and belongings. 

You also don’t 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 Liberia to your destination in Arenal. 

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 will usually cost $205 for 1 to 6 passengers. The pickup time can also influence your pricing. For example, this service might get $20+ higher if you want to travel at night. And prices for private transfers are also subject to increase as demand rises, especially during the busiest days, so I recommend booking ahead of time. 

Book a Private Car Service from Liberia to Arenal here. 

Liberia to Arenal Shuttle

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

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 Liberia to Arenal 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 Arenal 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 and driving. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but it’s usually around $54 per person per way. 

Book a Group Shuttle from Liberia to Arenal here. 

Liberia to Arenal Flight

There are no direct flights from Liberia to Arenal. Instead, the closest option is to take a domestic flight from LIB Int. Airport to SJO Int. Airport and then a taxi from the SJO Airport to Arenal. However, doing this would not be time or cost-efficient as the trip would take twice as much time and money compared to hiring a private car service directly from Liberia to Arenal.

I’m leaving this topic for last since, as of the time of writing this article, this route is not available, yet, many travelers have asked me about it. However, it’s possible to arrange a flight through a private helicopter, which would cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and would take less than an hour to get to Arenal.

If you’re interested in this service, send us a message, and my team will connect you with a private helicopter transfer. 

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!

Related Articles: 

• Going From Jaco to Arenal
• Going From Guapiles to Arenal
• Going From San Jose to Arenal
• Going From Sarapiqui to Arenal
• Going From Tamarindo to Arenal
• Going From Rio Celeste to Arenal
• Going From Monteverde to Arenal
• Going From Santa Teresa to Arenal
• Going From Manuel Antonio to Arenal
• Going From Santa Tortuguero to Arenal
• Going From Rincon de la Vieja to Arenal

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!