A tour and transport operation built from the inside out — by someone who chose the Caribbean South and never looked back.
With over two decades in Costa Rica's tourism industry — managing operations, leading teams, and building what became one of La Fortuna's most respected tour operators — the move to the South Caribbean wasn't a career change. It was a decision about where to put down roots.
Fourteen years ago, that decision brought us to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. And Pleasure Ride was born from that commitment — not as a startup looking for a market, but as an operation that already knew the routes, the border crossings, the rain patterns, and the people.
Founded in 2014, Pleasure Ride has grown into a fully digital operation covering Costa Rica and Panama, handling everything from daily shared shuttles to private transfers across 50+ routes and guided tours through some of the most biodiverse terrain on earth. No physical office. No middlemen. Just direct, reliable service from people who actually live here.
Founder & Operations
Founder & Operations
I've been navigating these roads — and this industry — for over two decades. I know every border hour, every rain season quirk, and every shortcut worth taking.
Reservations & Customer Care
Reservations & Customer Care
Every booking confirmed, every traveler reassured. Nao is the voice that makes sure no question goes unanswered before your departure.
Administration & Finance
Administration & Finance
The operation runs cleanly because Ale keeps it that way — billing, scheduling, supplier relations, and everything that happens before the van ever leaves.
We don't consult a guide. We live where we operate — and that means honest, real-time knowledge of every route, every border, every condition.
Every departure confirmed the night before. Every driver on time. Every traveler accounted for from pickup to drop-off.
We work with local guides, local suppliers, and local culture — in one of the most biodiverse corridors on earth. That's not a policy. It's how we've always operated.
People come and go. Organizations endure. Pleasure Ride is built on systems, relationships, and a decade of operational knowledge that doesn't walk out the door.
“The best ride isn't the fastest one — it's the one where someone actually knows where they're going.”— Alex Chavarría, Founder
How we operate