The van is all yours
No fixed schedules, no shared seats. Your group, your vehicle, your timeline — anywhere in the South Caribbean coast and Panama.
Your departure time
Leave when it suits you, not the shuttle schedule.
Custom stops
Cahuita, Manzanillo, anywhere en route — just ask.
Your group only
No strangers, no waiting for other passengers.
Fixed price per vehicle
Split the cost — cheaper than 4+ shuttle tickets for big groups.
Private Van Transfers from Puerto Viejo
When you need to travel on your own schedule (an early morning airport run, a late-night arrival, or a group that doesn't want to share a van with strangers), a private transfer is the right call. We operate door-to-door private van service across Costa Rica's South Caribbean coast, to San José and SJO Airport, and to destinations throughout Panama via trusted local partners.
Every private van is exclusive to your group. No fixed departure times, no shared seats, no waiting for other passengers. Your driver picks you up at your hotel, hostel, or any address on the route, and drops you exactly where you need to be.
- Up to 6 passengers in a standard van (larger groups can request a minibus with differentiated pricing)
- Custom departure time: you set the schedule
- Custom stops anywhere on the route
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned Toyota HiAce
- Border crossing assistance on Panama routes via trusted local partners
Fixed price per vehicle
“The private van was absolutely worth it for our group of 6. Driver was on time, stopped in Cahuita for a quick swim, and had us at the Bocas water taxi in time with no rush. Way better than the shared shuttle experience we had before.”
Shared shuttle vs private van
| Shared shuttle | Private van | |
|---|---|---|
| Departure time | Fixed schedule | Any time you choose |
| Vehicle | Shared with strangers | 100% private for your group |
| Custom stops | No | Yes — anywhere en route |
| Luggage | Limited (1 bag) | No restrictions |
| Price (6 pax · Bocas) | $180 (6 × $30/pax) | $160 / vehicle ✓ |
Frequently asked questions
Our standard private vans comfortably seat up to 6 passengers. For larger groups, we have minibus options available with differentiated pricing. Contact us to get a quote for groups of 7 or more.
We don't operate fixed departure times on private van routes: that's the point. You set the time that works for your group, whether that's a 4am airport transfer or a midday departure after a late checkout. Confirm your preferred time when booking.
Our own vans operate within Costa Rica. For routes into Panama (including Bocas del Toro, Boquete, and Panama City), we work with trusted local partners who handle the Panama side of the journey. Border crossing assistance at Sixaola–Guabito is included on all Panama routes.
Private van prices are per vehicle, not per person, so the more people in your group, the better the value. A van from Puerto Viejo to San José costs $245 total whether you're 1 passenger or 6. Fixed-price routes are listed on this page. For custom routes or destinations not listed, request a quote using the form above.
A shared shuttle has fixed departure times and stops to pick up other passengers along the route: it's more affordable per person but less flexible. A private van is exclusively for your group, departs when you want, and goes directly to your destination with no shared stops. For groups of 4 or more, private is often comparable in price to shared shuttles per person.
Yes, custom stops are one of the main advantages of a private van. Stop at a waterfall, a restaurant, or any point of interest along the route. Just let us know in advance when booking so your driver can plan accordingly. Additional stops may affect the total journey time.