Puerto Viejo to JW Marriott Hacienda Pinilla

This journey surprised me in a good way. We were leaving Puerto Viejo after a rainy few days and heading to JW Marriott Hacienda Pinilla for the last part of our honeymoon, so I expected the transfer day to feel long and boring. Instead, it became one of those quiet travel memories that stays with you. I remember climbing in with damp hair, half awake, holding an iced coffee and hoping I would not get carsick on the mountain roads. The scenery kept shifting for hours, from lush Caribbean surroundings to drier landscapes closer to Guanacaste, and it really felt like crossing two different versions of Costa Rica in one day. Our shuttle service Costa Rica booking was comfortable, unforced, and handled in a very natural way.

I almost split this route into two parts because it is a very long drive across the country, but in the end we decided to go straight from Puerto Viejo to Hacienda Pinilla. We were traveling with my wife and our toddler, so minimizing changes was the main reason. The collection was early, which honestly helped because we got on the road before the day felt too hot. There were some curvy inland sections, but the pace stayed comfortable and we appreciated having a stop to reset and grab something light. As transportation in Costa Rica goes, this felt organized and much less stressful than trying to coordinate it ourselves.

We booked this after three nights in Puerto Viejo and wanted something simple for the long ride to JW Marriott Hacienda Pinilla. I was tired and sticky from the heat when we got picked up, so the cool van felt amazing. My boyfriend had a surf bag and I had one large suitcase, and everything fit without a problem. For private transfer Costa Rica, it was easy, quiet, and exactly what we needed that day.