Of the three hotels on Peninsula Papagayo, the Andaz is the one people tend to pick when they like the setting but do not want to feel cut off. It is the first resort inside the gate, 30 to 40 minutes from Liberia Airport, and from there a dinner in Coco or at El Mangroove is a short drive rather than an expedition. This guide covers the transfer itself, the checkpoint, and what is within easy reach once you are settled in.
Quick facts
| Distance from LIR | 31 km (19 mi) |
| Drive time | 30–40 min, paved the whole way |
| Private transfer, 1–5 passengers | $105 per vehicle, fixed |
| Private transfer, 6–9 passengers | $130 per vehicle |
| Private transfer, 10–12 passengers | $170 per vehicle |
| Included | Taxes, tolls, flight tracking, child seats, one stop for groceries |
| Gated access | Yes, the driver has to be registered in advance |
Where the hotel is
The Andaz is Hyatt's resort on the calm, bay-facing side of Peninsula Papagayo, a few minutes past the security gate and before you reach the Four Seasons. It looks out over Culebra Bay, has two small beaches, and its low buildings are set back into the dry forest, which gives it a more relaxed feel than its neighbours. From Liberia Airport the distance is 31 km, all of it paved: west on Route 21 to Guardia, then the Coco road past Playa Panamá to the peninsula entrance.
The drive from the airport
Your driver waits at the arrivals exit holding a sign with your name. We track the flight, so if it lands early or late the driver is still there when you walk out, and you leave as soon as you have your bags rather than waiting for a van to fill. The road is paved from start to finish and you never go through Liberia town, since the airport sits west of the city and Route 21 heads straight for the coast. The range we give for the drive time comes from daytime traffic at the junctions along the way, nothing more. If you need to stop for groceries, cash or a pharmacy, tell the driver; the vehicle is yours for the trip.
Live prices and booking are on the LIR to Andaz Papagayo route page.
What the security gate needs
The Andaz is inside the Peninsula Papagayo security gate. The guards there check that the hotel has the driver's full name, cédula number and vehicle plate on file before they let anyone through, and a vehicle that is not registered waits at the barrier while they phone the hotel. When you book with us, those details go to the Andaz ahead of your arrival and the gate lets you straight in.
What is around the Andaz Papagayo
Like the other peninsula resorts, the Andaz has no town nearby. What it does have is the best position for getting out in the evening. The Marina Papagayo and its restaurants are five minutes away, El Mangroove and the beach bars at Playa Panamá are ten, and Playas del Coco, the only proper town in the zone, is about twenty. If your idea of a good week mixes resort nights with a few casual dinners out, the Andaz makes that easier than the Four Seasons or Nekajui do.
If you want to see how this hotel fits with the rest of the coast, and which beaches have a town you can walk to, our guide to the best hotels in Guanacaste by zone covers all of them.
Ways to get there from LIR
| Option | Time to the hotel | Cost | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 30–40 min, direct | $105 fixed for 1–5 passengers | Driver registered at the gate, flight tracked |
| Hotel car service | Same drive | Premium rate through the concierge | Usually the most expensive option |
| Rental car | Same drive plus pickup paperwork | $40–90 a day plus mandatory insurance and a deposit | Only pays off if you leave the resort every day |
| Shared shuttle | 1.5–2.5 h with stops | About $25–35 a person | Does not enter the gated estate and drops you at the nearest town |
| Airport taxi | Same drive | $100–150, negotiated on the spot | An unregistered vehicle is held at the gate |
For two people a private transfer costs about the same as a taxi and takes the guesswork out of the arrival. For a family of four it works out cheaper per person than a shared shuttle and takes less than half the time.
A few things our drivers would tell you
- The Andaz, the Four Seasons and Nekajui all sit on the Peninsula Papagayo route, so the private transfer to any of them is the same fixed price.
- For groceries there is a small supermarket in Playa Panamá village just before the gate. The Automercado in Playas del Coco is bigger and only a short detour. Either stop is free on a private transfer.
- Rincón de la Vieja is about an hour and a quarter from the Andaz. A private round trip with the driver waiting is the simplest way to do it if you have not rented a car.
Booking
The Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo private transfer can be booked online in a couple of minutes at a fixed price per vehicle, with the flight tracked, the driver registered at the resort and child seats included. If you would rather ask something first, write to us on WhatsApp and one of the drivers will answer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Liberia Airport to the Andaz Papagayo?
Between 30 and 40 minutes by private transfer, about 31 km on paved roads. The Andaz is one of the closest resorts to LIR.
How much is a shuttle from LIR to the Andaz Costa Rica?
A Ruta Pacifico private transfer is a fixed $105 per vehicle for up to 5 passengers, $130 for 6 to 9 and $170 for 10 to 12, with taxes, flight tracking and child seats included.
Do I need to register my driver with the Andaz?
Yes. The Peninsula Papagayo gate requires the driver's name, ID and vehicle details to be on your hotel reservation. Ruta Pacifico sends them to the Andaz when you book.
What is near the Andaz Papagayo?
The Marina Papagayo is 5 minutes away, Playa Panamá and El Mangroove about 10, and the town of Playas del Coco about 20. There is no walkable town at the resort itself.
Book your private shuttle
Door to door anywhere in Costa Rica at a fixed price, with flight tracking and free child seats.