Real ballpark numbers by load size — because nobody else in Costa Rica will publish theirs.
Quick answer: a standard 5,000-liter water truck delivery in Guanacaste lands between $60 and $100 (roughly ₡30,000–50,000) depending on distance. Small 1,000–2,000 L deliveries run $30–50, large 10,000–12,000 L loads run $100–160, and pool fills start from about $300 quoted as a complete job. Same-day emergency dispatch adds $20–30.
Almost nobody in Costa Rica publishes cisterna prices, which leaves you calling five numbers and comparing guesses. Here are the honest ranges we work with in 2026. They're ballparks, not quotes — distance and access move the number — but if someone quotes you far outside these ranges, ask why.
Two things decide where you land in these ranges. First, distance: the price of a load is mostly the truck's round trip from the fill point to your property, so a delivery near Liberia or Santa Cruz costs less than the far end of the Nosara road. Second, access: steep driveways, soft gravel and long hose runs to a backyard cistern add time, and occasionally require a smaller truck making two trips instead of one big one.
A typical household tinaco holds 750–1,100 liters — one to two days of normal use. A 5,000-liter load keeps an average family running for one to two careful weeks, which is why it's the standard emergency delivery. Vacation rentals burn much faster: with guests using 200–400 liters per person per day, a full four-bedroom house can empty 5,000 liters in two or three days. Farms and buildings usually take the 10,000–12,000 L loads. If you tell us your tank size and situation, we'll honestly tell you the smallest load that solves your problem.
One warning: don't order more than your storage can hold. It sounds obvious, but every dry season someone orders 5,000 liters into a 1,100-liter tinaco. Measure or photograph your tank — we'll do the math with you on WhatsApp before you spend a colón.
These ranges reflect real deliveries across Liberia, Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Filadelfia and the coast from Tamarindo to Nosara. You always get a firm quote — load plus distance — before the truck rolls. Out of water right now? See our full service details or WhatsApp us your location pin and tank size for a same-day quote.
In the ballpark of $60–100 (₡30–50,000) depending on distance from the water source to your property. That's the most common household delivery size.
A typical 30,000–60,000 liter villa pool takes several truckloads and starts from about $300 (₡150,000). It's always quoted as a complete job up front.
Yes — same-day emergency dispatch typically adds $20–30, because the truck leaves its scheduled route to reach you. Scheduled deliveries avoid the surcharge.
Yes, moderately — drinking water comes from approved, regulated sources and is carried in food-grade tanks, which costs more per load than utility water for pools, irrigation or construction. Say what the water is for and we'll quote both ways.
Same-day water truck delivery across Guanacaste. Firm price before the truck rolls.