Where to Stay in Santa Teresa Without a Car

Playa Carmen and central Santa Teresa are the easiest choices

If you want to avoid renting a vehicle, stay close to the main road in Playa Carmen or central Santa Teresa. You will have restaurants, cafés, shops and the beach within the easiest walking range. The walk from the Playa Carmen crossroads to central Santa Teresa takes about 20 minutes.

Can Playa Hermosa work?

Yes, if your accommodation is well located and your plan is mostly local. If you want to go back and forth to Santa Teresa often, having transport makes the trip easier.

What about Manzanillo, Malpaís, Montezuma or Cabuya?

We recommend having transport if you are based in these areas and want to explore. A motorcycle or ATV can work for one or two people, while a car or UTV makes more sense for larger groups.

How do you get here without a car?

You can arrive by shared shuttle, public bus or private transfer and then stay in a walkable part of town. The shared shuttle is currently US$50 per person from San José, SJO Airport or Liberia to Santa Teresa. Private transfers for 1 to 5 people are currently US$320 from San José and US$300 from Liberia.

We keep the exact departure times and the rest of the routes on our transportation pages.

What should you ask before booking?

• How far is the main road?

• Is the property on a steep hill?

• Can I comfortably walk to restaurants and a grocery store?

• Can the accommodation arrange taxis when I need one?

Bicycles are another option

There are bicycle rental points around Santa Teresa, including hourly rentals. They are economical for shorter trips between Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen and Malpaís, but the heat can make them less comfortable in the middle of the day.

What we would do

If a car free trip is important to you, choose location before choosing the prettiest property. A simple room in the right place can make the trip much easier than a beautiful villa that needs transport every time you leave.

See our walkability guide before booking.