ATVs, scooters, bikes, taxis, and walking, how to navigate Santa Teresa without your own vehicle, with realistic costs and safety notes.
Santa Teresa is a long, strung-out beach town, and if you think you'll walk everywhere, the road will correct that assumption fast. The good news is that you have real options beyond renting a car, and most people who stay a week or more figure out a rhythm that costs far less than a 4x4 rental. Here is what actually works, what it costs, and where to be careful.
The Lay of the Land First
Santa Teresa stretches roughly 5 kilometers along a main road that, as of 2025, is fully paved from Santa Teresa through to Mal Pais. That is a genuine improvement over the potholed dirt track it used to be. The side roads, steep hills, and beach access paths are still unpaved gravel and sand, so the pavement helps but does not solve everything. If you are staying centrally, near the main strip of restaurants and surf shops, you can manage more on foot or by e-bike. If your hotel or rental is up a hill or tucked down a dirt track, you will want wheels from day one.
ATVs and Scooters
ATVs are the classic Santa Teresa solution and still the most popular rental for visitors. They handle the gravel side roads, the sandy beach access points, and the hills without drama. Expect to pay roughly 50-90 USD per day depending on the season and the shop, with high season (December through April) pushing toward the top of that range. Confirm before you sign anything that your insurance covers unpaved roads, because many basic policies do not, as noted by gobimba.com.
Scooters are cheaper and perfectly fine for the paved main road, but they struggle on steep or sandy side streets. If your whole trip is centered on the main strip, a scooter works. If you want to explore, spend the extra money on an ATV or quad. See our full breakdown in the ATV and quad tours guide.
A few honest safety notes:
- Helmet use is legally required and genuinely important. The road has more traffic than it looks.
- Do not ride on the beach. It is restricted to protect nesting turtles and you will get fined.
- Night riding on unlit side roads is where most accidents happen. If you are going out for drinks, leave the ATV parked.
- If you have never ridden an ATV or scooter before, Santa Teresa's hills are not the place to learn.
Bimba Electric Bikes
Bimba is the town's shared e-bike network and it has genuinely changed daily movement here. You download the app, find a nearby station, unlock a bike, ride it, and drop it at any other station or marked parking point around town. You do not have to return to where you started, which makes it practical for errands and beach hops rather than just a tourist novelty.
For short trips along the main road, getting to a surf spot, grabbing coffee, or reaching a restaurant a kilometer away, Bimba is the right call. It is cheaper than taking a taxi for every small trip and more flexible than walking. Check current rates in the app, as pricing has shifted since launch. Confirm locally, but as of mid-2026 it remains one of the most cost-effective daily transport options in town, per gobimba.com.
The limits: Bimba is not for hauling surfboards, getting to Montezuma, or navigating steep gravel hills to a remote villa. Think of it as your in-town option, not your everything option.
Taxis and Private Drivers
There is no Uber, no Bolt, no ride-hailing app of any kind on the Nicoya Peninsula. Taxis here are negotiated directly with drivers, usually arranged through your accommodation, WhatsApp contacts, or by flagging someone down. Always agree on the price before you get in.
Rough price ranges as of 2026, confirm locally because these shift:
- Short ride within Santa Teresa: 5-10 USD
- Santa Teresa to Mal Pais: 10-15 USD
- Santa Teresa to Cobano: 25-40 USD
- Santa Teresa to Montezuma: 50-70 USD
- Santa Teresa to Tambor Airport: 40-60 USD
Source: gobimba.com
For airport runs or longer trips, a private driver booked in advance through your hotel or a known local contact is often more reliable than trying to find someone on the spot. Ask at your hostel or stay for recommended drivers. Night rides and rainy season trips often cost more, so ask explicitly.
Public Buses
Buses are the cheapest way to move between towns. Local routes connect Santa Teresa with Cobano, Montezuma, and Mal Pais, and there are direct connections to San Jose for longer trips. A ride to Montezuma via Cobano runs under 3 USD and takes roughly 45 minutes, per sologuides.com. A bus to San Jose runs around 16 USD for an 8-hour trip.
The tradeoffs are real. Schedules are limited, buses do not run late, and they will not drop you at your specific accommodation. But if you are doing a day trip to Montezuma or heading to Cobano for the Thursday market or an ATM run, the bus is a perfectly valid choice. Check current schedules locally when you arrive, as times change seasonally.
Walking
Walking is possible if you are staying in the center of town and your plans are genuinely close together. The main road is paved now, which helps. What does not help: there are almost no sidewalks, the road gets dusty in dry season, and distances are longer than they look on a map. A 15-minute walk in the midday heat with surf gear is not the same as a 15-minute walk at home.
Street lighting is minimal at night. If you are walking after dark, carry a flashlight or use your phone torch. Do not walk on the beach alone at night, per sologuides.com. For more on staying safe here, see our safety guide.
Most people who try to walk everywhere for a week end up renting something by day three. Combine walking for close errands with Bimba rides for mid-range trips and you cover most of daily life without a car.
Shuttles for Longer Distances
If you are arriving from San Jose or heading to Liberia for a flight, shared shuttles are the comfortable middle ground between the bus and a private transfer. Shared shuttles run around 50 USD from San Jose, take 6-7 hours including the ferry, and drop you at your accommodation. See the full picture in our getting to Santa Teresa guide and the San Jose to Santa Teresa breakdown.
For the ferry logistics specifically, the Paquera vs Tambor ferry guide is worth reading before you book.
FAQ
Do I really need a car in Santa Teresa? Not if you are staying centrally and your plans are mostly local. A mix of Bimba e-bikes, the occasional taxi, and the bus for day trips covers most needs. If you want to explore remote beaches, visit Cabo Blanco independently, or you are staying somewhere off the main road, having your own wheels makes life easier.
Is it safe to rent an ATV here? Yes, with caveats. Stick to daylight hours, wear a helmet, go slowly on gravel, and do not ride after drinking. Most injuries happen at night or on unfamiliar side roads. If you have never ridden one, take 10 minutes to practice in a flat empty area before hitting the hills.
What is the cheapest way to get around day to day? Bimba e-bikes for short trips, local buses for inter-town travel. A combination of those two covers most daily movement for well under 10 USD a day.
Can I get a taxi at night easily? Not always. There is no app to call one. Have your accommodation call a known driver in advance, especially if you need a late-night or early-morning ride. Do not count on flagging one down after 9pm.
How do I get to Montezuma without a car? Local bus via Cobano is the easiest budget option, under 3 USD and around 45 minutes each way. A taxi runs 50-70 USD one way. A shared shuttle is another option if you book through an agency in town.
Browse all transport and logistics services in the area at the Onda Teresa services directory.