One of the first questions I hear from visitors is: “How do I get around Uvita once I’m here?” It’s a fair question. Uvita isn’t like San José with taxis on every corner, or Manuel Antonio with shuttle buses running constantly. Understanding how to move around this small South Pacific town requires knowing what actually works here versus what you might expect from more developed destinations.
I’ve lived in Uvita for years, and I’ve watched countless travelers figure out the local transportation situation. Some arrive expecting urban convenience and need to adjust. Others come prepared with rental cars and have no issues. Let me give you the honest reality of getting around Uvita so you can plan accordingly.
The short version: Uvita is spread out along several kilometers of coastal highway without a compact town center. Having your own wheels (rental car or bicycle for short trips) makes life significantly easier. That said, you can manage without a car if you’re staying near the beach, don’t mind limited flexibility, and book accommodations/tours that provide transportation.
Before discussing transportation options, you need to understand how Uvita is organized because this affects everything about getting around.
Uvita isn’t a traditional town. There’s no central plaza surrounded by shops and hotels where everything is walkable. Instead, Uvita stretches along Route 34 (the Coastal Highway) for about 5-6 kilometers. Accommodations, restaurants, shops, and beach access points are scattered along this highway and on side roads leading toward the ocean or up into the hills.
The main landmarks:
Distances feel deceptive. On a map, things might look close. Walking from the highway to the beach entrance can be 1-2 km. From one accommodation to a restaurant might be 3-4 km. In the tropical heat, these distances are more significant than they appear.
The reality: Uvita is designed for people with cars. The highway has no sidewalks in most areas. Side roads to beaches and accommodations are often unpaved and steep. The town grew organically without urban planning, so everything is spread out.
This doesn’t make Uvita difficult, it just means you need appropriate transportation for how you plan to spend your time here.
The Reality: A rental car is the single best solution for getting around Uvita and exploring the surrounding area. This is what I recommend to 90% of visitors unless you’re specifically staying at a resort with everything on-site or you’re only here for organized tours.
Why It Works:
What You Need:
Where to Rent:
Cost: $35-50/day for compact car, $60-80/day for SUV. Add mandatory insurance ($15-25/day).
Parking: Free parking at most hotels, restaurants, and beaches. Street parking exists near the main intersection but is limited. Always lock your car and don’t leave valuables visible.
Gas: One gas station in Uvita at the BM Supermarket. Fill up here rather than driving to Quepos or Dominical when tank is low.
Our Perspective: As a dive center, we provide pickup service for all our trips, so our diving guests don’t technically need a car for diving days. But they still appreciate having a car for everything else: getting to restaurants, visiting other beaches, exploring waterfalls. It just makes Uvita more enjoyable.
Read our detailed car rental in Uvita guide for more on choosing vehicles and rental companies.
The Reality: Taxis exist in Uvita, but they’re limited and unpredictable. This is not San José or Manuel Antonio where you can easily hail a taxi. You need to know how the taxi system works here.
How to Find Taxis:
Availability Issues:
Cost:
Best Uses:
Limitations:
Local Tip: If you find a reliable taxi driver, get their WhatsApp number. Many drivers will arrange pickups via WhatsApp messaging, which is more reliable than calling.
The Reality: Bicycles work well for short trips around central Uvita but have significant limitations for longer distances or accessing some areas.
Where to Rent:
What Works:
Limitations:
Best For:
Not Practical For:
Safety Considerations:
Our Take: Bikes are a nice supplement but not a complete solution. They work for guests staying close to the main beach who want to bike down for sunset. But they don’t replace having a car or taxi access for other activities.
The Honest Truth: Uvita is not a walkable town in the way most people imagine. You can walk specific routes or distances, but walking isn’t practical as your primary transportation method.
What You CAN Walk:
Why Walking Is Limited:
Realistic Walking:
Not Realistic:
Safety Note: Walking along Route 34 at night is dangerous due to lack of lighting, narrow/no shoulders, and fast traffic. Don’t attempt it.
Our Recommendation: Plan to walk within your accommodation area and to/from the nearest beach if close. For anything else, have alternative transportation (rental car, taxi, bike, or tour pickup).
The Best-Kept Secret: Most tour operators in Uvita (including our dive center) provide pickup and drop-off service from your accommodation for their tours and activities. This eliminates transportation needs for activity days.
How It Works:
What This Covers:
Why This Matters:
If you’re primarily in Uvita for activities and tours, you might not need a rental car at all. String together a few tour days with operator pickups, and you only need transportation for independent exploring, meals, and beach time (which you can cover with occasional taxis or bikes).
Our Dive Center Specifically:
We provide complimentary pickup and drop-off for:
We coordinate pickup times based on activity schedule. This is standard service we provide to make diving as convenient as possible.
Combine This With: A few strategic taxi rides or bike rentals for non-tour days, and you can get around Uvita reasonably well without a car if your focus is organized activities.
The Reality: Uber and other ride-sharing apps do not work reliably in Uvita. While the apps technically function, very few drivers operate in this area.
Why It Doesn’t Work:
What Travelers Try:
Our Advice: Don’t count on Uber. Save time and frustration by using traditional taxis from the start. Keep taxi driver numbers handy rather than relying on ride-sharing apps.
Exception: Occasionally an Uber driver from Quepos or San José might be in the area and accept a ride, but this is unreliable and rare. Don’t build your transportation plan around it.
Main Entrance: Located about 1-2 km from the main Uvita intersection down the beach access road.
By Car: Drive down the beach road, park at the entrance parking area (free). Walk 5-10 minutes to the ranger station and beach.
By Bike: Doable from central Uvita (1-2 km). Some uphill on return but manageable.
By Taxi: $5-10 from most Uvita accommodations.
On Foot: Possible if staying very close (under 1 km). Otherwise too far in the heat.
Playa Uvita (Main Beach): Same as Marino Ballena entrance above.
Playa Hermosa (North): Requires car or taxi ($10-15 from central Uvita). About 5-6 km north on Route 34.
Playa Ventanas: Requires car or taxi ($10-15). Access via unpaved road off Route 34.
Other Beaches: Most require car or taxi. Beach access roads often unpaved. Distances too far for walking or casual biking.
Central Uvita: If staying nearby, walking or biking works for the main intersection area with sodas, small restaurants, supermarket.
Ojochal Restaurants: Require car or taxi ($15-20). About 10 km south on Route 34. No practical walking or biking option.
Dominical: Require car or taxi ($15-25). About 17 km north. Occasional buses pass through.
Upscale Restaurants: Often located on side roads or in hotels. Most require car or taxi.
Dominical (17 km north):
Ojochal (10 km south):
Quepos/Manuel Antonio (45 km north):
If you’re determined to visit Uvita without renting a car, here’s how to make it work:
Choose Accommodation Wisely:
Book Activity-Heavy Itinerary:
Establish Taxi Relationships:
Use Bikes Strategically:
Consolidate Trips:
Be Realistic:
Alternative: Rent Car for Just a Few Days:
Budget per day for getting around (without rental car):
Minimal Movement:
Staying at accommodation, one beach visit, operator pickups for tours: $5-10/day (taxi to/from beach, maybe one restaurant trip)
Moderate Activity:
Multiple beach visits, few restaurants, some exploring: $20-30/day (several taxi rides)
High Activity:
Daily trips to different beaches, restaurants, exploring: $40-60/day (frequent taxis add up fast)
With Rental Car:
$50-75/day total (rental + insurance + gas)
More flexibility, no waiting for taxis, unlimited trips
The Math: If you’re planning to move around frequently, rental car often costs the same or less than frequent taxis while offering far more flexibility.
Rent a Car If:
Skip the Car If:
Use Taxis + Bikes If:
Our Recommendation: Rent a car unless you have specific reasons not to. Uvita’s spread-out layout, limited taxi availability, and wealth of nearby attractions make having your own wheels the most practical choice for most visitors.
Local insider tip: If you rent a car for part of your trip but not all of it, rent for the middle days when you want to explore. Use tour operator pickups on your first and last days when you’re doing organized activities anyway. This saves money while still giving you exploration flexibility when it matters most.
Uvita’s transportation situation isn’t complicated once you understand the options and limitations. The town is spread out and designed for people with cars, but you can navigate it successfully with the right planning and realistic expectations.
For diving guests: Remember, we’ve got you covered for all dive days with complimentary pickup and drop-off service. You only need to worry about transportation for your non-diving time in Uvita.
Questions about getting around Uvita? Contact us and we’ll help you figure out the best solution for your specific trip.
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