Is Las Catalinas a car-free town?
Is Las Catalinas meant for car travel? Probably not, but below we’ll cover the best ways to get around during your stay.
The fast way to plan transportation in Las Catalinas
If you want the simplest day-to-day experience:
Plan to walk everywhere in town, it is what the community is designed for.
If you are arriving with luggage or a big group:
Expect a drop-off and then parking outside the core, often via a community lot and valet style handling.
If you want to explore nearby beach towns and excursions:
Use a pre-arranged driver or shuttle, then return to walking once you are back in Las Catalinas.
If you want trails, viewpoints, and active days:
Plan on walking and biking, Las Catalinas has a large trail network built for hiking and mountain biking.
If you want a fully walkable stay with a private home base:
A villa in-town, like Villa Alberti, lets you keep the whole week “on foot,” including quick access to beaches, town dining, and gear rentals.
What “car-free” means in Las Catalinas
Car-free in Las Catalinas is not just a vibe, it is a deliberate design choice. The official Las Catalinas site describes it as a car-free, fully walkable beach town.
In practical terms, that usually means:
No everyday driving through town streets
Parking is handled outside the pedestrian core
Once you arrive, Catalinas also talks openly about why they restrict cars, quality of life, safety for kids, and the walkable feel are central to the concept.
Where do cars go if the town is car-free?
Most guests still arrive by car or shuttle, you just do not keep the car “with you” the way you would in a normal neighborhood.
A common setup is a community parking lot with valet support, including the ability to be dropped off with bags and then have the car parked for you.
This is the main mindset shift:
Arrive and unload
Park once
Stop thinking about the car again until you leave
The best ways to travel around Las Catalinas
1. Walking, the default option
Walking is the point of Las Catalinas. It is built so you can move between beaches, restaurants, and town areas without needing a car.
For many travelers, that changes the vacation rhythm:
Kids and teens can move more independently
Couples can do spontaneous coffee or sunset walks
Groups can split up and regroup without coordination
2. Bikes and e-bikes for trails and longer loops
Las Catalinas is surrounded by a large trail system used for hiking and mountain biking, with routes that climb into ocean viewpoints and loop back toward town.
If you want to cover more ground than walking, biking is the natural upgrade.
A practical local note from our own on-the-ground context: there are rental options in town for non-motor gear like mountain bikes, paddleboards, and surfboards, which makes active days easier to plan without driving.
3. Shuttles and private drivers for anything outside town
Once you leave Las Catalinas, the car-free concept stops being relevant. Day trips, airport transfers, and excursions typically work best with a driver or shuttle, especially for families and groups.
Several transportation providers market private shuttles from Las Catalinas to Liberia Airport and other destinations, which is the simplest way to handle airport days without renting a car.
4. Golf carts and vehicles, how to think about them
Las Catalinas is not a “golf cart town” in the way some resort developments are. The everyday feel is pedestrian first.
If you are comparing it to places where everyone drives carts between rooms and restaurants, the difference is meaningful. In our internal discussions, one of the recurring reasons groups like her than “you need a cart for everything.”
What “walkable” should mean in Las Catalinas
In practice, walkability means:
you can reach a beach quickly without loading up a vehicle
you can reach casual meals and coffee without planning an expedition
older kids and teens have safe, contained independence
Villa Alberti in a walkable context
Villa Alberti’s location supports this kind of family rhythm:
two beaches within walking distance
a walkable town area with multiple restaurants
access to nearby experiences without needing a golf cart–style community setup
What this means for a villa stay
A car-free town is most enjoyable when your lodging makes it easy to stay in the rhythm.
For a group, that typically means:
Beaches and town dining are reachable on foot
You can do multiple mini-plans in one day (beach, pool, dinner) without transport coordination
You have a calm home base to return to between outings
Villa Alberti is located in Las Catalinas with walking access to two beaches, town restaurants, and local gear rentals, which is exactly the kind of setup that makes a car-free destination feel effortless for families and groups.
FAQs
Is Las Catalinas a car-free town?
1
Las Catalinas is described by its official site as a car-free, fully walkable beach town. In practice, you typically park outside the pedestrian core and then walk for almost everything in town.
What’s the best way to travel around Las Catalinas?
2
For anything in town, walking is the default because the community is designed for it. For trails and longer days, biking is popular, and for excursions or airport days, a shuttle or private driver is usually the smoothest option.
Is Las Catalinas easy without a rental car?
3
It can be, especially if you plan airport transfers and a few key outings with a driver. Once you are in town, the walkable layout reduces the need for a car day to day.
How does staying at Villa Alberti affect getting around?
4
Because Villa Alberti is located in Las Catalinas with walking access to beaches, town dining, and local rentals, many groups can structure most days without a car at all, then use a driver only for excursions or airport transfers.