San Juan del Sur itself is tiny and walkable in under ten minutes. Getting to the surrounding beaches requires transport — the roads are unpaved and vary in condition depending on the season.
The most common approach is the shared shuttle vans that leave from the town centre every morning around 9–10 am for Playa Maderas, Playa Remanso, and occasionally Playa Hermosa, returning in the afternoon. These cost a few dollars each way. Taxis (4x4 pick-ups with covered beds) run throughout the day and will take groups to any beach for a negotiated fare — agree the price before getting in. Motorbike rental is available in town and is the most flexible option for independent beach-hopping; be aware that some of the roads are rough enough to cause real problems if you are not comfortable on rough terrain. The road to La Flor requires a 4x4.
Bicycles can be rented from hostels but are really only useful within the town itself. There is no public bus service to the beaches.