1

My condolences. Santa Teresa, while charming, has to be one of the most inconvenient neighborhoods to access, especially since the bondinho hasn't been running. There are local buses, but they are not so easy to figure out, especially for a newbie, and there isn't one direct from the airport. And a car is more of a liability in the city anyway, what with difficult parking, confusing roads and signage, traffic and crazy drivers. The shuttle bus route is mostly along the beaches, and to the bus station. The metro doesn't go out to the airport and the nearest station to Santa Teresa is waaaay down the hill. So the only reasonable alternative is to take a taxi from the airport, and probably most times you want to go out and come back into the neighborhood. Whatever you may be saving in staying in Santa Teresa, you may more than make up in taxi fares, if indeed you can find one that actually agrees to go up the hill.

2

No direct bus to Santa Teresa.... the best option is taking a taxi.

Or you can take the bus to downtown and take a taxi there, what would save you some money.

3

Yep, bus to Centro, taxi to Santa Teresa is cheapest but bear in mind it won't save you that much money.