Biking

Our mountain biking tours range from one to many days and combine exceptional natural settings with biking conditions tailored to your fitness level and interests. From flat asphalt roads to dirt paths over over mountains and streams, we offer custom itineraries suitable for family outings as well as professional cycling circuits. Biking equipment includes late-model, well-maintained Trek and Giant mountain bicycles with front shock absorbers, and cycling helmets.

Contact us for a custom-designed tour to fit your group's needs. Following is a sample itinerary:

Day 1 Monteverde
Today we pick you up from your San José hotel and depart for Monteverde, Costa Rica's premier cloud forest. Home of the exotic and resplendent quetzal, this cloud forest contains a tremendous array of many rarely seen endangered species, such as the jaguar. We'll check-in and lunch at our hotel, then do a nature hike in one of the private reserves in the area.

Day 2 Cycling toward Arenal and Canopy Tour
After breakfast, we will begin biking from the small town of Monteverde through Santa Elena, continuing until we arrive at the town of Tilarán. Here we will stop for a relaxing lunch and then continue driving toward Arenal Lake (the largest of Costa Rica's lakes). We'll pass along the west shore until we arrive at the town of New Arenal. It is a short trip from there up to Lake Coter, where we arrive at our destination, the Eco-Lodge. Here is will enjoy the lodge's canopy tour. This canopy tour has 4 platforms, ranging from 19 to 25 meters above the forest floor. You climb a wooden ladder (with safety harnesses) to the first platform, glide on transverse cables from platform to platform, and do a modified rappel to lower yourself to the ground after the last platform. Cycling time: 4 hours (with option to lengthen). Difficulty: moderate-difficult.

Day 3 Cycling Arenal Lake
We will have breakfast in the lodge, then begin cycling down to New Arenal and ride along the southern shore of the lake on dirt roads. We will skirt obstacles and cross small creeks until we arrive at Tabacón Spa, where we can relax in the thermal waters and enjoy a delicious lunch. During this ride you will have a magnificent view of the lake, as well as the impressive Arenal Volcano. We will drive back to San José, arriving in the early evening. Cycling time: 4 hours. Difficulty: moderate-difficult.

Day 4 Cycling Irazú
We will pick you up early morning at your hotel as we begin our journey with a drive up the lush, green mountain slopes of Irazú Volcano with breathtaking views of the Central Valley far below. Our destination is the summit of Irazú, 11,260 feet above sea level. The volcano has been dormant since its last eruption in 1963, except for a few tremors in 1991. On a clear day you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. After entering the national park to view the crater, we will drive you down approximately 3 miles, where you will start cycling on a dirt road that will take you to the lower slopes of the Turrialba Volcano. We'll then descend to the little town of San Antonio, and continue on paved road to the Turrialba Valley. The cycling will end in the quaint town of Turrialba, home to one of the five most important tropical agriculture research centers in the world. Cycling time: 4 hours (with option to lengthen). Difficulty: moderate.

Day 5 Cycling Tapanti to the Orosi Valley
After breakfast, we'll begin cycling along the border of the Tapanti Biological Reserve heading toward the Orosi Valley, site of one of the first settlements during Costa Rica's colonial period. There are numerous occasions today to do some bird-watching in this area, which is home to the beautiful quetzal. We'll have lunch in the area and return to San José in late afternoon. A farewell dinner is scheduled for the evening. Cycling time: 5 hours. Difficulty: moderate-difficult.

We would like to share some of the comments we have received from our clients.

We can assist you in planning your trip in Costa Rica! Please contact our travel division on how to customize your vacation to meet your budget and expectations. We replay with a suggested itinerary and cost within 24 hours