Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

We gather at our start hotel in La Garita de Alajuela, around a 15-minute drive from the airport. There's nothing planned today, so take time to relax and prepare for the exciting adventures ahead. Stay: Hotel Rosa America (or similar).

After breakfast, we have a briefing and spend time adjusting our bikes before riding out on paved roads with very little traffic through small rural communities and a dry tropical forest. This initial stage will finish just outside Atenas, and then we have a short transfer (approximately 20 minutes) to Orotina, where we will jump back on the bikes and cycle onwards until we reach the coastal highway. After lunch, we embark on our private, guided boat tour of the estuary.

We hope to see crocodiles, waterbirds and even scarlet macaws. After, we take a roughly 30-minute transfer to our beach hotel at Playa Bejuco. If tide and sand conditions permit, we can fit in more cycling and arrive at the hotel riding on the immense tropical beach. (Extra 6. 2mi/10km for beach ride option) Stay: Hotel Playa Bejuco (or similar) (B).

Today we start with a transfer (approximately 40 minutes) to Manuel Antonio National Park. This is an outstanding region for wildlife, and we will enjoy a two-hour guided nature walk. Here, the forest meets the sea; iguanas and white-faced capuchin monkeys can often be seen on the beach. Leaving the park, we have a transfer (approximately 20 minutes) to the coastal road outside Quepos, where we cycle south to Playa Dominical. We spend the night in the rainforest at Villas Rio Mar. Stay: Villas Rio Mar (or similar) (B).

Today we continue cycling south along the coastal road, which includes a few hilly sections near Uvita and Ojochal.

After a lunch stop at Rio Terraba, we transfer to Palmar Sur, where we can observe the famous stone spheres produced by the ancient indigenous culture of this region and have a look at the remnants of the old United Fruit Company banana operation. Departing Palmar Sur in the bus, we have a 1hr 30min transfer to La Palma on the Osa Peninsula, where we ride a second biking stage to Agua Dulce Beach Resort. Stay: Agua Dulce Lodge (or similar) (B).

Today is free for you to relax and recharge in the gorgeous surroundings of Agua Dulce. It's possible to swim at Playa Pan Dulce, do some kayaking, or for those who wish to cycle, there's an easy stage out to the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula. Stay: Agua Dulce Lodge (or similar) (B).

This morning we take a 45-minute transfer to Mirador Osa (Osa Viewpoint), where we can take in spectacular views over the Golfo Dulce and Osa Peninsula. We then hop on the bikes for a scenic cycle through the hills and rainforest of the Osa Peninsula to Chacarita.

Following a bus transfer (1hr 45mins) across the steep mountains surrounding San Vito, we arrive at Las Cruces Biological Station, which is surrounded by the Wilson Botanical Gardens, where we take a guided nature walk in the afternoon. Stay: OTS Las Cruces Lodge (or similar) (B/L/D).

Back on the saddle, we enjoy a fantastic downhill ride from the hilly region near San Vito to Paso Real, far below at the Rio Terraba. We pass through an indigenous area where villagers can sometimes be seen in traditional dress. We stop in Buenos Aires for lunch before boarding the bus for our transfer (approximately two to three hours) to San Gerardo de Rivas. We will pass the first of many pineapple plantations, which has now become Costa Rica's most exported crop. Our hotel tonight is in the mountains, so it may be chillier than you expect. Stay: El Pelicano Mountain Lodge (or similar) (B).

This morning we start with a short downhill stage before jumping on the bus for a transfer that will take us over the Cerro de La Muerte. At 11,617ft (3,541m) above sea level, this is the highest point on the PanAm Highway in Central America. On this stretch, we drive through rainforest, up into the cloud forest before descending towards the Central Valley. From here, we get back on our bikes for another downhill into the Orosi Valley. Stay: Hotel Alma de Luna (or similar) (B).

After breakfast, we leave the hotel for one of the most beautiful cycling routes on this trip, past numerous coffee plantations. With any luck, we will see farmers using their colourful traditional oxcarts to haul their crop to nearby processing facilities. Along the way, we stop at coffee trees and learn more about coffee and its role in Costa Rican history from the tour leader. As we continue through the valley, we ride around a hydroelectric dam before starting a section that involves some climbs. We then arrive at the little town of Tucurrique for lunch.

Afterwards, we cycle through sugar cane plantations before a short transfer to our hotel for the night. Our mountain lodge has excellent views, including over the coffee growing Orosi Valley and both the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. Stay: Hotel Turrialtico (or similar) (B/L).

After breakfast, we will start cycling a hilly section with incredible views, followed by a fast downhill to the town of Siquirres, where we board the coach and transfer to the Caribbean coast. Depending on our arrival time this afternoon, there may be time to enjoy a guided walk in Cahuita National Park before we transfer (approximately 15 minutes) to Puerto Viejo, a Caribbean town with lively reggae music and culture and spicy cuisine. Stay: Hotel Escape Caribeño (or similar) (B).

Today is a very early start as we have a transfer (approximately 20 minutes) to the town of Cahuita for breakfast. Then we continue (approximately 1hr 30min) to the beginning of our backroads biking stage, which takes us through several small towns within the immense banana plantations. We stop for lunch near these plantations and the leader will explain the harvesting and packaging process, as well as the importance of these plantations to Costa Rica. After, we transfer (approximately one hour) to La Pavona and board a boat to Tortuguero National Park along the wildlife-rich rivers and canals used for transiting in this densely forested area. Stay: Pachira Lodge (or similar) (B/L/D).

An early morning boat trip allows us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero. At this time, wildlife is usually at its most active. With the help of our expert guide, we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300-plus bird species here.

We retrace our route by boat to the dock at La Pavona where we will start cycling through banana plantations, Our morning ride complete, we have a transfer (approximately one and a half hours) to just outside Guapiles for an early lunch provided by our Tortuguero lodge. After, we continue towards La Fortuna and Arenal volcano (approximately one and a half hours).

Following a massive explosion in 1968, Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until recently when it entered a resting phase. En route, we will take a break to observe thriving pineapple operations, before continuing to our town-centre hotel.

This evening there is an included excursion to Volcano Lodge hot springs. Stay: Hotel San Bosco (or similar) (B/L).

Following a short transfer, our final cycling stage starts with a ride through the dense rainforest surrounding beautiful Lake Arenal, with several spots to observe the volcano as we continue back toward La Fortuna. After, we bike through tropical farmlands of exotic fruits and vegetables, then do a bit of climbing through forested hills to the conclusion at Bajo Rodriguez. The last leg of our journey is completed by bus as we transfer (approximately two hours) back to La Garita de Alajuela. Stay: Hotel Rosa America (or similar) (B).

Our trip ends this morning after breakfast (B).