Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

Name: Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (34 reviews)

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Nature First Adventures

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14 Days from

15 Days from

USD 5,149

incl. Taxes

4.8/5 from

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

MUD

Cycle stretches of the Pacific coastline and see the highlights of Costa Rica

Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike, pedalling past rainforest, volcanoes and stunning coastline. From San Jose, we cycle south with vast Pacific views to the right and dense forest to the left. Crossing the 11,150ft (3,400m) Cerro de la Muerte pass into the Orosi Valley, we ride past coffee plantations and volcanoes to arrive on the fertile Caribbean plains where banana plantations take over the landscape. We take a break from the saddle to explore the wildlife-rich rivers and waterways of Tortuguero before travelling to La Fortuna, a lovely spot at the foot of Arenal Volcano.

Highlights

Cycle along the stunning coastal highway with incredible Pacific views and beaches
Ride through ever-changing tropical scenery, alongside coffee farms, volcanoes, banana plantations and rainforest
Hike in Manuel Antonio National Park
Search for wildlife in the waterways of Tortuguero National Park

Key Information

13 nights in hotels, all rooms en suite
12 days cycling with full vehicle support
97 percent paved, 3 percent unpaved tracks
Routes mainly follow quiet roads
Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader and staff. Minimum age: 16

Countries visited: Costa Rica

What's Included

All breakfasts, four lunches, two dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour/cycling leader and support team throughout
Local bike hire

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

12 Days of Cycling

Pace:

Moderate: 8mph-10mph (13kph-16kph)

Terrain:

Low altitude; 97 percent paved, 3 percent unpaved track

Day 2

45 km / 28 miles

Day 3

38 km / 23.6 miles

Day 4

53 km / 32.9 miles

Day 5

42 km / 26.1 miles

Day 6

22 km / 13.7 miles

Day 7

51 km / 31.7 miles

Day 8

38 km / 23.6 miles

Day 9

47 km / 29.2 miles

Day 10

38 km / 23.6 miles

Day 11

38 km / 23.6 miles

Day 12

22 km / 13.7 miles

Day 13

58 km / 36 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
We visit a Cacao farm which is a Bri-Bri indigenous enterprise.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites. Our entry fees to Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Park, go towards park maintenance, staff salaries, training programmes and the research and monitoring of the plethora of rich wildlife there.
We visit a Sea Turtle Sea Conservancy Museum and the fees collected provide for local conservation initiatives.
We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Cycling trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Exodus People – Andrea Bolanos

Meet Andrea Bolanos, the cycling leader whose passion for her job has changed her life.

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Itinerary

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.

Accommodation: 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)

Accommodation: Hotel Playa Bejuco (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

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 hike. 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 Hotel Villas Rio Mar.

Accommodation: Hotel Villas Rio Mar (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we continue cycling south along the coastal road, which includes a few hilly sections near Uvita and Ojochal. Off to our right is the Pacific, with some lovely, isolated beaches, and at Playa Hermosa we will stop for a quick refreshment break. Afterwards, we cycle further until we arrive at Boca Coronado and stop for lunch at a restaurant with great Rio Terraba estuary views. After lunch, we have a short easy ride to our hotel for tonight, Las Palmas de Osa, just outside Ciudad Cortes.

Accommodation: Hotel Las Palmas de Osa (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our ride today takes us from Ciudad Cortes to Palmar Norte, where we cross the Rio Terraba, the longest river in Costa Rica, then to Palmar Sur, where we stop at the central park to see spherical rocks formed by a little-known ancient indigenous culture. Afterwards, we board the coach for a transfer (approximately 90 minutes) to La Palma, stopping for lunch on the way. We then resume cycling, passing through Puerto Jimenez en route to our beach hotel on beautiful Playa Platanares.

Accommodation: Agua Dulce Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We board a ferry this morning for a 30-minute journey across the Golfo Dulce to Golfito, where we sometimes spot frolicking dolphins. Our cycle route heads to Rio Claro on a short but hilly biking stage. Following a one-hour bus transfer 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 hike in the afternoon.

Accommodation: OTS Las Cruces Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Accommodation: El Pelicano Mountain Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

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.

Accommodation: Tapanti Media Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

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.

Accommodation: Hotel Turrialtico (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will start cycling a hilly section with incredible views, followed by a fast downhill to the town of Siquierres, where we board the coach and transfer to the Caribbean coast. This afternoon, we enjoy a guided hike in Cahuita National Park; expect to see lots of wildlife including two- and three-toed sloths, capuchin monkeys and iguanas. Afterwards, we transfer (approximately 15 minutes) to Puerto Viejo, a Caribbean town with lively reggae music and culture and spicy cuisine.

Accommodation: Hotel Escape Caribeno (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today is a very early start as we have a transfer (approximately 20 mins) to the town of Cahuita for breakfast. Then we continue to the beginning of our backroads biking stage, which takes us through several small towns within the immense banana plantations. We have lunch at a banana-packing facility and have the chance to observe the harvesting and packaging process. Afterwards, we transfer (approximately 30 minutes) 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.

Accommodation: Rana Roja Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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, stopping for a brief explanation about the importance of these plantations to Costa Rica. Afterwards, we have a transfer to just outside Guapiles for an early lunch provided by our Tortuguero lodge. After, we head towards La Fortuna and Arenal volcano. 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.

Accommodation: Hotel San Bosco (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

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.

Accommodation: Hotel Rosa America (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our trip ends this morning after breakfast. Unless, of course, you would like to join our post-trip extension to the surfer-loved beach town of Tamarindo. A relax on Pacific coast sands may be the perfect way to cap an activity-packed cycling vacation. Speak to your sales representative for more information.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Post-trip Extensions

Tamarindo Beach Extension Costa Rica (MUD)

Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

Extend your stay in Costa Rica with a few nights of R&R in the Pacific coast town of Tamarindo. Once a little-known fishing village, Tamarindo was discovered by surfers in the late 1980s and has steadily garnered a reputation as one of the best beach destinations in Costa Rica. Located in the Guanacaste Province, known for its good weather and predictable sunshine, Tamarindo has a great mix of facilities and retains an authentic laid-back atmosphere.
The big draw is a long expanse of beach, with a curved bay backed by palm trees, cafes and restaurants. The surfer-friendly waves are strong, with swimmers mostly sticking to the shallows. Facing west, the sunsets in Tamarindo are dramatic. There are plenty of excursions that can be organised locally or you can simply sit back and enjoy the beach life – a real contrast to the other areas you have visited in Costa Rica.
We have hand-picked a selection of properties in Tamarindo and transport options to suit all budgets and group sizes – all that’s left for you to decide is how long you want to go for. We’ll do the rest.

ACCOMMODATION:

Please speak to your sales representative for up-to-date prices.

Capitan Suizo Hotel: This beachfront boutique hotel occupies a privileged location to the south of the bay, with rooms surrounded by tropical gardens. Expect thoughtfully designed accommodation, excellent dining options, wonderful service and a friendly team. Just away from the main town, it has a lovely pool area and private loungers on the beach. Superior room.
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel: Consistently ranked among the top hotels in Costa Rica, this luxurious retreat is just a short walk from Playa Langosta beach, which is around the headland from the main beach. Elegant accommodation and surroundings with every need catered for, this is pure R&R. Deluxe room.
Tamarindo Diria Hotel: Right in the middle of the beach, this is one of the original hotels in Tamarindo and has a spectacular palm tree-lined view from the pool/dining areas. It is split into different zones, with most rooms away from the beachfront. Standard room/tropicana poolview.
Wyndham Esplendor Hotel: One of the best infinity pools we’ve seen with extensive views across Tamarindo bay thanks to its hillside location above Tamarindo. It has elegant rooms and facilities but is a fair walk from the beach and Tamarindo town; however, there is a free shuttle transfer provided at set times. Ocean-view room.
Arco Iris Hotel: A great value option, with comfortable rooms surrounded by tropical gardens. It has a tranquil location set back from the street, around 1,640ft (500m) from the beach. Bungalow room.
Pasatiempo Hotel: An intimate property with real character and comfortable rooms. We think this is a hidden gem and is our preferred choice if you are looking for great value and don’t mind being a five-minute walk to the beach. There are great restaurants and shops nearby. Standard room or deluxe room.

How to reach Tamarindo

There are two options to reach Tamarindo from San Jose, depending on your budget and how much time you have:

Private transfer:If you prefer to travel in your own vehicle or need transfers timed perfectly with your international flights, we recommend a private transfer. You can either take this as a round trip or just one leg. The journey takes approximately four hours. Private transfers seat up to six people, each way.

Flight: If you are short of time, take an internal flight from San Jose to Tamarindo airstrip. During high season (December to April), there are usually four flights a day in each direction. Outside of high season, there are usually two flights in each direction. Flights usually take under one hour. With this service, we will also arrange a vehicle transfer between your Tamarindo hotel and the airstrip. Luggage weight and size restrictions apply (30lbs/13kg, 45in/114cm).

There is also the option to arrange your return flights from Liberia airport, around 90 minutes from Tamarindo, with a private transfer to Tamarindo. Please speak to your sales representative to discuss this option.

We recommend visiting Tamarindo for at least three nights. Please speak to your sales representative for more details, to check hotel availability or to make a reservation. You may need additional hotel nights in San Jose depending on the end date of your trip and your flight schedule. Also note that some hotels in Tamarindo are not available in September.

Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

Essential Info

Visa

Costa Rica

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica; however, proof of onward travel may be required – we suggest you take a physical copy of your flight details in case officials ask to see them.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/costa-rica
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Costa-Rica.html

Vaccination

Costa Rica

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, rabies and typhoid. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Many travellers will also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, Tanzania and Zambia. Please check all requirements and travel vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in Costa Rica. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, thee lunches and two dinners are included. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets. Expect plenty of gallo pinto, a Costa Rican speciality, and lots of rice, beans, fruit and grilled meats.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

Weather

Costa Rica is 10 degrees north of the equator and has a tropical climate. The average annual temperatures are around 22C-26C (72F-79F) in the lowlands, dropping as low as 10C (50F) in the highest mountain regions.

There is a rainy season from May to November when there are often downpours, although these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of sunshine. The typical weather pattern during this time of year is bright, sunny conditions until approximately 1pm-2pm and then a build-up of cloud from around 3pm resulting in late afternoon rain (most likely showers between 3pm-5pm). Usually, the sky clears by 6pm.

Our cycling tours are scheduled to make the best of the weather and we aim to get going early so we have arrived at our overnight hotel before any rain. In our experience, June, July and August are the most pleasant times to travel to Costa Rica – following rainfall, the vegetation will be at its most lush and temperatures are more pleasant than at other times of the year.

December to April is the driest period of the year and can get incredibly hot; on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, temperatures may exceed 37C (98F). If passing through areas of dry tropical forest it can be hot, dusty and dry. Prepare for some rain even during this time of year.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). See here for our grading classifications: www.exodus.co.uk/activities/adventure-activity-holidays/info/activity-levels.

Average daily distance: 25mi (41km)
Number of cycling days: 12
Vehicle support: 100 percent
Terrain and route: 97 percent paved, 3 percent groomed dirt road with some moderate climbs

Though many of the roads are good, expect some potholes and poor road conditions in places. Routes mainly follow quiet backroads apart from some sections on the Pacific coast, where only one road is available. This tour also covers some remote regions.

Please note, the sea has very strong rip currents in Tortuguero and Cahuita and is not suitable for swimming from the beach.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Shirley Dobra

It was hotter and more humid than we expected so take a few changes of cycling gear as washing did not dry by the next morning.

Steve Hammond

Reviewed February 2023

Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride, Jan 2023

A smooth running and extremely enjoyable trip that covered a lot of miles in the company of a lovely group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberto was excellent at communicating with the group in a clear, amiable and professional manner which, together with his attention to safety, gave everybody (I think!) a high level of confidence in his guidance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be ruthless in deciding what to take, if only because you will be re-packing your bag every day!

Christine Kenyon

Reviewed January 2023

Simply amazing

Everyone said Costa Rica is amazing. It is. And our guide, Roberto, made it even more amazing. He shared his love for Costa Rica and made sure everyone on our trip had an amazing time. Costa Rica is beautiful… pura vida. This trip encompasses the people, the countryside, the wildlife… and some great biking. Boat trips, tours of national parks, swimming in the Caribbean, lovely accommodation, great food… and the best coffee ever. We loved it. Probably our best bike tour ever. And we were lucky to have a great group. Thank you everyone. And special thanks to Roberto, Walter and Luis.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Best leader evet

Patrick McGuire

Robert Aguilar was an excellent Leader in the best tradition of Exodus Tour Guides. He was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, an excellent communicator, strong rider, and responsive & flexible to traveller requests and requirements. He was ably assisted by Mechanic Paul and Driver Luiz. Paul rode strongly at the front making a good but not furious speed which kept the faster riders safely in check but not frustrated by pace. Mechanical matters were few but dealt with with aplomb. Luiz was the archetypal driver - silent but quietly effective - always on the right place at the right time with everything done. Altogether a superb team and tribute to both Costa Rica and Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Whilst there are climbs, largely in the Central Highlands, the cycling is not overly difficult and heat & humidity more of an issue than the terrain. You don't notice it whilst riding but certainly do when you stop. Regular sunscreen and fluids a must. 2. My wife and I wore arm screens as sun protection and these were such a big hit that we lent our spare ones to our fellow riders. A buff/snood can also be handy. 3. I tried my brand new SPD-cleat cycling sandals on this trip and there were a revelation - highly recommended. 4. Take a light rain top for the occasional (heavy though not cold) shower. 5. Food is plentiful and good quality, and you do develop a taste for rice with beans in varying permutations. Fish good and some excellent steak also. Fruit plentiful - pineapple, watermelon, papaya, banana & mango. 6. You can drink the water in most places and in the few where you cannot, bottled water is available/provided. In the alternative, Chilean red wine or the local ("Imperial") beer will do. 7. There are a couple of laundry opportunities mid-trip so resist the temptation to pack too much kit - both on and off bike. 8. You don't need any local currency (colones) as US Dollars in cash (though not GBP) plus credit cards suffice everywhere.

Suggestions

I spent much off Week 2 chatting to Roberto about the Nicaragua/Costa Rica/ Panama trip, the hopefully re-launched new Guatemala/Honduras/El Salvador trip and the in-plan alternative Colombia trip. I have a feeling my wife and I will be returning to this part of the world.

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

Availability

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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