Cycling Costa Rica

Embark on a cycling adventure designed to immerse you in the unique natural beauty and diversity of Costa Rica. Led by an expert cycling guide who knows all the best viewpoints, you’ll discover volcanoes, rainforest and two very different coasts. Off the bike, you’ll search Tortuguero’s canals for wildlife, walk historic lava fields, unwind in hot springs, sail on a catamaran at sunset and cook traditional dishes with a local chef. It’s an active journey that brings Costa Rica’s landscapes, wildlife and culture thrillingly close.

Day 1: Adventure begins in San José
Begin your adventure in San José, Costa Rica’s capital, which was founded during the first half of the 18th century and sits in the Central Valley. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Costa Rican welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in San José? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Day 2: Pedal through the scenic Orosí Valley
A transfer (1hr 10min) from San José takes us to the town of Cartago, our start point for today’s cycling in the scenic Orosí Valley, one of the most fertile and historically rich regions in Costa Rica. This first ride is relatively relaxed, a chance to get comfortable in the saddle while our tour leader introduces the riding style, road conditions and rhythm of the days ahead. Our route passes coffee-covered hills, cultivated fields and villages. We also pass through Orosí itself, home to the Iglesia de Orosí, one of the country’s few surviving colonial structures. Finishing our ride at the church ruins at Ujarrás, we transfer to our hotel for the night. Terrain: 60% paved, 40% gravel (mixed)
Day 3: Descend the famous Route Between Volcanoes
Transfer (one hour) into the Central Highlands, climbing through farmland where potatoes, onions and carrots grow in mineral-rich volcanic soil. At Irazú Volcano National Park, we visit Irazú itself, Costa Rica’s highest volcano at 11,260ft (3,432m). When cloud conditions cooperate, the elevated viewpoints can reveal part of the Caribbean coast and neighbouring Turrialba Volcano. We then begin the Route Between Volcanoes, a long, largely downhill ride linking the Irazú and Turrialba. Our tour leader sets a controlled pace as we lose more than 9,800ft (3,000m) in elevation, moving from exposed volcanic terrain into farmland and greener mountain country. We finish the ride in Santa Rosa and take a 20-minute transfer to Turrialba, an agricultural town in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Terrain: 50% paved, 50% gravel (mixed)
Day 4: Ride into the Caribbean lowlands • Cruise to Tortuguero
Leaving Turrialba by vehicle (1hr 30min), we descend from the mountains towards the warmer Caribbean plains, watching the vegetation change as we lose altitude. Begin cycling from the lively agricultural town of Siquirres, following flat roads through banana-growing country, cattle farms and small settlements. The easier terrain leaves us free to watch for lowland birdlife, with our tour leader helping us identify the species commonly seen along the route. At Caño Blanco, swap bikes for a boat and continue along rivers and narrow forest waterways to Tortuguero. The community has no connecting road, so arriving by water is part of understanding how geography shapes daily life here. After reaching our destination, we visit Tortuguero village, where sandy paths, wooden homes and Caribbean influences distinguish the settlement from those encountered earlier in the trip. Terrain: 80% paved, 20% gravel (mixed)
Day 5: Cruise the wildlife canals of Tortuguero • Relax in our jungle lodge
Enter Tortuguero National Park by boat before breakfast, when cooler conditions often bring greater animal activity along the waterways. Our tour leader is joined by a keen-eyed boat captain who reads the forest margins for movement that is easily missed. Together, they help us look for monkeys, caimans, iguanas, butterflies and some of the many bird species associated with this wetland ecosystem. Tortuguero also protects one of the Western Hemisphere’s most important green turtle nesting beaches, though sightings depend on the season and cannot be guaranteed. Returning to our accommodation, we walk the lodge trails, where our guide can interpret the plants and smaller wildlife around us. The rest of the day is free for you to stroll through the gardens and relax by the pool, while meals are served at the lodge.
Day 6: Cycle to La Fortuna • Unwind in Arenal’s hot springs
Bid farewell to our remote retreat and leave Tortuguero, making one final journey through the forest waterways before reaching the mainland. When water levels permit, we disembark at La Pavona and cycle towards Guápiles. The mostly flat route passes settlements, banana plantations and lowland farms, providing a gentle return to the bikes after our time in Tortuguero. If water conditions prevent us from using La Pavona, the local team adapts the cycling route and provides an alternative ride through the plains. From Guápiles, we transfer (2hr 20min) through the agricultural plains of Sarapiquí towards our accommodation in La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon, we visit Ecotermales, where naturally heated water of volcanic origin feeds a series of pools. It is a welcome chance to loosen cycling legs, followed by dinner at the hot springs. Terrain: 70% paved, 30% gravel (mixed)
Day 7: Ride beneath Arenal and cross old lava • Cook Costa Rican dishes with a local chef
Cycle from La Fortuna onto quieter rural roads, passing grazing land, small farms, rivers and patches of forest. Arenal Volcano appears at intervals as we tackle the gently rising and falling terrain. Our tour leader manages the pace and selects suitable stops, leaving us enough energy for the afternoon’s walk at Arenal 1968. Here, trails cross regenerating forest and lava deposits from the volcano’s major eruption in 1968. Later, we join a local chef for a hands-on cooking experience. After learning about the produce grown in the garden, we help prepare Costa Rican dishes, which may include handmade tortillas and food cooked over a wood fire. We then sit down together to eat what we have made, enjoying volcano views as we dine. Terrain: 100% paved
Day 8: Follow the shores of Lake Arenal
A 30-minute transfer takes us to Lake Arenal, where we begin our ride around Costa Rica’s largest reservoir. Following rural roads, we cycle beside the water, with sections passing through farmland and small communities. The route gently rises and falls as it tracks the lakeshore, rewarding us with sweeping views across the water and towards the surrounding mountains. Along the way, we cross four rivers that feed into Lake Arenal. One crossing is via a bridge, while three smaller streams are crossed directly by bike, adding a refreshing splash of adventure to the ride. Weather permitting, we can also enjoy views of Arenal Volcano, one of Costa Rica's most iconic natural landmarks. Our tour leader helps us judge the repeated climbs and descents, ensuring we save something for the final miles. We finish on the Tilarán side of the lake, where stronger winds are common and the broad, open landscape feels very different from the forests around La Fortuna. With gravel roads, rolling terrain and river crossings, this is one of our most adventurous and memorable days on the bike. As today's route follows a 4x4 access road, which can be particularly affected during the rainy season, our regular support vehicle cannot accompany the group for much of the route. Instead, a 4x4 vehicle will be on standby should we need assistance. The remainder of the day is free to rest at the hotel. Terrain: 75% paved, 25% gravel (mixed)
Day 9: Cross the dry-forest country of Guanacaste
Bid farewell to the Tilarán area and transfer (20 minutes) to Tierras Morenas, where today’s cycling begins. The ride carries us into Guanacaste and the tropical dry-forest zone, a marked ecological change from the wetter Caribbean and Arenal regions. We cycle through cattle country, agricultural land and scattered woodland, with more open terrain and less shade than on previous stages. Passing small farming communities, we continue to Guayabo de Bagaces, tackling a succession of climbs and descents before reaching our accommodation. Terrain: 30% paved, 70% gravel (mixed)
Day 10: Cycle to Liberia • To the Pacific coast
We ride directly from our accommodation, following secondary roads between Bagaces and Liberia. The scenery impresses from the moment we leave Bagaces. This is ranching country, and the route passes grazing fields, farms and dry-forest vegetation, with views of three volcanoes in a single day: Miravalles, Tenorio and Rincón de la Vieja. Few rides in Costa Rica offer such a striking combination of volcanic scenery. Our tour leader plans our breaks carefully as there is less natural shade, while the open landscape rewards us with far-reaching views across the plains and low ridges of Guanacaste. There is an unsupported section of around 15km as we pass through the El Chizo area and cross a natural canyon in the foothills of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. This region is known for its natural mountain bike trails, rugged terrain and exceptional scenery. As we approach Liberia, rural roads give way to the busier surroundings of one of the province’s principal towns. We finish cycling here and transfer (45 minutes) to the Gulf of Papagayo on the Pacific coast. The evening is free to enjoy the quieter pace of our beachside accommodation. Terrain: 20% paved, 80% gravel (mixed)
Day 11: Ride the Pacific backroads • To Playa Carrillo
Take a 15-minute transfer inland to the start of our ride. Today’s route is a rewarding cycle through some of the most scenic coastal landscapes in the northwest Pacific region of Costa Rica, combining quiet rural roads, dry forest and coastal hills, with a mixture of gradual climbs and flowing descents. At intervals, the Pacific appears beyond the inland ridges, providing a first indication of the coastline we are working towards. We pass small settlements and areas with relatively little development before completing the cycling stage near the coast. From here, we transfer (2hr 20min) south to Playa Carrillo on the Nicoya Peninsula, where a long, palm-backed beach curves around a sheltered bay. Terrain: 10% paved, 90% gravel (mixed)
Day 12: Cycle towards Nosara • Sail on a catamaran at sunset
Leave the Carrillo area by bike, heading across the Nicoya Peninsula through farmland, dry forest and rural communities. The road rises and falls as we move towards the peninsula’s less-developed interior and coast. Our tour leader keeps the group together on the more remote sections and knows where to pause for water, shade and the best available coastal outlooks. After completing the ride, we transfer back to our hotel. In the afternoon, head out on a sunset catamaran excursion along the Pacific coast. This relaxing experience provides a perfect contrast to the morning’s ride, with open ocean views, warm sea breezes and the chance to unwind as the sun sets over the horizon. Terrain: 25% paved, 75% gravel (mixed)
Day 13: Complete our final coastal ride • Return to San José
Set out on our final ride through the Nicoya Peninsula’s dry forest, farmland and coastal hills. The route takes us inland before returning along the same road, giving us one last chance to settle into the shared rhythm we have built over nearly two weeks of riding. After the final climb and descent, we say goodbye to our bikes and begin the journey (4hr 30min) back to San José. As we travel inland, the drier Pacific landscape gives way to the greener, more elevated Central Valley. We arrive in San José for our final night together. Terrain: 60% paved, 40% gravel (mixed)
Day 14: Adventure ends in San José
You’ve descended between two volcanoes, searched Tortuguero’s waterways for wildlife and cycled from Costa Rica’s green highlands to the Pacific coast, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.