🚴♂️ 13 Days Coast-to-Coast Bicycle Adventure – Cross Costa Rica on Two Wheels
Embark on the ultimate cycling challenge, pedaling from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, crossing volcanoes, rainforests, and remote countryside in one of Costa Rica’s most epic multi-day rides. This coast-to-coast journey is the perfect mix of adventure, endurance, and breathtaking landscapes..
This once-in-a-lifetime cycling adventure is for those who seek endurance, nature, and the thrill of crossing an entire country by bike!
🌿 Pura Vida & Keep Pedaling! 🚵♂️🇨🇷
Itinerary
Description of activities and areas to visit
Your Costa Rica adventure starts upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, a comfortable shuttle will take you to Cartago, the historic former capital of the country.
🚗 Scenic Drive Through the Central Valley
Enjoy the stunning landscapes of Costa Rica’s fertile Central Valley, known for its rich volcanic soil and vibrant greenery.
🍽 Evening: Traditional Costa Rican Dinner
✔ Savor authentic local dishes at a traditional restaurant in Cartago.
✔ Experience Costa Rican flavors, such as gallo pinto, casado, or fresh tropical fruits.
🏨 Rest & Prepare for Your Journey Ahead
✔ After dinner, settle into your hotel in Cartago, where you can rest and recharge for the adventures to come.
✔ Your journey has just begun, and Costa Rica’s natural wonders, rich culture, and thrilling landscapes await!
Overnight at Grandpas or similar
🥾 Morning: Visit & Hike at Irazú Volcano
✔ Early departure to Irazú Volcano National Park (3,432m), Costa Rica’s highest active volcano.
✔ Walk to the crater’s edge, admiring its moon-like landscape and, on clear days, views of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
✔ Hike along volcanic trails, exploring paramo ecosystems and unique high-altitude flora and fauna.
🚵♂️ Midday: Volcanoes Route – Mountain Biking to Turrialba
✔ Start the Volcanoes Route, an adrenaline-filled descent from Irazú toward Turrialba Volcano.
✔ Ride through gravel paths, farmlands, and cloud forests, feeling the temperature shift as you descend.
✔ Pass through rural highlands, potato and dairy farms, and lush green valleys.
✔ Arrive at Turrialba Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s most active and impressive volcanoes.
⬇️ Afternoon: Final Descent to Turrialba Town
✔ Enjoy the final descent, riding past tropical plantations, sugarcane fields, and coffee farms.
✔ Arrive in Turrialba town, where you can relax after a day filled with adventure and stunning landscapes.
Overnight at Guayabo Lodge or similar
🚗 Morning: Transfer from Turrialba to the Caribbean
✔ Transfer from Turrialba to the Province of Limón, passing through lush rainforests and banana plantations.
✔ Watch as the landscape transitions from volcanic highlands to the humid lowlands of the Caribbean coast.
✔ Arrive in Limón City, the vibrant heart of the Caribbean region, where your cycling adventure begins.
🚵♂️ Midday: Cycling from Limón to Puerto Viejo (Approx. 60 km ride)
✔ Start your ride along the scenic coastal road, heading south toward Puerto Viejo.
✔ Feel the warm Caribbean breeze as you cycle past palm-lined beaches, coastal villages, and tropical forests.
✔ Pass through Cahuita National Park, where you might spot monkeys, sloths, and toucans along the way.
✔ Stop at hidden beaches or local fruit stands for a refreshing break.
🏖 Afternoon: Arrival in Puerto Viejo
✔ Reach Puerto Viejo, a laid-back Caribbean town known for its Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae vibes, and stunning beaches.
✔ Check into your beachfront lodge and unwind after the ride.
✔ Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the town, relaxing on the beach, or sipping a fresh coconut.
Overnight at Villas del Caribe or Almonds and Corals
🌊 Morning: Scenic Beachside Cycling (Approx. 16 km – Easy Ride)
✔ Ride along the stunning coastal road between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, with the Caribbean Sea on one side and lush jungle on the other.
✔ Pass through small Afro-Caribbean villages, palm-lined beaches, and nature reserves.
✔ Stop along the way at Playa Negra or Playa Cocles for a swim or fresh coconut water.
✔ Optional stop at Cahuita National Park – Take a short walk to spot monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds.
🏖 Afternoon: Free Time to Enjoy Puerto Viejo’s Beaches & Vibes
✔ Relax on one of Puerto Viejo’s famous beaches, such as Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, or Manzanillo.
✔ Optional activities:
Snorkeling or kayaking in the coral reefs of Cahuita National Park 🐠.
Surfing lessons at Playa Cocles 🏄.
Explore the vibrant town of Puerto Viejo, visiting local markets and cafés.
✔ End the day with a Caribbean-style dinner, enjoying fresh seafood and reggae music.
Overnight at Villas del Caribe or Almonds and Corals
🌊 Morning: Boat Transfer from Moín to Caño Blanco
✔ Private transfer to Moín, the starting point of your boat journey.
✔ Board a scenic riverboat, cruising through jungle-lined canals toward Caño Blanco, a gateway to the Tortuguero region.
✔ Enjoy the wildlife-rich scenery, spotting caimans, monkeys, and tropical birds along the way.
🚴♂️ Midday: Bike Ride from Caño Blanco to Siquirres (Approx. 50 km – Moderate Ride)
✔ Once in Caño Blanco, get on your bike and start riding inland.
✔ Cycle through banana plantations, rural villages, and lowland rainforests.
✔ Feel the transition from the Caribbean wetlands to the central lowlands as the landscape gradually changes.
✔ Stop for a refreshing drink at a local fruit stand, tasting fresh pineapple, papaya, or coconut water.
🌿 Afternoon: Arrival in Siquirres
✔ Check into your lodge and relax after an exciting day of boat and bike travel.
✔ Optional: Visit a local cacao farm to learn about Costa Rica’s chocolate-making traditions.
Overnight at Overnight La Quinta or similar.
🚗 Morning: Transfer to La Fortuna de San Carlos
✔ Depart from Siquirres and travel toward La Fortuna, home to the iconic Arenal Volcano.
✔ Enjoy the changing landscapes as you move from tropical lowlands to lush rainforest and volcanic terrain.
✔ Arrive in La Fortuna, where your cycling adventure begins.
🚵♂️ Midday: Bike Tour to Arenal Lake (Approx. 30 km – Moderate Ride)
✔ Start pedaling from La Fortuna toward Arenal Lake, surrounded by lush forests and stunning volcano views.
✔ Ride along scenic paved and gravel roads, passing local farms, waterfalls, and river crossings.
✔ Stop at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake, for a short break with breathtaking views of the volcano.
🥾 Afternoon: Hike Inside Arenal Volcano National Park
✔ After reaching the Arenal Volcano National Park, switch gears and start a hike through lava fields and regenerating forest.
✔ Walk through old lava flows from past eruptions, learning about Arenal’s volcanic history.
✔ Spot wildlife like toucans, monkeys, and coatis along the trails.
✔ Enjoy panoramic viewpoints of the volcano and lake, perfect for incredible photos.
🌿 Evening: Relax in La Fortuna
✔ Return to La Fortuna and unwind after a day of adventure.
✔ Optional: Visit Arenal’s hot springs to relax your muscles after biking and hiking.
Overnight in Arenal at Arenal Paraíso or similar
🌿 Morning: Cultural Visit to the Maleku Indigenous Reserve
✔ Begin the day with a visit to the Maleku Indigenous Reserve, one of Costa Rica’s last remaining native communities.
✔ Learn about their traditions, language, and ancestral connection to the land.
✔ Discover their use of medicinal plants, spiritual rituals, and traditional crafts.
✔ Engage in a cultural exchange, hearing ancient stories and wisdom from Maleku elders.
🚵♂️ Cycling to Río Celeste – Tenorio Volcano National Park (Approx. 45 km – Moderate Ride)
✔ After the cultural experience, hop on your bike and start pedaling toward Río Celeste.
✔ Ride through scenic backroads, passing rural villages, farmlands, and rolling hills.
✔ Enjoy views of Tenorio Volcano, feeling the landscape transition into lush rainforest.
✔ Arrive at Río Celeste, one of Costa Rica’s most stunning natural wonders, known for its vibrant turquoise waters.
Overnight in Arenal at Arenal Paraíso or similar
🚗 Morning: Transfer to Upala Region
✔ Depart from Río Celeste and travel toward the Upala region, a scenic rural area near Miravalles Volcano.
✔ Enjoy views of rolling green hills, farmlands, and geothermal landscapes along the way.
✔ Arrive at Miravalles Volcano, an area known for its geothermal activity and diverse terrain, perfect for biking.
🚵♂️ Midday: Bicycle Tour in Miravalles (Approx. 40 km – Moderate Ride)
✔ Start your cycling tour around Miravalles, riding through open countryside, forested trails, and volcanic landscapes.
✔ Pass by cattle farms, rural villages, and steaming fumaroles, feeling the heat of the earth beneath you.
✔ Stop at a geothermal energy site, where you’ll learn how Costa Rica harnesses volcanic power for clean energy.
✔ Enjoy breathtaking views of the volcanic slopes as you ride along gravel and paved roads.
♨️ Afternoon: Relax in Miravalles Hot Springs
✔ After an intense ride, unwind in natural volcanic hot springs, surrounded by tropical scenery.
✔ Enjoy a soothing soak in mineral-rich waters, perfect for muscle recovery and relaxation.
✔ Optional: Try a volcanic mud bath, a traditional treatment known for its healing properties.
After a day of cycling and thermal relaxation, return to your lodge and prepare for the next adventure!
Overnight Colinas del Miravalles at or similar.
🚵♂️ Morning: Bike Transfer from Miravalles to Rincón de la Vieja (Approx. 45 km – Moderate to Challenging Ride)
✔ Start the ride from Miravalles Volcano, cycling through rolling hills, open pastures, and tropical dry forests.
✔ Enjoy the gradual ascent toward Rincón de la Vieja, with stunning views of the volcanic range.
✔ Pass through cattle ranches and rural landscapes, experiencing the traditional Guanacaste way of life.
✔ Arrive at the entrance of Rincón de la Vieja National Park, where the adventure continues on foot.
🥾 Midday: Hike in Las Pailas Sector – Explore Geothermal Wonders (Approx. 3-4 km moderate hike)
✔ Begin a hike through the Las Pailas sector, one of the most geologically active areas in Costa Rica.
✔ Witness bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and volcanic vents, evidence of the volcano’s raw power.
✔ Walk through dry tropical forest, home to howler monkeys, coatis, toucans, and vibrant flora.
✔ Visit small waterfalls, boiling water streams, and colorful sulfuric pools as you learn about the park’s geothermal activity.
🌿 Afternoon: Relax & Enjoy the Hacienda
✔ After an active day of cycling and hiking, check into a hacienda near the volcano.
✔ Optional: Unwind with a volcanic mud bath, a dip in natural hot springs, or a refreshing waterfall swim.
Overnight in Arenal at Hacienda Guachipelin or similar
🌿 Morning: Mountain Biking at the Hacienda Bike Park
✔ Start the day at Hacienda’s Bike Park, an incredible network of trails designed for all skill levels.
✔ Ride through single tracks, technical descents, and flowy trails surrounded by dry tropical forest and volcanic landscapes.
✔ Encounter wildlife along the trails, such as howler monkeys, iguanas, and exotic birds.
✔ Challenge yourself with steep climbs and thrilling downhills, or opt for a scenic ride through rolling terrain.
💦 Afternoon: Visit to the Waterfalls
✔ After an adrenaline-packed morning, switch gears and hike or ride to a stunning waterfall near the hacienda.
✔ Cool off in the crystal-clear natural pools, surrounded by lush greenery and volcanic rock formations.
✔ Optional: Take a refreshing swim, or simply relax and enjoy the sounds of nature.
After a day filled with action and natural beauty, return to the hacienda for a well-deserved evening of relaxation.
Overnight in Arenal at Hacienda Guachipelin or similar
🌅 Morning: Transfer from Hacienda to Huacas
✔ After breakfast, take a scenic transfer to Huacas, a small town near Costa Rica’s famous Gold Coast.
✔ Get ready for an epic coastal bike ride, exploring hidden beaches, tropical forests, and ocean cliffs.
🏖 Midday: Bike Tour Through Different Beaches (Approx. 30-40 km – Moderate Ride)
✔ Start pedaling along dirt trails and coastal roads, passing through Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal, and Playa Flamingo.
✔ Ride through lush mangroves, sandy paths, and scenic cliffs, feeling the ocean breeze as you go.
✔ Stop at secluded beaches for a refreshing swim or coconut water break.
✔ Pass through Playa Grande, a protected area known for sea turtle nesting and stunning waves.
🌇 Afternoon: Sunset in Tamarindo
✔ Arrive in Tamarindo, a vibrant beach town famous for its surf, nightlife, and golden sunsets.
✔ Relax on the beach with a cocktail in hand, watching the sun dip below the Pacific horizon.
✔ Optional: Celebrate with a beachfront dinner, live music, or a sunset catamaran tour.
Overnight in Margarita Ville or similar
After many days of cycling, hiking, and adventure, today is all about rest and relaxation!
🌅 Morning: Wake Up to the Sound of the Ocean
✔ Sleep in or take an early beach walk, feeling the soft sand and ocean breeze.
✔ Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with fresh tropical fruits and Costa Rican coffee.
🌇 Afternoon: Sunset & Celebration
✔ Unwind with a beachfront cocktail or fresh coconut water.
✔ Optional: Sunset catamaran cruise, snorkeling, or a massage at a beachside spa.
✔ End the day with a delicious seafood dinner by the ocean, celebrating an unforgettable adventure.
Overnight in Margarita Ville or similar
At the indicated time, transfer to Daniel Oduber Airport for your return flight home.
✔ Enjoy the final scenic views of Costa Rica as you head to the airport.
✔ If time allows, take the opportunity to shop for last-minute souvenirs at duty-free stores.
✔ Savor one last cup of authentic Costa Rican coffee, a perfect farewell to this incredible journey.
¡Feliz viaje y hasta la próxima aventura! 🌿🇨🇷✨
📩 Contact Us to Plan Your Perfect Family Trip!
Let us create a memorable, stress-free vacation tailored for you and your loved ones!
✔ Custom itineraries designed for all ages and interests.
✔ Exciting activities like wildlife safaris, beach days, adventure tours & cultural experiences.
✔ Private transportation & expert guides for a smooth journey.
✔ Family-friendly accommodations in the best destinations.
🌿 Start planning today and create unforgettable memories in Costa Rica! Pura Vida! 🇨🇷