MOUNTAIN BIKING COSTA RICA

2011 dates:February 19th – 28th duration/price: 8 days / 9 nights $2,395 level: intermediate (click here to view our advanced level trip) ages: all (call for under 18) group size: varies

Costa Rica Mountain Bike Explorer Itinerary

2011 Tour Dates (Includes Arrival Day Lodging):

February 19th – February 28th

Itinerary:

Arrival day-

We will be meeting at the Hotel Buena Vista in Alajuela a short drive from the airport. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore downtown Alajuela, San José or chill out before the group gets together for dinner that night. We will be getting to know each other and discussing the week’s activities. Dinner is included. Lodging at Hotel Buena Vista in Alajuela or similar (www.hotelbuenavistacr.com)

Day 1-

On your first day of adventure we shuttle to Doka Estate coffee farm where we have a delicious breakfast to fuel up for the ride on pavement up to Poás Volcano National Park. After visiting this active volcano, we ride on dirt and singletrack to Grecia, a small town on the foothills of the volcano. In Grecia we have a late lunch and then shuttle to Hotel La Posada in San Ramón (www.posadahotel.net). Ride length approximately 33 miles.

Day 2-

Today we shuttle to Bajos Rodriguez near the Continental Divide and from there we ride down to Fortuna on gravel roads and rural paved roads. Our destination is La Fortuna Waterfall, a community operated reserve. Lodging is at Hotel El Silencio del Campo (http://www.hotelsilenciodelcampo.com) or similar. In the afternoon we will visit the Ecotermales, a family-run by-appointment-only hot springs.Ride length is approximately 20 miles.

Day 3-

Fortuna offers many optional activities such as rafting, canopy tours, hiking, canyoning or simply chilling by the pool. Today you have a free day to rest up weary legs. Lodging is at Hotel San Bosco or similar.

Day 4-

On this yet another epic day we ride from the hotel to Arenal Dam and ferry across to Rio Chiquito. From there we ride on dirt along the lake to Tierras Morenas. The ride is very scenic going by homesteads and farms. Lodging is at Mystica Retreat (http://www.mysticaretreat.com/). Ride length is approximately 35 miles.

Day 5-

After an early breakfast we leave the shores of Arenal Lake and head in-land toward Tenorio Volcano. We will ride past world famous Tierras Morenas Wind Farm (a wind energy project that supplies electricity to thousands of Costa Rican homes). Following the volcanic mountain range along doubletrack and dirt roads, we will arrive at our destination near Bagaces and next to Miravalles Volcano. Our hotel has thermal pools and probably the hottest springs that you can have without losing some skin. Did we mention the coldest beer too? Lodging is at Thermomania (www.thermomania.net) or similar. Ride length is about 30 miles.

Day 6-

Today is the best ride that we know in Costa Rica: we leave the hotel and ride around Miravalles Volcano all the way to La Carolina Lodge, our favorite spot inland Costa Rica. First the ride, great climbs, small towns where everyone says hello, waterfalls, flowers, tucans, monkeys…pizza and cold beer for lunch! The best part is the destination, a working ranch that we consider our home away from home. Lodging is at La Carolina (www.lacarolinalodge.com). Ride length is about 40 miles.

Day 7-

Today we spend enjoying La Carolina Lodge’s rustic luxury and visiting Tenorio Volcano National Park, a short and sweet but tough (optional) one-hour ride away. Inside Tenorio you will marvel at Río Celeste with its cobalt blue water, natural hot springs (skinny-dipping optional) and pristine forests. Then we will get pampered with a second night at La Carolina and it wood-fired hot tub.

Optional ride distance: two 9 miles round trip with plenty of elevation gain. Three hour visit inside the park.

Day 8-

After breakfast and a quick visit to a nearby river to spot poison frogs we ride out of La Carolina to Guatuso, some two hours away. Once in Guatuso we grab some lunch, clean up and shuttle back to San José for the final night in Costa Rica.

Lodging at Hotel Buena Vista in Alajuela or similar (www.hotelbuenavistacr.com)

Ride length is about 20 miles.

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