Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

• Accommodation: 13 Classic nights (10 hotel, 3 lodge)
• 10 days cycling with full vehicle support
• 97 percent paved, 3 percent unpaved tracks
• Routes follow quiet roads wherever possible
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader and staff. Minimum age: 16

Costa Rica is 10 degrees north of the equator and has a tropical climate. The average annual temperature is around 26C (79F) in the lowlands and 10C (50F) in the highest mountain regions. However, it’s essential you prepare for the time of year in which your departure takes place.

Dry season (December to April): This is the driest period of the year and can get incredibly hot; on the Pacific side, 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.

We aim to leave the hotel as early as possible to avoid the strongest heat of the day. In many cases, we leave by 8am; by 10am, temperatures can be hot. Your tour leader is well-equipped to deal with this, making sure everyone is safely protected and well hydrated. In cases of extreme heat, they may alter the cycling route to ensure everyone’s safety.

Rainy season (May to November):  Expect daily downpours, although these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of sunshine. Typically, there are 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.

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Average daily distance: 25mi (41km)

Number of cycling days: 10

Vehicle support: 100 percent

Terrain and route: 97 percent paved, 3 percent groomed dirt road with some moderate climbs

The provided saddle bag contains a puncture repair kit including an inner tube and a box of patches and glue. If you wish to carry personal items on the bike, the puncture repair kit may be stored elsewhere, however we recommend keeping the kit close by in case of urgent need.

Though many of the roads are good, expect some potholes and poor road conditions in places. Routes follow quiet backroads wherever possible. On some sections on the Pacific coast only one road is available, so you should expect traffic as we head south. On Days 3 and 4, there are long, straight sections of road and vehicles use the opportunity to pass cyclists. Our Day 10 route from Turrialtico to Siquirres may be affected by heavy traffic and on Day 13, there is likely to be heavy traffic as we approach La Fortuna. This tour also covers some remote regions.

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