ITINERARY

Day 1:
You`ll get your first taste of Costa Rica as soon as you step off your plane at the San Jose International Airport. Nestled high in the Central Valley, the airport faces both the metropolitan city of San Jose and, in the distance, the green volcanic mountain ranges characteristic of this lush countryside. Your Access Trips guide will meet you at the airport, and together, you`ll drive through rolling countryside to the foothills of Poas Volcano. After getting to know the other guests over a traditional casado dinner, you`ll spend the night at a small country inn with lush tropical gardens, surrounded by coffee and sugar cane plantations.

No riding on this day.
Drive time from airport: 45 mins
Accommodation: Private lodge

Day 2:
Our Costa Rica mountain bike tour officially begins early this morning with a drive to the Continental Divide at 1800 mts of elevation where the biking begins with a downhill route through picturesque pasture lands, cloud forests, and sugar cane plantations. The 38 km ride, which is 75% downhill, includes many long descents and a few short climbs. We’ll ride a mixture of double tracks, cattle farm roads and a stretch of gravel road through highland forest. All the while your expert instructor will be providing you with tips, advice and encouragement to help you maximize your mountain biking performance and enjoyment. Accommodations in a working hacienda, cozy cabins with a terrace facing the river.

Distance: 38 km / 24 miles
Off-road: 50%
Climbing: 165 meters
Descending: 1220 meters
Drive time: 45 mins
Accommodation: hotel in working Hacienda

Day 3:
On the third morning of our Costa Rica mountain bike tour we`ll ride on the lowlands with many short ups and downs and a few small river crossings. We go though forest, reforestation areas, villages and small farms. Today is a good day to learn proper shifting and the experience of carrying you bike over your shoulder as we'll cross several creeks and venture up a few steep paths. In the afternoon we`ll drive to the renown Arenal Volcano, the most active of Costa Rica`s four volcanoes as well as one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, you`ll spend an unforgettable couple of hours relaxing you muscles in natural hot springs that are framed by lush ferns and dense jungle. The evening will draw to a close with a traditional dinner of homemade tortillas and a visit to lookout point, where you`ll hopefully glimpse the fuming glow of Arenal`s hot lava. Tonight we`ll stay in a comfortable lodge that offers amazing views of the volcano.

Distance: 36 km / 23 miles
Off-road: 25%
Climbing: 460 meters
Descending: 460 meters
Drive time: 15 mins
Accommodation: Private lodge

Day 4:
Today we`ll take a spectacular ride along deserted trails on the southern shore of majestic Lake Arenal (the largest in Costa Rica). We`ll start with an easy ride on a wide, hard-packed dirt/gravel road at the foot of Arenal Volcano National Park. After 17 kilometers of long flat stretches and a few short, easy climbs, we`ll cross the Cano Negro river (there are no bridges in this remote part of the park so we`ll need to wade). From here we`ll ride 15-20 kilometres on an abandoned dirt road that`s been taken over by vegetation. Crossing 10 different creeks and negotiating several muddy spots, this ride will be quite an adventure, but the terrain is undulating with only short climbs and the views of the lake are spectacular! At the end of the ride we`ll reach our first sign of civilization; a small restaurant where we`ll enjoy a refreshing soda and some lunch! After lunch, you can either bike the 25 kilometres up to Monteverde Cloud Forest or you can board van for the `quick` way up. The world-renown Monteverde Cloud Forest has been likened to a 'green cathedral.' Dense with trees and vines, dripping with ferns and teeming with birds, howler monkeys, butterflies and other wildlife, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of Costa Rica`s true treasures. Our accommodation for the next two nights is practically integrated into the forest itself. We`ll stay in comfortable cabins which offer stunning views of the pristine Monteverde landscape.

Distance: 37 km / 23 miles
Off-road: 50%
Climbing: 350 meters
Descending: 375 meters
Drive time: 5 mins
Accommodation: Cabins

Day 5:
The fifth day of our Costa Rica Mountain Bike tour is a rest day. We`ll set our bikes aside and participate in a guided hike through the Cloud Forest while a knowledgeable guide will point out the remarkable flora and fauna of the jungle. The forest itself is a mosaic of vegetation and exotic plant life, and it literally drips with water thanks to the moisture-filled clouds which hover above it. Following a break for lunch, we`ll see the forest from a whole different angle courtesy of an exhilarating Canopy Tour. Moving through the treetops on ziplines and suspension bridges, we`ll spend an unforgettable afternoon experiencing the forest from a bird`s eye view.

No riding this day. 2-4 hrs hiking
Drive time: 10 mins
Accommodation: B&B

Day 6:
The scenery changes yet again for a technical downhill ride, followed by a rapid descent on dirt roads that offer plenty of curves. As we move down in altitude, we`ll experience a huge change in climate and scenery - from lush, Costa Rican rain and cloud forests to the dryer land of the Pacific slope. In the afternoon, you`ll be able to take advantage of the hotter weather in the beach town of Samara, in the Nicoya Pennisula. The natural cove is surrounded by a flourishing rainforest (Costa Rican rainforests, no matter how often seen, will continue to amaze you for the duration of your stay in the country) and also features an intricate system of coral reefs. If the weather is right, we`ll enjoy a spectacular sunset here on the Pacific before enjoying a delicious seafood dinner. Our accommodation for the next two nights is a stylish boutique hotel.

Distance: 38 km / 24 miles
Off-road: 17%
Climbing: 180 meters
Descending: 1460 meters
Drive time: N/A
Accommodation: Local boutique hotel

Day 7:
We`ve saved one of the most beautiful rides for the end! The rugged, almost deserted stretch of Pacific coast along Guanacaste represents wildlife uninterrupted. Most tourist maps have yet to chart the course you will bike, and there are few hotels to impede the spectacular views. Our loop ride will start inland with a 12 kms ride on small, undulating dirt roads that pass through small farms and dry forest. A 7km downhill will take us to a deserted stretch of coastline from where we`ll ride 15kms one hard-packed sand and small dirt roads, following the spectacular ocean all the way and passing tiny villages and very simple houses. The ride includes some fun downhill and some uphill stretches. After a full day of biking, we`ll convene to celebrate the end of our Costa Rican mountain bike tour with cold drinks and an abundant seafood dinner.

Distance: 34 km / 21 miles
Off-road: 15%
Climbing: 260 meters
Descending: 260 meters
Drive time: N/A
Accommodation: Local boutique hotel

Day 8:
Our Costa Rica mountain bike tour will conclude with a final breakfast on the coast. Afterward, we`ll drive you to San Jose Airport to catch your flight home or you may take a 50 minute flight from Samara/Carillo Airport to San Jose.

Drive time to airport: 4.5 hours