Internationale groepsreis Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride

Those on the group flight land into San Jose and will be transferred to our start hotel in La Garita de Alajuela, around 15 minutes away. Those on land only arrangements should make their own way to the start hotel this evening.Hotel Rosa America (or similar)

After breakfast we have a briefing and spend some time adjusting our bikes before riding out on paved roads with very little traffic through small rural communities and a dry tropical forest. This initial stage will finish just outside Atenas, and then we have a short transfer (approx. 20 mins) to Orotina, where we will jump back on the bikes and cycle onwards until we reach the coastal highway. After lunch we will embark on our private, guided boat tour of the estuary. We hope to see crocodiles, waterbirds, shorebirds, and even Scarlet Macaws. After the boat tour, we transfer (approx. 30 mins) to our beach hotel at Playa Bejuco. If tide and sand conditions permit, we can get in another few kilometres of cycling and arrive at the hotel riding on the immense tropical beach.  (Extra 10 km for beach ride option) Hotel Playa Bejuco (or similar)

Today we start the day with a transfer (approx. 40 mins) to Manuel Antonio National Park. This is an outstanding region for wildlife and we will enjoy a 2 hour guided hike in the Park. The forest here meets the sea and iguanas and White-faced Capuchin monkeys can often be seen on the beach. Leaving the park, we have a short transfer (approx. 20 mins) to the coastal road outside Quepos, where we begin to cycle south to Playa Dominical. Tonight we will spend the night at Hotel Villas Rio Mar which is set within the lush rainforest. Hotel Villas Rio Mar (or similar)

Today we continue cycling south along the coastal road, which includes a few hilly sections near Uvita and Ojochal. Off to our right is the Pacific, with some lovely, isolated beaches, and at Playa Hermosa we will stop for a quick refreshment break. Afterwards we cycle further until we arrive at Boca Coronado and stop for lunch at a restaurant which offers great views of the Rio Terraba estuary. After lunch, we have a short easy ride to our hotel for tonight, Las Palmas de Osa, set just outside Ciudad Cortes. Hotel Las Palmas de Osa (or similar) 

Our ride today takes us from Ciudad Cortes on to Palmar Norte, where we cross the Rio Terraba, Costa Rica's longest river, then to Palmar Sur, where we will stop at the central park for a look at some of the famous spherical rocks, made by a little-known ancient indigenous culture. Afterwards we will board the coach for a transfer (approx 1.5 hours) to La Palma, stopping for lunch on route. We will resume our cycling, passing through Puerto Jimenez en route to our beach hotel, set on the beautiful Playa Platanares.Agua Dulce Lodge (or similar) 

We board a ferry this morning for a 30 minute journey across the Golfo Dulce to Golfito. Here, sometimes dolphins can be seen frolicking in the surrounding waters. Our cycle route heads to Rio Claro using a short but hilly biking stage. Following a 1 hour bus transfer across the steep mountains surrounding San Vito, we arrive at Las Cruces Biological Station. Las Cruces Biological Station is surrounded by the famous Wilson Botanical Gardens where we will enjoy a guided hike in the afternoon. OTS Las Cruces Lodge (or similar) 

Back on the saddle we enjoy a fantastic ride from the hilly region near San Vito downhill to Paso Real, far below at the Rio Terraba. En route we pass through an indigenous area where villagers can sometimes be seen in traditional dress. We will stop in Buenos Aires to have lunch before boarding the bus for our transfer (approx. 2-3 hours) to San Gerardo de Rivas. We will pass the first of many pineapple plantations, which has now become Costa Rica's most exported crop. As our hotel tonight is located in the mountains it may be chillier than you expect.   El Pelicano Mountain Lodge (or similar)

This morning we start with a short downhill stage before jumping on the bus for a transfer that will take us over the infamous Cerro de La Muerte. At 3,541 metres above sea level, this is the highest point of the PanAm Highway in all of Central America. On this stretch we will drive through rainforest, up into the cloud forest before we start our descent back down towards the Central Valley. From here we will get back on our bikes for another downhill stage into the Orosi Valley. Tapanti Media Lodge (or similar) 

After breakfast we start cycling from the hotel for perhaps one of the most beautiful cycling stages riding past numerous coffee plantations. With any luck, we will see some farmers using their colourful traditional oxcarts to haul the coffee to nearby processing facilities. Along the way we will stop to look at coffee trees and the tour leader will give an explanation on coffee and its part of the history of Costa Rica. As we continue our ride through the valley, we will ride around a hydroelectric dam before starting a section that involves some climbs. We will arrive at the little town of Tucurrique where will stop off for lunch. Afterwards we will cycle through lush scenery sugar cane plantations before a short transfer to our hotel for the night. Our mountain lodge this evening has excellent views of the surrounding region, including the coffee growing Orosi Valley and both the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes.Hotel Turrialtico (or similar) 

After breakfast we will start cycling a hilly section with incredible views, followed by a fast downhill to the town of Siquierres, from where we will board the coach and take a transfer to the Caribbean coast. This afternoon we will enjoy a guided hike in Cahuita National Park. Here you can expect to see lots of wildlife including two and three-toed Sloths, Capuchin monkeys and also Iguanas. Afterwards we transfer (approx. 15 mins) to Puerto Viejo, a typical Caribbean town with lively reggae music / culture and spicy cuisine. Hotel Escape Caribeno (or similar)

Today is a very early start as we have a short transfer (approx. 20 mins) to the town of Cahuita for breakfast. Then we continue to the start of our backroads biking stage which takes us through several small towns set within the immense banana plantations of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. We will have lunch at a banana packing facility and we will get a chance to observe the harvesting and packaging process. Afterwards we transfer (approx. 30 mins) to La Pavona and board a boat which will take us into Tortuguero National Park along the wildlife rich rivers and canals used for transiting in this densely forested area. Rana Roja Lodge (or similar) 

An early morning boat trip enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day wildlife is usually at its most active and with the help of our expert guide we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300+ bird species recorded here. We retrace our route by boat to the dock at La Pavona where we will start cycling through banana plantations, stopping for a brief explanation about the importance of these plantations to Costa Rica. Afterwards we have a transfer to just outside Guapiles for an early lunch provided by our Tortuguero lodge. After lunch we head towards La Fortuna and the imposing Arenal volcano. Following a massive explosion in 1968, Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until recently when it entered a resting phase. En route we will take a break to observe the thriving pineapple operations in Costa Rica before continuing on to our hotel, set in the centre of town. This evening there is an included excursion to Volcano Lodge hot springs. Hotel San Bosco (or similar)

Following a short transfer, our final cycling stage starts with a ride through the dense rain forest surrounding beautiful Lake Arenal, with several spots to observe the volcano as we continue back toward La Fortuna. Departing Fortuna, we bike through tropical farmlands dedicated to exotic fruits and vegetables, then do a bit of climbing through forested hills up to the conclusion at Bajo Rodriguez. The last leg of our journey is completed by bus as we transfer (approx. 2 hours) back to La Garita de Alajuela. Hotel Rosa America (or similar)

Our trip ends in San Jose (La Garita) after breakfast this morning and those on group flights will be transferred to the international airport for the return journey.