Contact us for more info about Costa Rica & Panama Cycling Adventure

We don't currently have scheduled dates for this tour, however please let us know you're interested and when you'd like to go and we will endeavour to provide you with a tour to meet your needs.

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    Costa Rica & Panama Cycling Adventure

    14 Day Biking Tour from $7317 NZD

    Contact us for more info about Costa Rica & Panama Cycling Adventure

    We don't currently have scheduled dates for this tour, however please let us know you're interested and when you'd like to go and we will endeavour to provide you with a tour to meet your needs.

      [recaptcha]

      14 Days
      • Availability Guide:
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      • Limited
      • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

      Join us in unspoiled Costa Rica and fascinating Panama, two countries which are a joy for cyclists and nature enthusiasts alike.

      There are rainforests and rivers, valleys and volcanoes, hot springs and cool oceans. And it’s not just the terrain that’s diverse – these are two of the world’s most biodiverse countries. A cast of creatures from toucans to howler monkeys will cheer you on while you’re cycling.

      We’ll go whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, explore the lush highlands and visit Tortuguero National Park with its amazing variety of animals, reptiles and birds.

      In Panama we’ll visit one of the main tropical islands of Bocas del Toro where there will be time for some relaxation. Finally we reach Panama City and finish our journey with a bike ride along the city’s spectacular waterfront trail followed by a visit to the famous canal.

      As Costa Rica and Panama have so much to offer, this trip incorporates a great balance of cycling, sightseeing and relaxation. Cycling days will often include climbs and descents so we recommend a moderate level of fitness. Your accommodation each evening will be comfortable and diverse.

       

      Liberia (Costa Rica) to Panama City

      Liberia Guanacaste Airport (Costa Rica)
      • Lifestyle
      • Grade
      • Group size: maximum 20
      • USD980 single room surcharge
      • USD335 hybrid bike hire
      • USD370 mountain bike hire
      • USD450 e-bike hire
      • Specific Terms & Conditions apply to this tour
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      Fitness and Preparation

      Grade 2 - Mild Tours

      Moderate tours have an expectation that you have an interest and possibly some experience in the activities. Routes chosen will require a reasonable level of fitness and experience on different terrains.

      Fitness required

      An average level of fitness is required, you will need to be doing some form of exercise two-three times a week during the build up to this tour.

      Full Itinerary

      DAY 1

      Arrive Liberia (transfer to Playa Hermosa)

      No cycling

      Bienvenido to Costa Rica (Spanish for “rich coast”). We’ll meet you at the international airport in Liberia, capital of north-west Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province. It’s known as the white city for its stone and buildings. Then it’s a 25 minute drive to our hotel at Playa Hermosa (literally “beautiful beach”). Here, the warm Pacific waters meet a pristine sandy bay with bush-clad hills by a lively town. You should definitely consider a swim! After our tour briefing later this afternoon, get to know the other group members over dinner tonight.

      Meals: Dinner

      DAY 2

      Guanacaste Province (loop ride)

      Cycling: 40 km

      Once part of Nicaragua, Guanacaste is named for the huge, shade-giving Guanacaste tree, and has a slightly different character to the rest of Costa Rica. After breakfast - a bike fit and then we’re off to explore this cattle ranching region. It’s a beautiful ride where we have a good chance of seeing monkeys. We’ll also pass through a number of typical towns so will probably take a break under a tree in one of the town’s central parks.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 3

      Playa Hermosa to La Fortuna

      Cycling: 50 km

      First up: a 2.5-hour drive to Lake Arenal in the northern highlands. The largest lake in the country, it’s teeming with fish and has hundreds of bird and mammal species around it. We’ll unload the bikes near the gorgeous town of Tilaran. Coffee, peanuts, and macadamias grow here, plus there are cattle and horse ranches. And because of the higher altitude, riding conditions are cool and comfortable. We’ll ride the paved northern route along the lake, which has ups and downs, but we’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the iconic cone of the dormant Arenal Volcano. We’ll meet at the far end of the lake and go to our hotel in La Fortuna de San Carlos. A soak in the thermal hot springs may be just what the doctor ordered.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 4

      La Fortuna: Rest Day

      No cycling

      Today is the first of our free days. La Fortuna, while busy, has kept its local character. There’s so much to do: take one of the many tours into the mountains, windsurf on Lake Arenal, take a jungle wildlife tour, zipline through the rainforest canopy, swim by a waterfall, visit a spa, or go to high-end hot springs. Breakfast is included at the hotel, and locals will be more than happy to recommend great lunch and dinner spots.

      Meals: Breakfast

      DAY 5

      La Fortuna to Turrialba region

      Cycling: 40 km

      We start the day with a four-hour drive to the quaint town of Orosí, set in the deep Orosí Valley, forged by the Reventazón River. This brilliantly colourful valley with its lush fields, coffee and sugarcane is one of the most famous Costa Rican landscapes - a great setting for today’s ride. Our destination is a mountain lodge near Turrialba, amid the central valleys, lush tropical gardens and volcanic peaks of Turrialba Volcano National Park. Turrialba, a small city and a whitewater rafting mecca, is also famed for its local cheese. We’ll be staying here for two nights.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 6

      Turrialba region: Irazú Volcano Ride

      Cycling: 40 km

      An exhilarating day awaits! This morning we’ll drive you to the top of the Irazú Volcano (3400m asl) from where you can see both oceans on a clear day. We’ll stop at the closest viewing point allowed, and most likely we’ll see smoke. Then it’s an exciting descent on our bikes via country roads back towards Turrialba. Near the bottom of the hill we’ll probably load up the bikes and transfer the last few km back to our beautiful mountain lodge.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 7

      Turrialba region to Guapiles

      Cycling: 30 km / Rafting: 25 km

      It will be a thrilling day as we head for the Caribbean coast. First we jump on our bikes and ride towards the surging aqua Pacuare River. We’ll transfer the final 5 km to the raft put-in point at Tres Equis as it’s a steep gravel road. Then it’s pure exhilaration as we raft through the rapids, and take in the views of the river-carved canyons and virgin rainforest. We’ll lunch by the river’s edge, then continue to our late afternoon rafting take-out point at the start of banana plantation country. After an hour’s drive we arrive at Hotel Suerre, with its Olympic sized swimming pool, great food & comfy rooms.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 8

      Guapiles to Tortuguero

      Cycling: 30 km

      Our morning ride is slightly downhill as we head towards the Caribbean side of the country. Then we transfer in the van to La Pavona river port and take a motorboat for the final leg of today’s journey. After settling into our Lodge we take a short boat ride to visit the unique & colourful town of Tortuguero where you’ll learn about the local lifestyles & customs of the different ethnic groups. This evening there’s the option for a guided beach walk in search of sea turtles. Nesting takes place year round but you’re most likely to see turtles between May & November.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 9

      Tortuguero to Limon

      Cycling: 30 km

      An early canal tour of Tortuguero National Park is sure to be a highlight. Accompanied by a boatman and a nature guide, immerse yourself in the amazing biodiversity of flora and fauna where there are 3 species of monkeys, 400 species of birds, as well as many reptiles, amphibians and mammals. From the Cano Blanco river port its a short van transfer to our bikes. A lowlands ride takes us past banana plantations to the lively town of Siquirres where we load up and transfer to Limon.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 10

      Limon to Bocas del Toro (Panama)

      Cycling: 30 km

      Later today we’ll cross the border from Costa Rica to Panama but first, its a 50 minute transfer down the coast to Cahuita. Switching to our bikes we continue to the beach town of Puerto Viejo where we slow down to absorb the vibrant local colour. This area is also popular with backpackers and surfers from all over the world. We continue our ride to the border. After crossing into Panama we’ll transfer to the port of Almirante, from where we’ll take a half-hour motorboat ride to Bocas Town on the Island of Colon in the idyllic Bocas del Toro archipelago. We’ll stay at the Divers Paradise Boutique Hotel for 2 nights.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

      DAY 11

      Bocas del Toro

      Boat excursion

      There is plenty to see in the surrounding area so we’ve included a sightseeing trip by private boat. One of the highlights may be the visit to Sloth Island where cute, sleepy, smiling sloths hang around the protected mangroves. We’ll also stop at one of the National Park Islands for a short hike plus there will be time for snorkelling and a visit to a secluded beach for a swim. During the boat trip we may also spot some dolphins so it should be a great day out.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

      DAY 12

      Bocas del Toro to Panama City

      Cycling: 20 km

      Our late morning flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City takes approx 1 hour. Panama City is a stylish transit hub and melting pot, with a skyline to rival Hong Kong or Miami. During our time here we’ll visit Casco Viejo – the old quarter, known as the SoHo of the South. First chosen as a safe haven from pirates, it’s 16th and 17th century architecture makes it a World Heritage Site. After a city tour by bike, rest your legs, splash out on a Panama hat or try the local coffee on the waterfront.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

      DAY 13

      Panama City: Canal visit by bike

      Cycling: 15 km

      This morning we’ll leave Panama City by bike, entirely via a 10 km-long bike path, offering a perspective rarely available in a car-dominated metropolis. We then visit Miraflores Lock, one of the best viewing points for the engineering masterpiece that is the Panama Canal. There’s an excellent museum with displays on its construction, or you can watch the huge container ships traverse the Miraflores Lock, which separates the Pacific Ocean from the artificial Lake Gatun, also part of the canal. Later you’ll have another chance to enjoy the hip neighborhood of Casco Viejo, with its colonial buildings and stylish shops before getting together for our final dinner.

      Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      DAY 14

      Departure from Panama City

      No cycling

      After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye. There will be one group transfer to Panama City Airport, or you may wish to stay longer to explore this amazing place.

      Meals: Breakfast

      Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

      Tour Includes:

      • Accommodation mainly 2* to 4* hotels & lodges
      • Meals as listed in the itinerary
      • Group arrival transfer (day 1)
      • Sightseeing by boat (Bocas)
      • Bocas to Panama City flight
      • Group departure transfer (day 14)
      • Support vehicle(s) and driver(s)
      • Cycling guide(s)
      • Drinking water while cycling
      • Route maps and profiles
      • Basic tips for guides and drivers

      Tour Excludes:

      • International & domestic flights and airport taxes
      • Bike hire (extra cost)
      • Meals not listed in the daily itinerary
      • Passport and Travel Visa requirements
      • Travel insurance (compulsory)
      • Optional trips & sightseeing tours
      • Pre and post tour nights
      • Personal expenses & drinks (except water for cycling)
      • Entrance fees for sights unless specified
      • Single room surcharge
      • Tips for drivers & guides