Cycling in Costa Rica travel guide

Join the dots between the attractions on a Costa Rica cycling holiday - linking reserve to reserve, ecolodge to idyllic ecolodge. Costa Rica is compact and safe, with great roads and superb guides - and you can easily nip over into Nicaragua or Panama at the end. You'll be in a small group with a support vehicle and plenty of snacks and drinks to keep you going. Find out more in our cycling holidays in Costa Rica travel guide.

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Cycling in Costa Rica travel guide

A cycling holiday in Costa Rica offers the best of both worlds. The roads are in good condition for riding on, there is a well established network of ecolodges and guesthouses, plus opportunities to spending an afternoon kayaking or hiking with a naturalist guide. But cycling means you can leave the more touristy spots far behind – pedalling along the back roads, pausing in forgotten pueblos, perusing roadside fruit stalls.

Costa Rica is packed with highlights. Travelling between them by bicycle allows you to join the dots, appreciating not just the main attractions – but the whole glorious picture.

Joining a small group cycling holiday in Costa Rica gives you the independence of being on two wheels, with the reassurance of an expert team – from a support vehicle and regular stops to refuel and rehydrate, to someone to cheer you on when the heat and humidity kick in. Plus, they’ll keep an eye on your bike and are on hand should anything start to wobble – including you. This leaves you to keep your eyes off the bike and on the surrounding scenery, spying sloths wrapped around trees, and electric blue morpho butterflies bobbing along beside your bike.

See all our Costa Rica cycling Holidays

Give us a call

Go on a cycling holiday in Costa Rica if…

...you want to explore other countries, too. Costa Rica is small, and Nicaragua and Panama can easily be included in your two-wheel itinerary....you love rice and beans. Gallo pinto is the national staple – but on a cycling holiday you’ll earn this dose of carbs at every meal (yep, even breakfast…)...you can cope with heat and humidity. For many cyclists, the toughest part of a cycling holiday in Costa Rica is not the hills – which you can train for – but the climate....you’re not confident with bike maintenance. Expert tour leaders are with you to ensure everything’s in working order – you just need to be able to ride! Support vehicles also accompany you 100% of the way.

Don’t go on a cycling holiday in Costa Rica if…

...you’re not prepared to pedal up a few hills. Costa Rica is a mountainous nation, so even leisurely tours are likely to involve some climbs.

...you don’t mind a bit of rain. There’s rainforest, cloud forest, tropical coastlines and everything in between – so at some point, you will get wet.

...you’re not into socialising on holiday. You and your fellow travellers will literally be sharing highs and lows of the trip – for many, the team spirit is the most enjoyable part.

...you’re in it to win it. This is not a race; taking a moment to enjoy Costa Rica’s astonishing wildlife and scenery are just as important as reaching the end.

Contact Us

Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.

01273 823 700 01273 823 700

Call us tomorrow after 9am

Calling from outside the UK

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Best time to go cycling in Costa Rica

December to April are the best months for cycling in Costa Rica – with less rain, and less ferocious heat.

If travelling at this time, be sure to book in advance to beat the crowds – and pack a mac and waterproof bags, as rainforest, cloud forest and tropical coastline mean you could get a soaking at any time. Trips run in July-Aug too, but avoid the summer unless you’re tied to travelling then; prices soar and the stormy weather makes for sad cycling conditions. You’ll spot wildlife year round, but if there is anything which particularly appeals – such as migrating birds or nesting sea turtles – our Costa Rica guide offers tips on the best times to see these.

Call us for the best time to go cycling in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

261

JUN

296

JUL

205

AUG

282

SEP

372

OCT

343

NOV

155

DEC

More relevant guides

Written by Vicki Brown

Cycling in Costa Rica travel guide

Cycling in Costa Rica travel guide

Go on a cycling holiday in Costa Rica if…