Mountain Biking is an activity widely available in Costa Rica. From the Guanacaste plains to the mountainous interior, this is an excellent way to see the countryside unencumbered by a confining rental car or transfer bus. Options include a prearranged tour or you may rent bikes at a number of the hotels and lodges in the country for your own individual touring. Tours are rated by difficulty-easy, moderate or advanced.

Itineraries may be one day tours highlighting a specific area or extensive multi day individual or group departures. Mountain Biking can be combined with white water rafting, horseback riding or hiking to create a great active tour of the country.

Following are two day tours available from San Jose. Similar tours are operated throughout Costa Rica.

Irazú Volcano
Your guide will pick you up early morning at your hotel and you begin your journey with a drive up the lush, green mountain slopes of Irazú Volcano with breathtaking views of the Central Valley far below. Your destination is the summit of Irazú, 11,260 feet above sea level. The volcano has been dormant since its last eruption in 1963, except for a few tremors in 1991. On a clear day you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Your biking trip begins down the slope of Irazú on a long paved road overlooking the Central Valley. Your scenic tour takes you to the village of Pacayas, ending your cycling day in the quaint town of Turrialba. Transportation will be provided back to your hotel in San Jose. Breakfast and Lunch included. The length of the trip is 14 miles and is rated moderate.

Guayabo
After a short, scenic bus ride to Turrialba, you begin your biking tour heading for the spectacular Guayabo Canyon Falls, continuing on through Guayabo National Monument, the most significant archeological site in Costa Rica. Here you will have time to explore the excavated central part of a 10,000 inhabitant city that existed from 1000 B.C. to around 1400 A.D. Most of the ruins are still undiscovered. Breakfast and lunch included. The length of this trip is 20 miles and is rated moderate to advanced.