Central America Surf & Bike Adventure

Day 1: Arrive & Relax

You'll get your first taste of Costa Rica as soon as you step off your plane at the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Nestled high in the Central Valley, the airport faces both the metropolitan city of San Jose and, in the distance, Costa Rica's lush volcanic mountain ranges. 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 cozy, locally-owned hotel with lush tropical gardens, surrounded by coffee and sugar cane plantations.

Day 2: Biking

Our multisport tour gets underway early this morning with a drive to the Continental Divide at 1800 mts of elevation. We begin biking with a downhill route through picturesque pastures, cloud forests, and sugar cane plantations. The 38 km ride, which is 90% 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 are at a peaceful riverside resort surrounded by lush tropical gardens with exotic fruits, flowers, birds and butterflies.

Day 3: Bike & Hot Springs

Today 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. This is a good day to learn proper shifting and the experience of carrying your bike over your shoulder, as we'll cross several creeks and venture up a few steep paths. The ride takes us to the town of La Fortuna where we'll stop for lunch. After a relaxing stop, we'll continue biking on the paved road all the way to our hotel, which has stunning views of Arenal Volcano- the most active of Costa Rica's volcanoes and 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 your 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 including homemade tortillas and a visit to a lookout point, where you might catch a glimpse of the fuming glow of Arenal's hot lava if it's erupting. Tonight we'll stay in a relaxing mountain resort nestled in lush gardens, where every room offers amazing views of the volcano.

Day 4: Bike the Shores of Arenal

Today we'll take a spectacular ride along deserted trails on the southern shore of majestic Lake Arenal. 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 Caño 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 kilometers on an abandoned dirt road that's been taken over by vegetation. The terrain is undulating with only short climbs and the views of the lake are spectacular. Crossing 10 different creeks and negotiating several muddy spots, this ride will be a perfect opportunity to showcase your mountain biking skills! At the end of the ride we'll reach our first sign of civilization, a small restaurant where we'll enjoy a refreshing drink and some lunch. After lunch, we'll cross Arenal Lake by boat. The boat ride is slow and offers excellent birdwatching and gorgeous volcano views. We'll cruise right up to our accommodation, a lovely boutique rainforest lodge with stunning views of Arenal.

Day 5: Bike to Cañas

As we descend from the rainforest into the low-lying dry forest of Guanacaste province, we'll experience a huge change in climate and scenery, riding from the lush, Costa Rican jungle to the drier farmland of the Pacific slope. Today we'll ride some technical downhill sections, followed by a rapid descent on dirt roads that offer plenty of curves. We'll end today's ride at a hotel on a working hacienda near Cañas. As you stroll the grounds of the hotel or relax by the pool you might see iguanas, deer, birds, and butterflies.

Day 6: Bike & River Safari

The water from Lake Arenal is used to irrigate the farmland in Guanacaste through a vast network of canals and rivers. In this hot and dry land, the canals are shaded by lines of trees and patches of forest that give the landscape its unique look. Today is a fast ride through sugar cane plantations and rice fields combined with patches of forest. We'll end our ride with a picnic lunch on the bank of the Bebedero River. After lunch we'll board a boat for a spectacular river safari, where we may see water birds, monkeys, igua nas, and crocodiles. At the end of our river trip, we'll jump in the van and drive across the Nicoya Peninsula to the tiny town of Nosara and its undiscovered yet expansive beach, Playa Guiones. Accommodations for the next two nights are at a beautiful resort and spa nestled in the jungle just 1km from the beach.

Day 7: Bike Along the Coast

We've saved one of the most beautiful rides for the end of the mountain biking portion of your adventure! This rugged, almost deserted stretch of Pacific coast 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 ride will start with a 7 km ride on small dirt roads that pass through small farms and dry forest. We continue along a deserted stretch of coastline passing tiny villages and simple houses until we get to the hard-packed sand of Samara Beach. Our ride ends at gorgeous, palm-lined Carrillo Beach, where we'll revel in the secluded beauty and enjoy a well deserved picnic lunch. The ride includes some fun downhill and some uphill stretches. You can choose to bike back to the hotel or hitch a ride in the van. After a full day of biking, we'll celebrate the end of the bike portion of our adventure with cold drinks and an optional seafood dinner.

DAY 8: Surfing Basics, Playa Guiones

We'll start the day at an excellent beginner and early intermediate beach. After a hearty Tico breakfast, we'll head to the beach where our expert instructors will assess your skill level. If you are brand new to surfing, you will be introduced to the basics of surf technique, safety and etiquette. If you have surfed before, your instructor will discuss your learning goals and get you right into the water. Weather and conditions permitting, we will have a second surf session after lunch. Later in the afternoon you will have a chance to relax by the pool and unwind. Tonight you'll enjoy a well-earned dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 9: Surf and Optional Nature Walk

Today we're going to have another great day! Depending on weather and swell conditions, we'll have an opportunity for a morning and afternoon surf session. We'll also have a chance to take an optional nature walk. Depending on the season, we can either head to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (approximately July through September) or Nosara Reserve (approximately October through June). At Ostional Refuge, we'll take a guided walk for a chance to see Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting, known locally as Tortuga Lora. Leatherback and Pacific Green turtles occasionally visit this area as well. At Nosara Reserve, we'll walk through mangrove wetlands and old-growth forest to see birds, monkeys, crabs, and coatis. With its tropical forest, stunning white sand beaches, and abundant wildlife, Nosara is one of Costa Rica's most beautiful and pristine regions. In the evening, we'll once again enjoy dinner with stunning sunset views.

DAY 10: Drive to Nicaragua

This morning we'll pack up our bags and jump in the van for a scenic drive to our next destination: Nicaragua. We will stop for lunch near the city of Liberia and then continue on to the border. Once we cross the border, its just a 45 minute drive to our lovely oceanview resort in the up and coming surfing mecca of San Juan del Sur. We will enjoy a sunset surf session at a local beach break (if conditions permit), and then kick back at the hotel to relax. Dinner will be at an excellent local restaurant.

DAY 11: Surf Nicaragua

Our first full day in Nicaragua will allow us to work on the skills we developed in Costa Rica and enable us to progress. After breakfast we will head out to a nearby beach for a morning surf session. In the afternoon, we'll enjoy a picnic lunch followed by a second surf session. Dinner tonight will be in San Juan del Sur.

DAY 12: Visit Granada

This morning we'll head out to Granada, the oldest colonial city in the Americas, with incomparable historical and architectural significance. Granada is set beside the towering Mombacho and Masaya Volcanoes and the immense Lake Nicaragua. We'll arrive in town just in time for brunch at a local cafe, which will give us a chance to soak in the town's charming atmosphere. Afterward, we'll stroll the narrow cobblestone streets and visit some of Granada's colonial civil and religious landmarks. On our way back to San Juan del Sur, we'll stop at the famous handicrafts market in Masaya known for traditional woodwork, leather, weaving and pottery.

DAY 13: Surf Nicaragua

Today is our last day of surfing and we will have a morning and afternoon session so you can work on your new skills and have fun. Tonight we'll have a farewell dinner at a special oceanview restaurant.

DAY 14: Our Multisport Trip Ends

Our Central American multisport trip is over. After breakfast, we'll drive you to Liberia Airport to begin your journey home. If Costa Rica and Nicaragua weren't enough for you, ask us about continuing for another week of surfing in El Salvador at info@accesstrips.com.