Costa Rica Pura Vida

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Costa Rica Pura Vida

From/to San José

Pura Vida E-Bike tour

Explore Costa Rica by bike! In this interesting trip ideal for recreational cyclists, you will get to know the rural Costa Rica on different cycling stages with the e-mountain bike. In the central valley, you visit the beautiful Orosi Valley and the Tapantí National Park and get an impression of wide coffee and sugar cane plantations on the way to La Suiza de Turrialba. In Sarapiquí, you will interact with the locals who will introduce you to the secrets of the Costa Rican cookery. You will be captivated by the stunning nature of the northern lowlands in Boca Tapada and relax your tired limbs in the warm waters of a thermal spa in La Fortuna until you finish your bike experience in the seaside resort of Sámara on the Pacific. Pura Vida!

Dates 2025:

Arrival: Tuesday
Duration: 10 days
Dates :
Mar 25., June 03., July 29., Aug 26., Oct 07.

Min.number of participants: 2 per.
Maximum: 10 per.

1st Day: San José

Arrival in San José in the afternoon and standard transfer to the hotel. From your centrally located hotel, you can reach sites and restaurants within walking distance.

Included meals today: None
Included entrance fees/activities: None

2nd Day: San José – Orosi – Tapantí, approx. 28 km (up 410 m, down 410 m)

By bus, we leave early this morning and head over the former state capital Cartago, where we can visit the basilica, continuing into the small village of Orosi. In the hotel, we will familiarise ourselves with the bicycles. Afterwards, we drive for about 13 km to the park entrance of the Tapantí National Park, on the way we stop for lunch. We will visit the national park by bike and on foot. On the way back, our guide can tell you a lot of interesting things about the history and cultivation of coffee.

Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch
Included entrance fees/activities: Tapantí National Park

3rd Day: Tapantí – Tucurrique – Atirro – La Suiza de Turrialba, approx. 47 km (up 910 m, down 1’216 m)

Today you drive along Lake Cachí via Tucurrique and Atirro to the La Suiza (Switzerland) sector of Turrialba. Coffee and sugar cane plantations accompany you along the way.

Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch
Included entrance fees/activities: None

4th Day: Turrialba – Siquirres – Sarapiquí – El Roble, approx. 36 km (up 1’260 m, down 1’580 m)

Bus drive until we swing on the bike. Today’s stage is partly with a view of the river Reventazón. In 2016, the largest hydroelectric power station in Latin America was put into operation here. The generated energy will cover the needs of more than half a million households – an important step for Costa Rica on its way to climate neutrality. We continue the rest of the route to Sarapiquí on the bus. Today we will get to know the cordiality of the Ticos during a visit to the village of El Roble, where we prepare dinner with typical Costarrican delicacies and learn more about their main source of income, the cultivation of pepper. Overnight at the sustainable biological station Tirimbina.

Included meals today: Breakfast, joint dinner
Included entrance fees/activities: Cooking lesson in the village

5th Day: Sarapiquí – Boca Tapada, approx. 37 km (up 350 m, down 438 m)

Early in the morning, you can discover the private Tirimbina Reserve on your own, a paradise for bird and nature lovers. With all your senses, you can immerse yourself in the pulsing flora and fauna of the jungle. Then departure to the north. The first kilometres lead on an asphalted road, then you follow mostly dirt roads, passing pineapple plantations and the last stretch to Boca Tapada through the rainforest. The small village is located on the San Carlos River in the very north of the country, near the border river San Juan, into which the San Carlos River flows. Here, life runs smoothly and in harmony with nature. The tourist infrastructure is limited to three small, family-run hotels that rent basic accommodation to nature lovers. Info: In case of rain, an alternative route may be taken.

Included meals today: Breakfast, dinner
Included entrance fees/activities: None

6th Day: Boca Tapada, approx. 25 km (up 418 m, down 418 m)

First of all, we are going to do a cosy boat trip right from the hotel. Just before the border with Nicaragua, we get on the bicycles and drive a few kilometres parallel to the border crossing before we head over the hills and forest back to the lodge. In the afternoon, we continue the discovery of the rainforest on foot. The rest of the day is free to relax in the quiet environment or to go on a search of the tropical birds and lizards that like to visit the garden of the lodge.

Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Included entrance fees/activities: Boat tour

7th Day: Boca Tapada – La Fortuna, approx. 49 km (up 916 m, down 879 m)

We swing back on the bike and take the route over San Marcos and Tabla Grande to Boca Arenal. The northern lowland is characterized by different landscapes: pastureland, primary forests, swamps, jungle, rainforests, cloud forests, active volcanoes and a network of river arms. Shortly before Boca Arenal, we will take the bus to La Fortuna, close to the Arenal volcano. In the evening, we are going to relax in one of the beautiful hot springs, where we also enjoy our dinner.

Included meals today: Breakfast, dinner
Included entrance fees/activities: Hot springs with dinner

8th Day: La Fortuna – El Castillo at Lake Arenal – Sámara, approx. 32 km (up 530 m, down 550 m)

Along a gravel road, we will drive to El Castillo on the southern side of Lake Arenal today. With the assistance of our support vehicle, we cross a river and then enjoy the quiet ride along the lake shore to Río Chiquito. Here, we take a boat to the other side of the lake where the bikes are loaded and lunch is already waiting for us. Then drive to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Our charming hotel is located near the beach of Sámara between beautiful jungle plants, trees and flowers, which are always visited by howler monkeys and shy iguanas. The beach and the village are easily reached by foot/bike. Info: Due to operational conditions, the boat is only available up from 4 people. For a smaller group, the trip continues by bike or pick-up to Tilarán and from there on to the Pacific coast.

Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch
Included entrance fees/activities: Boat crossing Lake Arenal (up from 4 participants)

9th Day: Sámara

Cycling tour from Samara or day at leisure at the beach. This evening, we finish the trip with a festive farewell dinner.

Included meals today: Breakfast, Farewell dinner, including one drink
Included entrance fees/activities: None

10th Day: Sámara – San José

Transfer with the guide directly to the airport San José (4h travel time) or to a hotel in San José city for an overnight stay. If you would like to extend your stay in Costa Rica you can book this at the beach hotel in Samara or you can also transfer by private transfer to another beautiful beach on the Pacific coast.

Included meals today: Breakfast
Included entrance fees/activities: None

YOUR ACCOMMODATION:

2-3* accommodations were very carefully selected for this tour, always within the framework of local conditions.

Example accommodations:
Colonial, Standard (or similar) – San José, 1 night
Tapanti Media Lodge, Standard (or similar) – Orosi surroundings, 1 night
Turrialtico Lodge, Caribe (or similar) – Turrialba surroundings, 1 night
Tirimbina Lodge, Standard (or similar) – Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, 1 night
Pedacito de Cielo, Standard (or similar) – Boca Tapada, 2 nights
Faro Arenal, Standard (or similar) – La Fortuna, 1 night
Belvedere, Standard, or Sol Samara, Garden View Standard (or similar) – Sámara, 2 nights

Please note that accommodation requests are always updated daily at the time of booking. The selection is based on availability. Of course, we are happy to accept non-binding customer requests. Tell us your wishes when booking.

You will receive the accommodation you have actually booked with the list of hotels and the travel documents (after the booking confirmation at the earliest).

YOUR BICYCLES:

E-MTB

  • Mountain e-bike type Ave
  • Alloy frame
  • Battery BOSCH 400 Wh Li-Ion
  • rental helmet
  • Alternatively, we offer to accompany the tour with a classic mountain bike. This must be specifically pointed out at the time of booking. In this case a SCOTT Scale 990 – Hardtail Mountain Bike – 2018 is included. This is fully equipped with a Suntour fork and Remote Lockout technology for various adjustable travel settings.
ARRIVAL INFORMATION:

Airport

  • Airport: San Jose (JSO)
  • Transfers from/to airport are already included
  • Please inquire about visa requirements at the responsible embassy
  • 9 nights in 2-3* accommodation with shower/private facilities
  • Meals as per description
  • E-MTB
  • Transfer airport – city hotel
  • Transportation as per description by car, minibus, bus or boat:
    With 1-3 participants, the guide accompanies the tour in a SUV car with rack, in which also the guests and bikes are transported during transfer sections. Up from 4 participants, transportation takes place on a bus. On selected days, the pick-up provides additional support.
  • Multilingual guide (English, German, Spanish – please indicate the preferred language in the booking) during the tour from day 2 San José to day 10 (San José city hotel or airport, in case of extension in Sámara farewell in the hotel)
  • All entrance fees as per description (except airport departure tax SJO)
  • Documentation with information about the country in English (the actual travel programme must be provided by the travel agency)
Double room2.990,-
Single room3.340,-
prices in EUR/person

Discounts children/additional bed – upon request

Additional bookable

Rental bikes
E-MTBincl.
Additional nights incl. breakfast- upon request

Operator: ARA-Tours

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