250km Coast to Coast Expedition through Costa Rica

What a great trip - biking, hiking, kayaking and rafting from coast to coast. A special thank you to our guide, Joseu, whose smile and positive attitude throughout the trip always kept us going!

My first advice is read the reviews! It’s a challenging trip physically but worth the effort. We were a mixed group of ages and gender. There was more challenging cycling than I’d registered so definitely cycle as much as possible before you go on mixed terrain and as many hills as possible … Costa Rica is HILLY! We were unfortunate to have terrible weather conditions which affected both coasts so it’s wasn’t a case of simply following the trip itinerary. Dani was amazing making sure we stuck to it as much as possible and finding solutions when change was necessary. God that guy can think on his feet whilst maintaining high energy and enthusiasm. As many other reviews have said there’s plenty of food and every need was met. I can’t fault the attention to detail to make sure everyone had a good time. The support staff of jeffery, memo and mau completed a great team. I definitely overpacked and as such didn’t use the laundry service which was available after 3/4 days. Take less stuff and wash when you can as it’s impossible to keep/get clothes dry (in our case rain but also humidity). Laundry service wasn’t cheap at the half way point, I think it was $2 per item but better that than have smelly damp clothes in a bag which makes even the clean stuff. Thanks Dani for a great trip

This was an amazing experience taking in the huge variety of what Costa Rica has to offer. This included a vast array of wildlife which our guides went out of the way to find for us after asking what we wanted to see (I'm surprised they managed with the long list we gave them).

The adventure parts of the trip were challenging in places but really manageable for people with good fitness. I felt pushed in places (particularly by the early mornings) but got a big sense of achievement from completing sections and now feel more confident to do similar activities. By the end I was really getting into the uphill mountain biking sections and the white water rafting through the jungle was a particular highlight.

The guides were all great and ensured that we were safe and happy undertaking activities. They also had to do a lot of work preparing contingency plans as there was a tropical storm and significant flooding when we were doing the trip. This meant that some aspects had to be changed at the last minute but they came up with great alternatives and kept the group's confidence. I couldn't have hoped for a nicer group of fellow travellers to share this amazing, bonding experience with.

Definitely book this trip if you're considering it :)

What an adventure. The trip lives up to its challenging listing but the experience of the guides and support led by Dani meant we were always looked after and really positive. We had the added complications of severe weather on the pacific coast and many rain soaked hours. These were interspersed with the positives of amazing scenery, fellow travellers, local people and routes. You do need to be physically fit and resilient as the terrain and accommodation vary enormously. We used community facilities, lodge hotels and beautiful campsites. Many days start early (from 5am) and involve full days of hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking, often in combination. The support staff, Jeffrey, Memo, Mau, were amazing sharing their knowledge and expertise as well as cooking nutritious, delicious food. All in all, if you are open minded, adventurous and physically fit this challenge is fantastic. Read all the reviews, kit list and itinerary to prepare for an amazing time in a beautiful country.

Great experience biking hiking and on the water! Professional team and equipment; loads of food. A bit overpriced though

This trip was absolutely incredible and a true once-in-a-lifetime experience! The itinerary and difficulty rating are accurate, so it’s highly recommendable to review them carefully beforehand. Especially the first few days can be demanding, but that’s all part of the adventure when traversing a volcanic country. The effort is completely worth it, thanks to the breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences.

A huge shoutout to our guide, Dani, who was simply outstanding. He clearly loves what he does and went above and beyond to make this trip special. His passion and dedication truly elevated the entire experience.

The rest of the crew—Jeffrey, Memo, and Mau—were equally amazing. They are some of the kindest and most helpful people, always ensuring everything ran smoothly and that we were well cared for throughout the journey.

Overall, this is an adventure I’d highly recommend. The stunning landscapes and unforgettable experiences make it more than worth it!

What a trip! I just wish I could do it all over again. From start to the finish line, everything was taken care of. The guides go way above what they are expected to do. For example, I asked if they had any hot chocolate one evening, no, sorry, came back the reply, but I can walk to the nearest village and get some. NO please don't, I said, it's not that important. It was also torrential rain at this point! One hour later I have a hot chocolate drink in my hands. For the rest of the trip the guides made sure we had plenty of hot chocolate. One of the guest had a bottle of Whisky with him, so we were all drinking 'hot toddies' before bed. Brilliant. Also, Danny, our lead guide, had to leave camp one afternoon for personal reasons. Before he returned a couple of the guests tried to get a message to him to get some more wine, but it was too late he was already back at camp. Unknown to us, Danny went back out of camp, ran over an hour each way and arranged for a car to meet him, which was also an hours round trip. This was unbelievable. It sounds like we're a bunch of piss heads, but it wasn't like that at all. You have to be on your game with this trip. Fit and ready very early most mornings, and I mean early. Alarm set for 4. 30 one morning. This adventure, and it was an adventure, is demanding. Be bike fit and get out on that mountain bike as often as you can on the build up to the leaving date. Doing so, you'll enjoy this experience to the max. I did. I loved it, so rewarding. OMG the weather, rain, rain and more rain. Our guides worked so hard to keep us on track, diversions, bridges down, but it didn't stop Danny. The second day of the white water rafting was in doubt as the day before the water levels got so high from all that rain, but all the guides got together in the morning and did some final adjustments with the teams and off we went. This was the highlight for most, definatly for me, tackling class 4 rapids and on one section class 5 due to the amount of water, just brilliant. We found out later that a couple of teams further up river bailed out and didn't do it. We were tough! The party of 10 all completed the final days kayaking to get to the finish line. We were such a strong team by the end of this trip. All looking out for each other. Waiting for each other. A great bond formed. I travelled on my own on this trip but became part of a family at the end. PS. we did get some amazing sunny days in the end :-)

This is no holiday. But if you want to challenge yourself, enjoy spectacular scenery and learn about a different culture coast to coast Costa Rica will not disappoint you.

If you’re reading this contemplating this trip, just do it, you won’t regret it! Costa Rica has everything from spectacular scenery, changeable weather, great food and wonderful people. You’ll have time to take it all in but don’t under estimate the challenge! The cycling is tough in early part of the week but pat yourself on your back and enjoy the downhills, they are as rewarding as the uphills challenging. Our guide, Josue, was brilliant, as was all of his support staff. The logistics was spot on, camp sites memorable and food plentiful! I’ve done multiple challenges and this is right up there with the best Steve

Once in a lifetime experience where you get to know the country by crossing it. Definitely need to be physically fit to execute all parts. Much cycling is expected so be ready! Also all weather conditions can happen, be prepared to be soaked till the last thread. Above all experience is unique and bonding with the group travelling together is unforgettable!