250km Self-Powered Coast to Coast Expedition in Costa Rica

Why it's much better

• Embark on an epic challenge as you bike, hike and paddle your way from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea
• 100% human-powered adventure. No motors, engines or animals to help you out!
• Hike through cloud forest and virgin tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife
• Mountain bike and trek up over the Continental Divide, with glorious downhill riding on the other side
• Raft the Journey wild Pacuare River with whitewater rapids flanked by virgin jungle
• Explore waterfalls and swimming holes, with water so clean you can drink it
• Pass through remote mountain villages, coffee plantations and riverside communities
• Kayak the final stretch down river and celebrate with a swim in the Caribbean Sea

• Guides Expert, English-speaking local guides
• Accommodation 5 nights at permanent campsites, 5 nights in a hotel and 1 night in a local cabin
• Meals Most meals with the exception of a few dinners and a couple of lunches
• Transfers All airport transfers
• Permits All permits and entry fees
• Transport A support vehicle is included for the duration of the adventure
• Equipment All biking, rafting, kayaking and camping equipment is included.
• Happiness Guaranteed We're so confident that your holiday will be your best yet, we actually guarantee it
• Feel Good Vibes We mitigate 4x the carbon emitted by all our travellers and support important conservation projects

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica!

Bienvenidos! After touching down at San José airport, you'll be met by your local host who'll take you to your hotel in San José. Depending on what time you land, the rest of the day and evening is yours to explore Costa Rica's capital.

Day 2: Bus ride to the start point on the Pacific Coast

After breakfast you'll hop on a bus in San José, bound for the Pacific Coast and the starting point of your coast-to-coast adventure. This will be your last motorised vehicle for the next 10 days!

You'll spend the night in the fishing village of Quepos, next to Manuel Antonio National Park. There you'll have some time to relax on the beach or visit the national park itself, famous for its abundant wildlife.

This evening you'll have dinner and a group briefing ahead of the adventure getting under way. Your host will help you set your bike up ready for the morning.

3 hours bus ride

Day 3: The Adventure Begins...

You'll have an early start, fuel up with fresh fruit and coffee, then set straight off on your bike. Be warned, there are some steep mountains to climb straight away - although you'll be instantly rewarded with sweeping views of the Pacific coastline.

In the small town of Esquipulas, you'll eat a bigger second breakfast before swapping the bikes for hiking boots. The next stage of your 250km self-powered journey is on foot into the cool mountains of Central Costa Rica.

You'll camp overnight tonight in the valley of Naranjillo.

Biking distance: 22km | Hiking distance: 13km

Total elevation ascent/descent: 1100m/475m | Total active time 6-7 hours

Day 4: Hike and bike to Santa Maria village

Today starts with a hike towards the Continental Divide before tackling the infamous 'Cemetery Hill' - a strenuous 13km climb. At the pueblo of San Lorenzo, you'll swap hiking boots for a mountain bike to reach the quaint village of Santa Maria.

After a full and active day, you'll load up on some typical Costa Rican food and rest up in the comfortable local cabins.

Hiking distance: 11km | Biking distance: 14km

Total elevation ascent/descent: 1625m/675m | Total active time 6-8 hours

Day 5: Mountain bike up and over the Continental Divide

Today you'll tackle the toughest and steepest climb of your adventure; a 14 km uphill stretch to the Continental Divide, reaching an altitude of 2330 meters - the highest point of your journey. Of course, what goes up must come down, so the remainder of the day is mountain biking at its best, mostly downhill on dirt roads and single-track trails.

You'll finish up the afternoon in the beautiful Orosi Valley, where rich pastures and dark green forests of coffee carpet the land. Rest up for the night at your accommodation in the town of Orosi.

Biking distance: 42km - Elevation 1300m / descent 1750m - Duration: 6-8 hours

Day 6: Trek through the Tapantí cloud forest

After breakfast, you'll mountain bike alongside a river to the Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge. This is an area of vast, rugged terrain covered with dense primary rainforest.

Taking a well earned break from your bike, you'll head deeper in to the mountains on foot - beyond where a bike could take you. You'll trek through a cloud forest, feeling tiny between thousands of trees covered with ferns, bromeliads and mosses.

After reaching flatter ground, near the small settlement of Taus, you'll have a big dinner to refuel before camping out under the stars.

Biking distance: 14km | Hiking distance: 16km

Total elevation ascent/descent: 700m/1000m | Total active time 5-6 hours

Day 7: Begin rafting the Pacuare River

After breakfast you continue mountain biking towards La Cruz, the gateway to the raging Pacuare River. You'll eat lunch by the river, load up the rafts and away you go, paddling through pristine rainforest, canyon cliffs and past deafening waterfalls.

You'll arrive in the afternoon at your riverside camp, El Nido del Tigre, nestled between the sounds of the rainforest and the hum of the river. There will be some free time to wander off and explore this lush environment this afternoon. Look out for toucans, boa constrictors and sloths - or just relax in a hammock to the sounds of the river.

Biking distance: 40km - Elevation ascent 700m / descent 1000m - Duration: 4 hours

Rafting distance: 8km - Duration: 2 hours

Day 8: Rest day on the banks of the Pacuare River

Today you're rewarded with a full day of downtime at this gorgeous location on the banks of the Pacuare River. Explore the primary forest, swim in the river, visit nearby waterfalls and swimming holes, with water so pure you can drink it. Or just relax in a hammock at the camp on the banks of the river.

The area of rainforest surrounding the camp is in a very pristine state. El Nido del Tigre is the name of the giant ginger plants that carpet the area around the campsite. It's a very private place, with only a handful of guests, which makes for a peaceful and relaxing rest day.

Day 9: White Water Rafting on the Pacuare River

Today the Pacuare takes you further along virgin rainforest, cascading waterfalls and through river carved canyons. There are exhilarating white water rapid sections to manoeuvre. During the gentler sections, you can peer into the rainforest and try to spot wildlife.

Along the way you'll take a break from rafting to hike up to some spectacular waterfalls and have lunch on the shore. In the late afternoon you'll leave the river at the beginning of the banana plantations at Finca Pacuarito, your rest stop for the night.

Rafting distance: 27km | Elevation descent 300m | Duration: 4-6 hours

Day 10: Kayak the final stretch to the Caribbean Sea

Jump on your bike first thing for a short ride through banana plantations to the town of Freeman. Here you'll begin the final leg of the adventure: kayaking down the Pacuare as it leaves the rapids of the highlands behind behind and eases into the Caribbean lowlands. The river slows to a tranquil pace as you raft the last mile of the river, before finally meeting the Caribbean Sea.

You'll celebrate your coast-to-coast achievement with a drink in the surf, before some well earned beach time! Later in the afternoon you'll be picked up by a motorboat and transferred to Moin and then on to your beach-side hotel.

Biking distance: 27km - Elevation ascent 80m / descent 160m - Duration: 2 hours

Kayaking distance: 11km - Duration: 2 hours

Day 11: Morning at the beach before returning to San José

Your morning is free to relax around the hotel or on the beach. After lunch you'll head back to San José, about 4 hours away. There are some breathtaking views as you pass through the high cloud forest and misty mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park.

You'll arrive back in San José late afternoon, perhaps ready for a few celebratory drinks back in civilisation to toast your epic coast-to-coast achievement. Not everyone can say they've crossed a country!

4 hours driving

Day 12: Goodbye Costa Rica :(

Your adventure comes to an end back in the capital of Costa Rica. If you are flying onwards today your host will drop you off at the airport in time for your flight.

San Jose

In San Jose you'll stay in Hotel Paseo Las Damas, a 3 star hotel in an excellent location opposite España Park and the Modern Art Museum.

Quepos

On the Pacific Coast before setting off on your expedition you'll stay at Kamuk Hotel and Spa in Quepos, minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park and steps from the Pacific Ocean.

Accommodation during the expedition

During the expedition you'll stay at campsites and rustic cabinas along the route. Highlights include El Nido Del Tigre, an authentic Costa Rican camp located in the Bajo Tigre rainforest. The camp is in a peaceful and beautiful location on the banks of the Pacuare River and is passionate about sustainability.

Caribbean

After completing your epic journey you'll celebrate with a night at the boutique Hotel de las Flores in Cahuita National Park. The hotel is close to the beach here which is fringed by virgin rainforest. The area is renowned for its invaluable biodiversity. It's possible to observe white face capucin and howler monkeys, iguanas, toucans, sloths as well as a variety of birds and butterflies.

Private Room Upgrade

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for £320 per person (subject to availability).

Costa Rica is the world's most pioneering eco-tourism destination and global leader in sustainability. Flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it's famous for its beaches, volcanoes and biodiversity, with rainforests teeming with wildlife.

The challenge starts at the sandy Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park and finishes 10 days later at the mouth of the Pacuare River, where the river meets the Caribbean Sea. In between you'll pass through small towns and remote villages, such as Esquipulas, San Lorenzo and Santa Maria.

A lot of the trip follows the Pacuare River which flows for 108km into the Caribbean Sea. The river is surrounded by rainforests which are home to exotic animal species such as jaguars, monkeys, ocelots, sloths and a large number endemic birds.

You'll hike over the Continental Divide of the Americas, which runs from the Bering Sea in Alaska all the way through the Americas to the Straight of Magellan in southern Chile.

The route visits Tapanti National Wildlife Refuge: a vast rugged terrain covered in primary rainforest.

You'll pass through and stay over in the Orisi Valley: a national park brimming with wildlife, natural hot springs and coffee farms.

The trip ends on the Caribbean coast at Maun in the Cahuita National Park.

Your trip starts at San José International Airport in Costa Rica. Transfers are included if you arrive on the start day, so please let your host know your flight times.

Your trip ends back at San José International Airport in Costa Rica, where your host will drop you off in time for your departing flight. Transfers are included if you depart on the final day, so please let your host know your flight times.