Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike, pedalling past rainforest, volcanoes and stunning sections of coastline. From San Jose we cycle south with vast Pacific views to the right and dense forest to the left. Crossing the 3400m Cerro de la Muerte pass into the Orosi Valley we ride past coffee plantations and volcanoes to arrive on the fertile Caribbean plains where banana plantations take over the landscape. We take a break from the saddle to explore the wildlife-rich rivers and waterways of Tortuguero before travelling to La Fortuna, a lovely spot located at the foot of Arenal Volcano.

We spend 13 nights in characterful hotels, most of which have swimming pools. There are three nights in remote mountain lodges with lush gardens and superb views, one with a well-known tropical botanical garden. All accommodations are well maintained, very clean and most are long-time favourites in Costa Rica. Below are a few of the standout accommodations on this trip.



Dominical: Villas Rio Mar







In a beautiful rainforest setting, Villas Rio Mar is a slice of Costa Rican wilderness but with plenty of amenities. There’s a large palm tree-wrapped swimming pool, tropical gardens, and a rainforest trail to explore. There’s also a focus on ecofriendly practices, with solar power running the air conditioning in the bungalows, vegetables for the restaurant grown in their greenhouse, and a monthly clean-up of Playa Dominical beach (which is just a 10-minute walk away).



Near San Vito: OTS Las Cruces Lodge







Unleash your inner natural historian with a stay at Las Cruces Research Station. It’s a hub of science and nature, which brings together researchers and wildlife lovers from across the planet, with accommodation for up to 100 people. During our time here, we enjoy a guided walk around the Wilson Botanical Garden, which surrounds the property and is home to an extraordinary collection of tropical plants and more than 400 bird species.



Tortuguero: Pachira Lodge







Five minutes from the main entrance to Tortuguero National Park and hugged by scenic canals, this 94-room resort has a prime location. When it’s time to relax, there’s a turtle-shaped pool (this is green turtle country, after all), a buffet restaurant serving Costa Rican-Caribbean cuisine, and a bar. But the real draw is the other residents. You may spot sloths, howler monkeys and white-faced monkeys and, if you’re lucky, an otter or manatee in the surrounding waterways.