A pass at 3,335 meters, dirt tracks above the Pacific, a lake at the foot of a volcano: our favorite roads, and how to link them up.
Key points
- At 3,335 m, Cerro de la Muerte is the highest point on the Pan-American Highway.
- The Costanera Sur runs along the Pacific from Quepos to Ojochal, beaches and the whale tail of Uvita included.
- On the Nicoya peninsula, you ride dirt tracks between the coves, with river crossings depending on the season.
- Around Lake Arenal, the road winds along the foot of a volcano with a perfect cone.
- All these roads are on our tours, with their full route on the map of each tour page.
Costa Rica is small, but its roads change character every two hours: a pass above 3,000 meters in the morning, a dirt track along the Pacific in the afternoon. Here are our favorite motorcycle roads, the ones we ride on our tours, with what makes them unforgettable and the best way to link them up.
Cerro de la Muerte, the roof of the Pan-American Highway
South of Cartago, the road climbs to 3,335 m through the cloud forest of Los Quetzales park, before plunging down into the General valley. It's the highest point on the Pan-American Highway, and one of the most beautiful climbs in the country. The secret: ride it early in the morning, before the clouds settle in.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the South Tour
Everything you need to know to cross it with peace of mind is in our guide. Riding the Cerro de la Muerte
The Orosi valley, to get a feel for the bike
East of San José, the Orosi valley lines up terraced coffee plantations along quiet little roads, all the way to the oldest colonial church still standing in the country. The perfect warm-up for day one.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the Pura Vida Tour
The Costanera Sur, with the Pacific on your left
Between Quepos and Ojochal, the Costanera Sur hugs the ocean: Dominical and its surfers, the whale tail of Uvita, beaches at every bend. It's the easiest-riding road in the country, and a chance to stop for a swim. North of Quepos, the bridge over the Tárcoles and its crocodiles is worth the stop.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the South Tour
The Golfo Dulce and the río Sierpe barge
In the deep south, the road drops down to the Golfo Dulce and follows its shores to Rincón, at the gates of Corcovado National Park. The next day, you cross the Osa peninsula through its interior and load the bikes onto a barge to cross the río Sierpe, on the edge of the country's largest mangrove.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the Offroad Tour 5 days
The Nicoya peninsula, between ferry and dirt tracks
You cross the Gulf of Nicoya by ferry, bikes on deck, from Puntarenas to Paquera. After that, dirt takes over: deserted coves, fishing villages and river crossings depending on the season, from Montezuma to Sámara. Short distance, long day, and one of the most beautiful coastlines on the Pacific.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the Pura Vida Tour
We've laid out these three days in a full itinerary. Nicoya peninsula by motorcycle
Around Lake Arenal, at the foot of the volcano
Between the Guanacaste plain and La Fortuna, the road winds along Lake Arenal, facing the volcano and its perfect cone. The leg ends at the hot springs of La Fortuna.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the Pura Vida Tour
The trails of the Tilarán range and Monteverde
For dirt lovers: you climb to the mountain village of Monteverde and its cloud forest, then ride back down the range on dirt tracks, with one last trail along the edge of a canyon. On the way, you cross the río Tempisque on the Amistad Bridge.
This road is part of one of our tours. See the Offroad Tour 7 days
And beyond the borders
To the north, the island of Ometepe and its two volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua; to the south, the Bocas del Toro archipelago on the Caribbean side and the mountains of Boquete in Panamá. You ride these roads on our guided tours, which take care of the borders.
Nicaragua and Panamá are covered together on one page. Our motorcycle tours in Central America
How to link them up
The Pura Vida Tour links the Orosi valley, Cerro de la Muerte, the Nicoya peninsula and Lake Arenal in seven days. The South Tour strings together the Cerro, Golfo Dulce and the Costanera in five days. The Offroad Tours cover the same regions on dirt. And if you'd rather put together your own loop, the Free Ride starts at three days, on the route of your choice.
