Three countries by bike,
from San José
Nicaragua to the north, Panamá to the south: guided tours of 8 to 11 days, where you cross the borders with your guide and the bike's papers are ready.
From Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panamá are within riding reach. Volcanoes and colonial cities to the north, the Caribbean and mountains to the south: our multi-country tours all leave from San José, with a guide who knows the roads and the borders. Here are our four itineraries, what they include and how the border crossings work.
Nicaragua: volcanoes, lakes and colonial towns
In eight days, you ride past the Rincón de la Vieja volcano before the border, then the island of Ometepe and its two volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, Granada and colonial León, the Pacific coast and San Juan del Sur. In eleven days, you first head north, to Matagalpa and Siuna, before coming back down through León, Granada, Popoyo and Ometepe.
The border crossing at Peñas Blancas is covered in detail in our guide. Crossing the Nicaragua border by bike
Panamá: from the Caribbean to the mountains
Both tours enter Panamá via the Caribbean coast and the Bocas del Toro archipelago, then cross the country toward the Pacific: the Azuero peninsula, Santa Fé and the mountains of Boquete. The eleven-day tour pushes on to Panama City.
Paso Canoas, Sixaola and the bike's papers: it's all in our guide. Crossing the Panamá border by bike
Borders, without the paperwork
A bike rented in Costa Rica can only cross a border with its owner's authorization and papers in order. On these tours, we prepare them in advance, and the guide goes through every counter with you. That's why these tours are always guided.
What's included
- Hotels for the whole route, in the category you choose: Authentic, Comfort or Luxury.
- The bike of your choice, its insurance and full gear.
- The guide-mechanic, first-aid certified.
- All meals, activities and ferries, fuel and tolls.
- A local SIM card and 24/7 roadside support.
Before you go
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date. Your motorcycle license must cover the engine size of the bike you choose. And the dry season, from December to April, is the most comfortable, even though the green season has real advantages.
What the law says about licenses, in all three countries: Which license do you need to ride a motorcycle in Costa Rica?
And on the rainy season: Riding in the green season
Along this route, our stories: Nicaragua, Central America, Panamá, the land between oceans