Pura Vida Tour
The grand tour of Costa Rica in 7 days: from the steaming volcanoes of the centre to the wild Pacific beaches, 70 % asphalt and 30 % dirt track. The best of the country, guided by a local or self-guided.
A legendary loop, from the volcanoes to the Pacific
A loop of nearly 1,000 km starting from San José: the Orosi valley and its coffee plants, the Cerro de la Muerte pass at over 3,300 m, the ferry crossing of the Gulf of Nicoya, the dirt tracks and beaches of the peninsula, then the Arenal volcano before the return through the mountains. Costa Rica in a nutshell, at your own pace, with all the logistics handled for you.
The route at a glance
The real route takes shape in front of you, leg after leg. Click a number to see it in photos.
Real route: 997 km and about 21 h of riding spread over 7 days. The detailed roadbook (viewpoints, stops and good addresses) is handed to you at the start.
Day-by-day itinerary
Indicative route, adaptable to the weather, your level and what you feel like (private tours). Some days are deliberately short: Orosi (64 km), Sámara (84 km) and Tamarindo (98 km). You arrive early because there is something to see there.
Orosi valley, 64 km
A short warm-up to get a feel for the bike: we leave the Central Valley on the back roads, heading for Orosi, its terraced coffee plants and the oldest colonial church still standing in the country.
Cerro de la Muerte, 130 km
The big climb: the Cerro de la Muerte pass, over 3,300 m, through the cloud forest. We cross it early, before the clouds settle in, then drop straight south to San Isidro.
The longest leg, 288 km
Descent toward the Pacific, back up along the coast to Puntarenas, then across the Gulf of Nicoya by ferry, bikes on deck. We land at Paquera and finish on the dirt tracks all the way to Montezuma.
Peninsula dirt tracks, 84 km
Short distance, long day: this is where the dirt takes over. Empty coves, fishing villages and river crossings depending on the season, all the way to Sámara bay.
Guanacaste coast, 98 km
We head back up the coast through the interior and its easy dirt tracks, with the obligatory swim stops, as far as Tamarindo and its sunset over the Pacific.
Heading for Arenal, 207 km
West-to-east crossing: we leave the coast for the Guanacaste plain, ride along Lake Arenal and its perfect cone volcano, and finish in La Fortuna, with hot springs on the agenda.
Back through the mountains, 126 km
Last leg over the winding roads of the Tilarán cordillera and the San Ramón pass, before dropping back down into the Central Valley. Debrief, beers and photos of the trip.
The bikes for this tour
The whole fleet rides this tour. You pick yours when you book: tell us your height and your experience and we will advise you.
Honda CRF 250L
Light adventure bike
Royal Enfield Himalayan
Rough and ready
KTM 390 Adventure
Adventure · A2
Kawasaki KLR 650
Road adventure bike
BMW F 700 GS
Road adventure
Honda CRF 300L
Light adventure bike
CFMoto 450 MT
Adventure · A2
Honda XR 650
Pure enduro
BMW F 750 GS
Comfort adventure bike
Honda Transalp 750
Adventure
BMW F 800 GS
Dirt-ready adventure bike
CFMoto 800 MT-X
All-terrain adventure bike
Voge 800 Rally
Big adventure bike
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Big adventure bike
BMW R 1250 GS
Flagship adventure bike
Indicative rental rates, per day outside a tour; on a tour, the bike is included in the price.
This tour, but your way
This route is a starting point, not a constraint. Duration, legs, pace, level of accommodation, activities, off-road / on-road balance: every one of our tours can be adapted to what you want. Tick the CUSTOMISE THIS TOUR box in the form below, or start from a blank page with the FREE RIDE, our 100 % tailor-made option.
What's included
Included in your trip, self-guided
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- 1st hotel night included (a gentle arrival)
- Rental of the bike of your choice
- Motorcycle insurance
- Full riding gear: helmet, gloves, jacket and rain gear
- 7 nights of accommodation
- Local SIM card
- 24/7 roadside support
- Detailed roadbook & local tips
- Guide-mechanic, first-aid certified
- All meals
- Activities & ferry costs
- Fuel & tolls
Guided, plus…
- Guide-mechanic, first-aid certified
- All meals
- Activities & ferry costs
- Fuel & tolls
Not included
- Optional activities: national parks, canopy, camping, water sports, diving, helicopter flights.
Start and finish at the PVM agency. Bikes are not delivered during a tour: we meet at the workshop on the morning of departure, and the tour ends there.
In pictures
Request your booking
Fill in the form: we'll come back to you with availability and the details to confirm your Pura Vida Tour. Quick answer, no commitment.
This total is an estimate: the final price varies a little with the number of riders and the bikes chosen, but it stays close to the one shown. We confirm the exact amount in our reply.
Our guides to plan this trip
The most beautiful roads in Costa Rica by motorcycle
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.
Three days in the Nicoya peninsula
A ferry, dirt tracks, river fords and endless beaches: three days by motorcycle on one of the most beautiful coasts of the Pacific.
Cerro de la Muerte, the pass that sounds scarier than it is
3,300 meters, a name that inspires no confidence and a reputation as purgatory. In truth, it's one of the finest roads in the country, as long as you leave early.
Along this route, our stories: Montezuma town and Montezuma Beach, Montezuma Waterfall
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