kennett

I am planning a trip in Costa Rica this summer for about a month by myself after I finish High School. I will bring my mountain bike as I plan on seeing the entire country. It would be great if anyone that has ever been there could reply with some info about the biking, roads, places to stay, opinions, ec...
Thanks a lot-

Kennett

stevo

Kennet, buddy. I know you're excited about this trip, but you gotta calm down; you're all over the place on your posts. Anyhooo....

1. unless you're planning on a race-pace, which is no way to see any country, especially one as personable as CR, a month isnt nearly long enough to see the entire country.
2. As we said before, almost all biking will be on $hit poor dirt, rocky roads.
3. In response to your other post, there really are no 'heavily' used roads, except in the San Jose area. As we said before, avoid san jose other than your airline segment. Nothing but a city, and not a safe one at that.
4. Places to go: www.centralamerica.com/cr/maps/mapcosta.htm. Hit every city. Hit arenal. Hit the carribean. Hit the pacific. Hit the forests (which you must do by default). Its all good.

Dwagenheim

Get a good map of Central America, because you may not want to stop after Costa Rica! Check out my travellogue in the touring section, I went through Costa Rica starting at the NW all the way to Panama. I didn't check out the Caribbean coast, mostly because of the backtracking that would have been involved, but there is much to see. Good people, good roads, especially in the North. The West coast is a must, but it is more expensive. Be wary in San Jose, I was ripped off there more than anywhere in Central America. Since Costa Rica is so tourist friendly, it attracts the best hustlers. Loads of people there on two week vacations from the States.
Be careful going south out of San Jose, its the tallest mainroad in Central America. Cerro de Muerto, or something to that tune. A little chilly at 10,000 ft, especially compared to the rest of Costa Rica.
Lago Arenal is beautiful and Volcan Arenal is hit or miss on the views and swamped with tourists.

Good Luck!

Dave