Hike, E-Bike & Paddle 250km Across Costa Rica — Self-Launched

Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Take the public Tuasa bus from the airport to downtown San José (~£1.50) or a pre-booked shared shuttle (~£8). Check into a central hostel such as Selina San José or Hostel Pangea, both well-rated and social. Wander the Barrio Amón district, grab a casado (traditional rice and beans plate) for dinner (~£4–6), and sort your onward logistics.

🚌Tuasa public bus from airport to city centre (~£1.50) or shared shuttle (~£8)

🛏Selina San José or Hostel Pangea — dorm from ~£14/night

• →Arrive at SJO and take public bus or shared shuttle to central San José
• →Check into central hostel
• →Explore Barrio Amón and the National Theatre area
• →Brief yourself on the route ahead — download maps.me or Gaia GPS for offline trail maps

Take the early morning direct bus from San José's Tracopa terminal to Quepos (~3.5hrs, ~£6). Quepos is a lively fishing town right beside Manuel Antonio National Park. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel — Wide Mouth Frog Backpackers is a solid choice with a social atmosphere. In the afternoon, head to Manuel Antonio National Park (entry ~£15, book online in advance at sinac.go.cr as daily visitor numbers are capped). Spot howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, sloths and tropical birds. Share dinner with fellow travellers at a soda (local diner) in town.

🚌Tracopa bus San José → Quepos (~£6)

🛏Wide Mouth Frog Backpackers Quepos or similar — dorm from ~£12/night

• →Direct Tracopa bus from San José to Quepos (~3.5hrs, ~£6)
• →Visit Manuel Antonio National Park (pre-book entry online, ~£15)
• →Wildlife spotting: sloths, capuchin monkeys, tropical birds
• →Beach time at Playa Manuel Antonio
• →Dinner at a local soda

Collect your pre-arranged e-bike rental from a local operator in Quepos (arrange in advance via Airbnb Experiences or direct with operators such as Biking Costa Rica — multi-day e-bike rental runs ~£35–45/day). Head out on the e-bike, taking advantage of the pedal assist on the first climbs inland from the Pacific. Ride through the village of Esquipulas for a second breakfast at a local bakery, then lock up the bikes and lace up your hiking boots for a trail climb into the cooler central mountains. Camp tonight in the Naranjillo valley — bring your own lightweight tent (hire available in San José from gear shops like Trekkers CR, ~£8/night), or enquire with local fincas about basic camping on their land (~£5–8 per person).

🚌E-bike (self-guided riding)

🛏Wild camping or finca campsite, Naranjillo Valley (~£6/night)

• →Collect e-bike rental from Quepos operator
• →E-bike ride inland from the Pacific coast with pedal assist on climbs (~19km)
• →Coffee and second breakfast stop in Esquipulas village
• →Swap to hiking boots for mountain trail section (~14km, 1000m ascent)
• →Wild camp or finca camping in the Naranjillo valley

An early start for the steepest section of the whole expedition: Cemetery Hill, a notorious 3km climb out of San Lorenzo that will have your legs burning regardless of pedal assist. Hike this section, then remount the e-bike from San Lorenzo and ride winding mountain roads down into the lush valley village of Santa María de Dota — a coffee-growing community in the Tarrazú highlands. Stay in a basic cabin or homestay — try Cabinas El Quetzal or similar family-run lodgings (~£15–20pp). Eat traditional Costa Rican food at the village soda.

🚌E-bike self-guided riding

🛏Cabinas El Quetzal or family homestay, Santa María de Dota (~£18/night)

• →Early hike up Cemetery Hill (~3km steep ascent) out of San Lorenzo
• →E-bike descent and valley riding into Santa María de Dota (~14km)
• →Visit a local coffee cooperative — many offer free or low-cost tours
• →Overnight at a family-run cabina or homestay in Santa María

The biggest riding day of the trip: 49km up and over Costa Rica's Continental Divide, cresting at 2,330m. The e-bike's pedal assist earns its keep today. Take your time near the summit — the views across Guanacaste's dry plains, the Nicoya Peninsula and distant volcanoes are extraordinary. Then enjoy a thrilling dirt-road descent into the Orosi Valley, one of Costa Rica's most scenic and fertile regions. Camp at Orosi Lodge camping area or similar (~£8pp), or look for budget guesthouses in Orosi village.

🚌E-bike self-guided riding

🛏Camping at Orosi Lodge or budget guesthouse in Orosi (~£10/night)

• →Epic 49km e-bike ride over the Continental Divide (summit at 2,330m)
• →Summit views over the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds
• →Long dirt-road descent into the Orosi Valley
• →Swim in the Orosi hot springs (public pools, ~£2 entry)
• →Camp or stay in budget guesthouse in Orosi village

Ride the e-bike along the river through the Orosi Valley before climbing toward Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge. Entry to Tapantí costs ~£13 (pay at the park gate or pre-book online). Lock the bike at the refuge entrance and hike deep into the cloud forest, spotting quetzals, trogons and hundreds of orchid species beneath a moss-draped canopy. In the late afternoon, make camp near the settlement of Taus — ask locally about camping spots on private land or use a basic campsite.

🚌E-bike self-guided riding

🛏Wild camping or basic finca camping near Taus (~£6/night)

• →E-bike ride along Orosi River (~9km)
• →Enter Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge (~£13 entry)
• →Cloud forest hike through ferns, bromeliads and moss-covered trees (~17km)
• →Wildlife watching: resplendent quetzal, trogons, river otter
• →Wild camp near Taus settlement (~£5–8pp)

Ride the e-bike ~43km toward La Cruz on the upper Pacuare River. Pause for lunch on the riverbank at a local soda before joining a rafting day trip on the Pacuare. Book in advance through operators such as Rios Tropicales or Exploradores Outdoors, both of which offer excellent safety records and well-trained English-speaking guides. A half-day Pacuare raft costs ~£35–50. Tonight you'll camp riverside — either at El Nido del Tigre camp (some rafting operators include a riverside camp in their multi-day packages) or at a basic campsite. Look out for toucans, boa constrictors and sloths from the hammocks.

🚌E-bike self-guided riding

🛏Riverside campsite, Pacuare River (~£10/night, often included with multi-day rafting packages)

• →E-bike ride to La Cruz (~43km, 700m ascent, 1000m descent)
• →Riverside lunch at a local soda
• →Afternoon white-water rafting on the Pacuare (Class II–III, ~10km) — book via Rios Tropicales or Exploradores Outdoors (~£35–50pp)
• →Riverside camp at El Nido del Tigre or operator campsite
• →Wildlife spotting: toucans, sloths, boa constrictors

A full rest day at the riverside camp — one of the genuine highlights of the expedition. Swim in crystal-clear pools, follow jungle trails to hidden waterfalls, and drink water straight from the source. The Pacuare is one of Central America's most pristine rivers and sees very few independent travellers in this stretch. Swing in a hammock, watch for wildlife, and recharge your legs. If you booked a multi-day rafting package with Rios Tropicales or similar, this rest day is often built into the programme.

🚌None

🛏Riverside campsite, Pacuare River (~£10/night)

• →Free day at the riverside camp
• →Swim in crystal-clear natural pools
• →Self-guided jungle trail walks to waterfalls
• →Wildlife watching: birds, monkeys, insects
• →Hammock time and rest

Today's main event: a full day of white-water rafting downstream along the Pacuare, tackling Class II–III rapids through narrow canyon walls with roaring waterfalls on either side. Most multi-day Pacuare rafting packages (e.g. Rios Tropicales 2-day or 3-day trips) cover this section and include lunch on the riverbank, waterfall hikes and expert guides. If booked as a standalone, a full-day Pacuare raft runs ~£60–80pp. The river eventually broadens into banana plantation country — finish the day at Finca Pacuarito or a nearby campsite.

🚌Raft (included with rafting operator)

🛏Finca Pacuarito or basic campsite (~£8/night)

• →Full day white-water rafting on the lower Pacuare (~20km, Class II–III)
• →Hike to cascading waterfalls during river stops
• →Riverside lunch (typically included with rafting operator)
• →Wildlife spotting along the riverbanks
• →Overnight at Finca Pacuarito or basic campsite (~£8pp)

One last e-bike ride through the banana plantations to the town of Freeman (~26km, largely flat). Return the e-bikes here or at a pre-agreed drop-off point with your rental company. Switch to a kayak for the final push to the coast — book a half-day kayaking tour from a local operator in the Tortuguero / Cahuita lowlands (~£25–40pp), or hire a self-paddle kayak (~£15–20). The river carries you gently into the Caribbean Sea. Mark the moment with a swim on the Caribbean beach, then transfer by local bus or shared shuttle to Cahuita (~£3–5), where you'll spend the night at a guesthouse or boutique lodge.

🚌E-bike, kayak, then local bus/shuttle to Cahuita (~£4)

🛏Cahuita guesthouse or budget boutique lodge — e.g. Kelly Creek Hotel or Alby Lodge (~£20–30/night)

• →Final e-bike ride through banana plantations to Freeman (~26km, flat)
• →Return e-bikes at pre-agreed drop-off point
• →Kayak the final stretch from Freeman to the Caribbean Sea (~12km) — book via local Cahuita operator (~£25–40pp) or self-hire (~£15–20)
• →Celebratory swim in the Caribbean Sea
• →Transfer to Cahuita by local bus or shared shuttle (~£3–5)

Spend a final morning on Cahuita's palm-fringed Caribbean beaches — Playa Negra and Playa Blanca are both within easy walking distance. Explore Cahuita National Park (pay what you can donation entry) for one last dose of wildlife: Caribbean poison dart frogs, howler monkeys and coral reef snorkelling just offshore. Take the afternoon Mepe or Grupo Caribe bus back to San José (~4hrs, ~£7). Check back into your original San José hostel and celebrate completing a 250km coast-to-coast crossing.

🚌Mepe/Grupo Caribe bus Cahuita → San José (~£7)

🛏Selina San José or Hostel Pangea — dorm from ~£14/night

• →Morning on Cahuita's Caribbean beaches
• →Visit Cahuita National Park (donation entry) — coral reef snorkelling, wildlife
• →Afternoon Mepe bus back to San José (~4hrs, ~£7)
• →Celebration dinner in San José

After breakfast, take the Tuasa bus or a pre-booked shared shuttle to Juan Santamaría Airport (~£1.50–£8) for your flight home. Alternatively, use San José as a base for onward exploration — consider a side trip to Arenal Volcano, the Monteverde cloud forest, or the Nicoya Peninsula before heading home.

🚌Tuasa public bus or shared shuttle to SJO (~£1.50–£8)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Breakfast in San José
• →Public bus or shared shuttle to SJO airport (~£1.50–£8)
• →Depart Costa Rica (or extend your trip independently)