MOUNTAIN BIKE COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA RIDE CAMP
DEtails:
DATES: February 23-March 1, 2025
Duration: 6 Nights, 7 Days
Joining In: San Jose, Costa Rica
Land Cost: $2995 USD/person | Currency Conversion
Single room supplement: $375 USD (available 3 San Jose nigths only)
Activity Level: Advanced / Expert | more info »
Join us on a NEW ride camp & retreat in Costa Rica this winter with acclaimed professional rider and skills coach Yoann Barelli and legendary local guide Paulo Valle in a tropical paradise!!
This camp features five days of shuttle-assisted riding at private trail centers, combining hand-built singletrack and machine-built bike park tracks. Guides will show you some of the best trails and local treasures while also focusing on personalized instruction and skills development to improve confidence. Enjoy focused learning and good times with like-minded individuals. Alongside Yoann, Paulo will give you the lay of the land and culture as a local, certified guide, former Costa Rican XC and DH national champion, and an all-around great person.
This trip has it all: excellent riding, personalized skills development, world-class coaching, group camaraderie, lots of chilling, local hosting with Paulo and his team, and endless fun laps on the bike!
Experience Costa Rica’s glorious landscape with a great team and escape to warmer weather.
This camp is suitable for advanced / expert riders.
Trip Highlights:
- Stepping out of the San Jose airport in February to a warm tropical breeze.
- Feeling your riding skills improve daily as you get coached by Yoann Barelli, a consummate professional.
- Conquering the challenging trails in the jungles of Costa Rica.
- Rolling into the beautiful town of Providencia at the end of the day, nestled in the mountains and far away from tourists.
- Enjoying some deserved beach time on the country’s spectacular Pacific coastline after a week of rugged singletrack riding.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Expert local leadership & expert coaching by Yoann Barelli.
- Six nights accommodation. (3 nights at a boutique hotel in San Jose featuring a rooftop pool + 3 nigths rustic logdge)
- Private transportation including shuttle-assisted riding and airport pick up and drop off.
- All breakfasts, three dinners & two lunches.
- Bike Park trail center passes.
- Detailed pre-departure information and optional Beach Extension assistance.
- Bike storage for optional post-MTB trip beach extension.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Three lunches & three dinners.
- Personal items like drinks and snacks.
- International airfare, airport taxes & excess baggage charges (if any).
- Personal travel and medical insurance.
- Your bike and related equipment to ride.
- Optional tipping to guides.
Bike and equipment
As it is on most of our trips it is recommended that riders bring their own bikes. A current full-suspension enduro bike with 150-160mm travel that’s capable up & down with a penchant for descending through rough terrain is suggested on this trip. Tires should be tubeless, 2.30” or above, aggressive tread designed for rocky terrain, one to two-ply casing for durability, puncture resistance and added control. Very limited high-performance rental bikes are available on this trip, if it is needed we might be able to source a rental bike for you. Eye protection and knee pads that you can comfortably pedal in are highly recommended. Helmets are mandatory when on your bike. A 16L backpack is recommended.
Suggested Bike
Trek SLASH
Suggested pack
EVOC Trail Pro 16
ACTIVITY LEVEL
The minimum technical ability required for Costa Rica camp is Advanced. It is suitable if you have been riding consistently for three to four years and are confident on most types of singletrack and conditions. This shuttle assisted trip is a Level 3/6 for fitness. As it is on all of our trips the fitter you are, the more fun you’ll have.
THE RIDING
The singletrack trails are through jungle, hand-built and barely ridden. Although there are some incredibly flowy parts, the technical parts are very technical. Lots of off camber, very steep, loose chutes, super rooty terrain, slippery volcanic rock, and drops. Rides can be overgrown at times and are accessed by shuttle and sometimes short hike-a-bike.
CLIMATE
The dry season (summer) is from late-November to April when it’s hot on the coast but perfect riding weather in the mountains. Costa Rica has one of the most diverse climates in the world and being on the tropics means that sometimes a storm can show up for a few hours. We recommend bringing a variety of clothing – for cool high mountain weather and hot sunny days too.
YOUR SAFETY
Our trips take place in remote regions with limited evacuation options available. Our guides have basic first aid training, if a serious injury is suspected they will call helicopter search and rescue at the cost of the participant. Personal medical travel insurance is mandatory for all riders. If you choose to participate in our trips it is up to you to ride well within your limits, to ride conservatively, to walk sections if needed and to be safe as mountain biking is a dangerous sport. There are always risks and hazards on all trails that we ride. It is your responsibility to inspect your bike or rental bike daily and keep it in excellent condition. Helmets are mandatory and alcohol and drugs are not permitted while riding your bike.
THE NEXT STEPS
Please read and understand our Terms and Conditions and our Waiver. Then, email or call us to make sure that your desired departure is confirmed and there’s still space available. We’ll then send you a short Rider Questionnaire to learn about your riding experience and ensure that you are suitable for the trip. The last step is to complete our secure online Registration Form and pay your 25% deposit, and we’ll send you detailed Trip Preparation Guide that includes steps on preparing for your adventure.
A Travel Protection Plan protects your travel investment, your belongings, and most importantly, you. We strongly advise travelers to enroll in a Travel Protection Plan in case an unexpected event causes you to cancel or leave your trip. Please review Big Mountain Bike Adventures’ Cancellation Policy:
A Travel Protection Plan should be purchased once a deposit or any payment is made for a trip. Insurance must provide coverage for personal accident, death, emergency remote evacuation including helicopter evacuation, medical expenses and emergency repatriation. We advise travellers to confirm that it covers trip cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You will be asked for proof of insurance in lead up to your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance coverage, Big Mountain will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect to insurance coverage that would have otherwise have been available.
“The riding rocked and our guides were absolutely incredible, they showed us many cool things and not just on the bikes. ”