250km Coast to Coast Expedition through Costa Rica

This trip was truly incredible and worth every penny! As a solo traveler in my 30s, it was not only my first solo trip but also my first time joining an organized group adventure – and it exceeded all my expectations.

Pre-Trip Communication

The communication with MBE was excellent. Having a WhatsApp group to connect with the guide and other group members beforehand was incredibly helpful. The in-person welcome and introduction were thorough, answering any questions I might have had and putting me at ease right away.

Daily Activities

The itinerary was well-balanced with a mix of cycling and hiking. The transitions between activities were seamless, and clear packing instructions ensured everything was well-prepared. Support vehicles carried the main luggage, bikes, day bags, water, and snacks, making it all hassle-free.

The days felt varied and exciting, and within just a few hours, the group bonded as if we’d known each other for ages. It was a lovely mix of like-minded people from different walks of life and age groups. Special shout-out to Rosie, Ren, and Laura for making the experience even more memorable!

Physical Challenges

I found the all-day cycling and technical downhill MTB sections challenging – but in a good way! If you have a reasonable level of fitness and a sense of adventure, you’ll find the physical side of the trip entirely manageable and rewarding.

Food

As highlighted in so many reviews, the food was phenomenal. Homemade, fresh, varied, and always plentiful – I often helped myself to second plates for both breakfast and dinner. Lunches alternated between restaurant stops and picturesque picnics. A big highlight was hearing Fez call, “Dinner’s ready!” – a moment I’ll genuinely miss.

Accommodation

The accommodations were great and far exceeded my expectations. Even the “rough” camping felt comfortable, with tents set up in community centers offering running water and power. The river camping days were particularly stunning, and the hotels were perfectly fine for the trip’s needs.

The Experience

Traveling from coast to coast, meeting locals, visiting places far off the tourist trail, and contributing to the local economy were all highlights. The scenery, wildlife, and stunning views were unforgettable. It was a relief to focus purely on the adventure while the logistics and planning were expertly handled.

The Team

Saving the best for last: the team! Fez and the support crew were absolutely 10/10. They made the experience feel effortless with their exceptional leadership, friendly banter, and incredible attention to detail. From logistics to food, bike maintenance to first aid, everything was handled flawlessly. Fez, in particular, was outstanding, and I cannot praise him enough.

Final Thoughts

A massive thank-you to everyone involved for creating such a fantastic trip full of lifetime memories.

Pro Tip: The kit list is spot-on, but I’d recommend adding a blow-up pillow or something similar for extra comfort.

If you’re considering this trip, do it!

This was my first MBA (and group) trip! To anyone who is unsure about whether to book, it is 100% worth taking the leap and going for it - I cannot say enough positive things about the trip!

The logistics were seamless down to every tiny detail. The activities were challenging as promised, but rest stops/snacks were well-timed (Memo's crispy cassava chips and dips at the end of one day's activities were a particular highlight)! The food in general was incredible - the team put so much effort into ensuring that you will never go hungry and the vegetarian options were always delicious.

Special thanks to the guides - Memo, Vito, Dixon, Alejandro (whose diligent biscuit crushing skills were much appreciated on cheesecake night!) and, last but not least, Fez, our lead guide, who is a credit to the Coast to Coast team and made everyone feel in the safest of hands - Fez's unflappable leadership (and persistence in going above and beyond to source a suprise birthday cake) was a key part of making the trip as great as it was.

The accomodation was always comfortable - the "rough" camping nights were far nicer than normal camping experiences and the El Nido del Tigre site (where you stay for 2 nights on the trip and spend a lot of time lounging in hammocks!) was a peaceful oasis in the middle of the jungle - most of the group had the best sleeps of the trip there.

Our group included a mix of ages/ nationalities and everyone was so positive and supportive towards each other. I usually travel alone and I really enjoyed the group dynamic - being around such an adventurous group of people was very motivating and we also had a lot of fun playing card games at the campsites!

A reasonable level of fitness is helpful to be able to enjoy the activities, and I'd suggest doing some hill cycling as preparation, but you definitely don't need to be Olympian-level! The rafting days ended up being my favourite and the river guides were brilliant.

A few tips:

• Padded cycling shorts! An essential item as you spend a lot of time in the saddle. Two pairs is probably ideal.
• Many dry bags - a few to keep things dry and more to keep wet things separate!
• Water shoes were very helpful to avoid wet trainers. Cheap ones from Amazon worked well.
• A camping pillow is another essential.
• You don't need that many clothes as there are a couple of opportunities for laundry.
• Bring cards/games and a book for the rest day.

All in all, an incredible way to spend the New Year and this will definitely not be my last MBA trip!

Thank you Fez and your team for a lifetime experience. I’ve learned a lot from this trip, from practical lessons abt nature, swimming in trouble waters to more deep personal feelings about life. Best New Year celebrations with a wonderfull group of friends. Smooth but firmly managed by Fez, we’ve biking, hiking, rafting and cayac, yes, it’s a bit challenging but everyone arrived well at the end. Highly recommended !

If you are considering this trip, book it.

Cannot fault the trip at all, the guide Fez was an absolute superstar, and the rest of the crew managed all the logistics and everything perfectly.

You will not go hungry at all, the activities are tough (especially the biking on the hills and some of the dirt roads), but manageable and there is always support vehicles nearby on the bike in case of any mechanicals or anything.

The trip undersells itself I would argue, especially in terms of accommodation, the El Nidro del Tigre campsite is stunning and the perfect place for the rest day (which can include a waterfall walk and a swim in Pacuare).

Quick drying kit, padded shorts and long tops and legging type trousers would be recommended.

Once again the group on an MBA trip were amazing and everyone was super friendly and supportive.

Final shout out to the rafting which was absolutely stunning.

We just completed the coast to coast in a group of 14 people, mostly unrelated to each other, including people from the UK, Australia, Scandinavia and Romania. Terrific group.

Do not underestimate the cycling! There are some grueling uphill sections that seemed to be a breeze for the enthusiastic cyclists but very difficult for those of us with limited cycling experience.

The whitewater rafting is world class.

Guide (Fez) is outstanding.

We elected to spend our honeymoon crossing Costa Rica with Much Better Adventures and we had the most amazing time. The country is stunning, so diverse and full of interesting wildlife. We had the best guides you could ask for: Fez, Memo, Jeffrey, and Darwin, who are not only great ambassadors for their country, but helped to create a great group dynamic despite the mixed experience and ages. So even when the cycling was challenging or when we had an unexpected swim in the Pacuare River, they were able to manage our (fraught!) emotions and ensure we were able to finish each challenge. It also helps that they are all great cooks - while the rice and beans were in plentiful supply, they were always able to shake things up with surprise jungle starters and desserts.

The rafting and El Nido camps were particular highlights, but all of the accommodation was better than we expected, even the "rough" camping. The kit list is helpful but we would suggest MANY dry-bags - though don't expect anything to actually stay dry.

A very satisfying and hugely enjoyable adventure hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking between the pacific ocean and caribbean sea through forests, mountains, villages, rivers, beaches and waterfalls.

The wildlife is incredible, and the serene beauty of falling asleep and being woken in the mornings by the sound of the river, birds, insects, monkeys and other creatures is very special.

Dani, Jeffery, Memo and the rest of the team were incredible at supplying food, logistics and entertaining information. Being with a good spirited group added to the fun.

You will need quick drying kit, TEVA like sandals, mosquito repellent (for parts) combined with light-weight long sleeves/trousers and helpful to have cash USD/Colón. A good dry bag (it sure can rain in the rainforest!), but also sunscreen and a good hat to keep the sun off. Practice biking up hills and brush up on kayaking.

It was the best of times. 100% recommend. Pura Vida.

Coast to coast was an unbelievable adventure almost entirely off the beaten path. Our guide Dani and the rest of the team were incredible along every step, pedal and stroke of the way! Sharing their passion for Costa Rica and its natural environment, they were always knowledgeable and helpful, going above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience. In summary…Amazing scenery, amazing food, and amazing people to share the journey with. Be ready for a few challenging days in there but they are totally worth it.

When I went to book this trip I opened the website maybe 20 times. On the last look I read a review that said "just book it". The best advice. . so I second that just book it. Its worth the money. I don't know how I could top this trip. Recommendations:

1. If you are going in the rainy season or the tail ends of it bring a waterproof bag to keep your wet clothes in. They will not dry!!
2. Two rain coats was helpful
3. Bug spray was necessary
4. Train long road bike sessions uphill

Excellent all round- highly recommend !

Some things I loved about this trip

• A thrown together bunch of all ages who really gelled by the end of the trip!
• Never being hungry. We were so well fed, and particularly when the crew cooked - some delicious camping dinners and breakfasts. If you even dared to think 'I might need a snack soon' then something would appear before you needed it.
• Falling asleep to the sounds of the river and rainforest. The rest day camp is a real highlight.
• Rafting down some excellent rapids.
• Being the the most wet I have ever been in tropical rain - it was hilariously heavy rain on some days. But it's warm and you get used to it!

The trip requires a decent fitness level, but the crew do everything possible to ensure it's achievable for everyone. There were plenty of regroups, and both faster and slower members were usually allowed to go at their own comfortable speed between these.

A big thanks to our Guide Fez - he was absolutely excellent and alongside the rest of his crew ensured we were well looked after at all times! Pura Vida!

What a great trip - biking, hiking, kayaking and rafting from coast to coast. A special thank you to our guide, Joseu, whose smile and positive attitude throughout the trip always kept us going!

My first advice is read the reviews! It’s a challenging trip physically but worth the effort. We were a mixed group of ages and gender. There was more challenging cycling than I’d registered so definitely cycle as much as possible before you go on mixed terrain and as many hills as possible … Costa Rica is HILLY! We were unfortunate to have terrible weather conditions which affected both coasts so it’s wasn’t a case of simply following the trip itinerary. Dani was amazing making sure we stuck to it as much as possible and finding solutions when change was necessary. God that guy can think on his feet whilst maintaining high energy and enthusiasm. As many other reviews have said there’s plenty of food and every need was met. I can’t fault the attention to detail to make sure everyone had a good time. The support staff of jeffery, memo and mau completed a great team. I definitely overpacked and as such didn’t use the laundry service which was available after 3/4 days. Take less stuff and wash when you can as it’s impossible to keep/get clothes dry (in our case rain but also humidity). Laundry service wasn’t cheap at the half way point, I think it was $2 per item but better that than have smelly damp clothes in a bag which makes even the clean stuff. Thanks Dani for a great trip

This was an amazing experience taking in the huge variety of what Costa Rica has to offer. This included a vast array of wildlife which our guides went out of the way to find for us after asking what we wanted to see (I'm surprised they managed with the long list we gave them).

The adventure parts of the trip were challenging in places but really manageable for people with good fitness. I felt pushed in places (particularly by the early mornings) but got a big sense of achievement from completing sections and now feel more confident to do similar activities. By the end I was really getting into the uphill mountain biking sections and the white water rafting through the jungle was a particular highlight.

The guides were all great and ensured that we were safe and happy undertaking activities. They also had to do a lot of work preparing contingency plans as there was a tropical storm and significant flooding when we were doing the trip. This meant that some aspects had to be changed at the last minute but they came up with great alternatives and kept the group's confidence. I couldn't have hoped for a nicer group of fellow travellers to share this amazing, bonding experience with.

Definitely book this trip if you're considering it :)

What an adventure. The trip lives up to its challenging listing but the experience of the guides and support led by Dani meant we were always looked after and really positive. We had the added complications of severe weather on the pacific coast and many rain soaked hours. These were interspersed with the positives of amazing scenery, fellow travellers, local people and routes. You do need to be physically fit and resilient as the terrain and accommodation vary enormously. We used community facilities, lodge hotels and beautiful campsites. Many days start early (from 5am) and involve full days of hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking, often in combination. The support staff, Jeffrey, Memo, Mau, were amazing sharing their knowledge and expertise as well as cooking nutritious, delicious food. All in all, if you are open minded, adventurous and physically fit this challenge is fantastic. Read all the reviews, kit list and itinerary to prepare for an amazing time in a beautiful country.

Great experience biking hiking and on the water! Professional team and equipment; loads of food. A bit overpriced though

This trip was absolutely incredible and a true once-in-a-lifetime experience! The itinerary and difficulty rating are accurate, so it’s highly recommendable to review them carefully beforehand. Especially the first few days can be demanding, but that’s all part of the adventure when traversing a volcanic country. The effort is completely worth it, thanks to the breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences.

A huge shoutout to our guide, Dani, who was simply outstanding. He clearly loves what he does and went above and beyond to make this trip special. His passion and dedication truly elevated the entire experience.

The rest of the crew—Jeffrey, Memo, and Mau—were equally amazing. They are some of the kindest and most helpful people, always ensuring everything ran smoothly and that we were well cared for throughout the journey.

Overall, this is an adventure I’d highly recommend. The stunning landscapes and unforgettable experiences make it more than worth it!

What a trip! I just wish I could do it all over again. From start to the finish line, everything was taken care of. The guides go way above what they are expected to do. For example, I asked if they had any hot chocolate one evening, no, sorry, came back the reply, but I can walk to the nearest village and get some. NO please don't, I said, it's not that important. It was also torrential rain at this point! One hour later I have a hot chocolate drink in my hands. For the rest of the trip the guides made sure we had plenty of hot chocolate. One of the guest had a bottle of Whisky with him, so we were all drinking 'hot toddies' before bed. Brilliant. Also, Danny, our lead guide, had to leave camp one afternoon for personal reasons. Before he returned a couple of the guests tried to get a message to him to get some more wine, but it was too late he was already back at camp. Unknown to us, Danny went back out of camp, ran over an hour each way and arranged for a car to meet him, which was also an hours round trip. This was unbelievable. It sounds like we're a bunch of piss heads, but it wasn't like that at all. You have to be on your game with this trip. Fit and ready very early most mornings, and I mean early. Alarm set for 4. 30 one morning. This adventure, and it was an adventure, is demanding. Be bike fit and get out on that mountain bike as often as you can on the build up to the leaving date. Doing so, you'll enjoy this experience to the max. I did. I loved it, so rewarding. OMG the weather, rain, rain and more rain. Our guides worked so hard to keep us on track, diversions, bridges down, but it didn't stop Danny. The second day of the white water rafting was in doubt as the day before the water levels got so high from all that rain, but all the guides got together in the morning and did some final adjustments with the teams and off we went. This was the highlight for most, definatly for me, tackling class 4 rapids and on one section class 5 due to the amount of water, just brilliant. We found out later that a couple of teams further up river bailed out and didn't do it. We were tough! The party of 10 all completed the final days kayaking to get to the finish line. We were such a strong team by the end of this trip. All looking out for each other. Waiting for each other. A great bond formed. I travelled on my own on this trip but became part of a family at the end. PS. we did get some amazing sunny days in the end :-)

This is no holiday. But if you want to challenge yourself, enjoy spectacular scenery and learn about a different culture coast to coast Costa Rica will not disappoint you.

If you’re reading this contemplating this trip, just do it, you won’t regret it! Costa Rica has everything from spectacular scenery, changeable weather, great food and wonderful people. You’ll have time to take it all in but don’t under estimate the challenge! The cycling is tough in early part of the week but pat yourself on your back and enjoy the downhills, they are as rewarding as the uphills challenging. Our guide, Josue, was brilliant, as was all of his support staff. The logistics was spot on, camp sites memorable and food plentiful! I’ve done multiple challenges and this is right up there with the best Steve

Once in a lifetime experience where you get to know the country by crossing it. Definitely need to be physically fit to execute all parts. Much cycling is expected so be ready! Also all weather conditions can happen, be prepared to be soaked till the last thread. Above all experience is unique and bonding with the group travelling together is unforgettable!

Excellent trip - and our guide Josue was incredible. Highly recommended!

This was such an amazing adventure from start to finish, every day a new experience. We had such a great team of fellow travellers and the guides Fez and Carlos were absolutely fantastic, great sense of humour, knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and we felt very safe with all the challenges we faced, they were very patient with all our questions and also great cooks!! Memo and Vito the support were also so helpful and the big smiles we got when we reached camp were a big boost, they also cooked great meals! everything was taken care of and ready when we arrived each day. It was challenging but achievable and we really felt we were on an adventure. Huge thank you Fez, Carlos, Memo and Vito and also the river guides

This was a really well organised trip. The logistics looked complicated but the team delivered extremely well. Really good guides doing everything in their power to make the trip a success. This trip was challenging - we really enjoyed the experience. Highly recommend.

Well organised trip with great helpful and professional guides. You get to experience all of the country east to west. It’s a trip of a lifetime

An amazing trip! It was very challenging but incredibly rewarding. Josue, our guide, was outstanding—everything was well-organised, we were well-fed, and he kept our motivation and spirits high, with great support from Memo too. I highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to experience beautiful scenery, encounter wildlife, and embrace a sense of adventure!

I booked this trip looking for something different - and boy, did I get it! First off, I have to say, we had an incredible crew looking after us. Carlos, Josué, Memo and Mau. It was obvious that these men absolutely LOVE sharing their beautiful country with us. I’ve always felt the Ticos were some of the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve ever met, and our guides were no exception. They MADE the trip. There were 13 people in our group. We had a wide range of fitness levels but were all able to finish. As one of the “slower” folks in the group, I never felt weird or pressure. The food was amazing. We had some gluten free folks and the guides took care of them. The meals in the campsites were AMAZING. The coffee - delicioso! As for gear - less is probably more. You get at least 2 chances for laundry. Early in the trip and again towards the end. Pack deet bug spray. We honestly didn’t need it too much inside the country but on each coast, it was helpful. Long pants for rafting - long day with your arms and legs exposed. I actually wore sun shirts most days. Water SHOES with good trekking soles. Many in our group wore Teva sandals and ended up with blisters. I had some $20 Amazon water shoes and stuck to the rocks in the waterfalls like Velcro. All the waterfalls have a small hike so I was happy to have really good water shoes that didn’t slip off. For most of the hiking, you could get away with decent trail runners. There’s a pretty intense downhill section where I’m really happy I had my Solomon hiking shoes - I wore them the whole trip but NEEDED them on this portion. We brought an inflatable pillow - that was a life saver. Bring a quick dry towel. And a full coverage sun hat. They aren’t kidding when they say bring your big bag and a day bag (25L is recommended for day bag). You’ll almost never have to carry any of your bags as you trek - I thought I’d carry the 25L with me but it was too heavy so I ended up holding my water bottles. If I did this again, I’d have my main bag - a 25L for the day we actually needed it and then I’d bring a 2-3L camelpack with water bladder for all the days. Oh yeah, bring a 20oz bike water bottle - you’ll want it on the bike. Overall, this trip was amazing. We saw so much, learned so much, worked our asses off, had a blast, ate new foods, spoke broken Spanish and met some incredible new friends. Special thanks to Carlos for really taking such great care. This is a man who loves what he does and it’s obvious. I really don’t think I would have enjoyed this 1/2 as much if he wasn’t there. Josué - never a dull moment, my nighttime hiking adventure guide and jungle boy! Thank you for helping me almost become a jungle girl … hee hee hee.

This trip was just amazing! it was my first time in Costa Rica and seeing it on a unique trip like this blew my mind. You WILL be challenged, you may question why you signed up for this multiple times, but you will be SO HAPPY. I found the cycling sections particularly tough as someone who only occasionally city cycles - definitely recommend padded bike shorts and gloves for this! Special shout out to our incredible guides Josue and Memo - if you have these guys you will be in the best of hands! They completely made the trip. Also shout out to my group - Jax, Lewis, Ryan, Jess and Martinique, you're all a bunch of legends and I'm so glad we did the trip together.

TL;DR - book this trip, you won't regret it.

If you’re looking through reviews to make your mind up, let this review help you decide. Do it!

So well organised with the best guides Carlos, Josue and support team. And then with a incredible group of new friends who supported each other through out and made it so much fun.

It’s an incredible way to see all of Costa Rica’s diversity and felt so much better than just a holiday. The views were spectacular.

Definitely need a good base level of fitness and it’s a challenge but all very achievable. My biggest concern was burning so many calories and being left hungry but the food all the way was truly amazing and very much appreciated after long days of exercise. And even grab a banana on your hike from the trees.

Tips: bring biking gloves!

A fantastic time with Carlos and Josue! The group had great synergy thanks to phenomenal leadership from the guides and crew. The hiking and biking was not super challenging for very fit people, but it was not easy by any means.

Bring a couple lightweight long sleeves and pants to keep the sun off you and plenty of bug spray.

The food was great and plentiful...I tend to eat a lot, but was never hungry for more when the guides were cooking for us ;-)