Explore Arenal by mountain bike
Explore Arenal by mountain bike

Backroad Mountain Biking Around Lake Arenal, Arenal/La Fortuna

Mountain bike stunning backroads (and tracks!) through hills and forests other travelers never see around Arenal Volcano

Overview

Embark on an exciting mountain biking adventure in the heart of Costa Rica, where you'll traverse farmlands and forests against the spectacular backdrop of Arenal Volcano. Your journey begins at the quaint town of Foforos on Lake Arenal, where a friendly guide equips you with necessary gear and safety instructions. Enjoy the diverse terrain as you spot monkeys, toucans, and more local wildlife, before challenging yourself to cross the Caño Negro River and various streams. After a day of adrenaline, return to your hotel, energized and enriched with wonderful memories.

Highlights

  • Navigate one of the best mountain biking routes in Costa Rica, along Lake Arenal
  • Enjoy stunning views of the volcano, rainforest, and rural farmlands while biking around Lake Arenal
  • Potentially encounter diverse wildlife, including monkeys, toucans, and coatimundis
  • Challenge yourself by crossing the Caño Negro River and other streams
  • Be treated to personalized services with a friendly guide and dedicated support vehicle throughout the ride

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
10 years old & up
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
A snack is included

What you'll do

Your Costa Rican mountain biking adventure begins as you travel to the small, picturesque town of Foforos on the shores of Lake Arenal. There, you'll meet your friendly and professional guide who will equip you with the necessary safety gear and provide important instructions for the trail. You'll then mount your bike, ready to take on the path that many consider one of the best mountain biking routes in Costa Rica.

The ride will commence with a breathtaking view of the majestic Arenal Volcano. As you pedal, you'll traverse the vibrant rainforest and observe rural farmlands along the lake's periphery. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, as different species of monkeys and toucans, or even coatimundis, are known to inhabit the area.

Your journey will continue on a gravel road that leads to the Caño Negro River. This segment of the trip is sure to increase your adrenaline as you challenge yourself by crossing the river and various streams towards Rio Chiquito.  Additionally, remember that the tour can be adjusted to accommodate your abilities and the current weather conditions.

After an exhilarating day of biking through Costa Rica's diverse landscapes, you can look forward to a delicious snack, perhaps some fresh local fruit, to replenish your energy. Then, as your journey winds down, you'll be driven back to your hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned van. This unforgettable day of adventure, natural beauty, and physical activity will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Start times

  • Daily
    8:00 am, 1:30 pm

What's included

  • Transportation
  • Mountain or gravel bikes
  • Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Bilingual guide
  • Snack
  • Water

Traveler reviews

3 total ratings, 3 with reviews
4.7 out of 5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.7
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.0
Transport
4.7
Jane
Jane K.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2023
Otto was a great guide and provided a lot of local knowledge as well as a Spanish lesson. Hood bikes and pace, he found us a well hidden sloth Read more

Otto was a great guide and provided a lot of local knowledge as well as a Spanish lesson. Hood bikes and pace, he found us a well hidden sloth

Tips for future travelers

Be prepared to get wet as you cross a river with your bike, a good test of strength

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Adam
Adam G.
Boulder, CO | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2023
I'm a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip and experienced this activity. I loved this experience, we were able to bike near Lake Arenal and go off the beaten path. Dirt/rocky roads with two river crossings made it an epic adventure. Stunning views of the lake and the group size was 4 plus our guide. Read more

I'm a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip and experienced this activity. I loved this experience, we were able to bike near Lake Arenal and go off the beaten path. Dirt/rocky roads with two river crossings made it an epic adventure. Stunning views of the lake and the group size was 4 plus our guide.

Tips for future travelers

There are two river crossings. Be prepared to wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet or bring to change afterward.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He wasn't the most enthusiastic guide, and he even told us he was only there to get paid. It didn't take away from the experience.
Transport
Water and fruit were provided
A
Aaron M.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2023
Our guide, Otto was fantastic. We were the only 2 on the tour. Otto had great energy and was so nice. The bike ride lasted about 90 minutes. You bike the road around Lake Arenal. We saw birds, cows, horses. Lots of farmland and great views of the lake. Otto even stopped on the way out of town to show us a sloth. Biking was a fun way to experience the area and get some exercise. After the ride Otto cut up a pineapple for us to snack on. And on the way back to the hotel Otto serenaded us with... Read more

Our guide, Otto was fantastic. We were the only 2 on the tour. Otto had great energy and was so nice. The bike ride lasted about 90 minutes. You bike the road around Lake Arenal. We saw birds, cows, horses. Lots of farmland and great views of the lake. Otto even stopped on the way out of town to show us a sloth. Biking was a fun way to experience the area and get some exercise. After the ride Otto cut up a pineapple for us to snack on. And on the way back to the hotel Otto serenaded us with romantic ballad in Spanish.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Itineraries with Backroad Mountain Biking Around Lake Arenal

Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Tour - 10 Days

Spend 10 days getting to know the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica's rainforests, with plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities, too. You'll zip-line through the rainforest, hike to waterfalls, and mountain bike on a volcano, with opportunities for kayaking and relaxing in hot springs.

Costa Rica Adventure Tour - 12 days

This high-octane trip is designed to get your adrenaline pumping as you take on some of the best adventure activities Costa Rica has to offer. You'll see the country's rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches, and encounter tropical wildlife as you take part in a variety of thrilling activities. From whitewater rafting through the rainforest to biking around a volcano to zip-lining down a mountain, this exhilarating itinerary is sure to make for an unforgettable experience.

Volcanoes & Cloud Forests at Arenal & Monteverde - 8 Days

This weeklong trip is ideal for travelers looking to unwind yet still experience the natural wonders of the Arenal region. You'll mountain bike around the famous volcano, visit a working coffee farm, and go for a dip in the area's famous hot springs. You'll also have the chance to spot monkeys and other wildlife during a guided tour of the cloud forests in the Monteverde region and visit beautiful gardens abounding with colorful orchids and exotic butterflies.

Coast to Coast Cycling Adventure in Costa Rica - 15 Days

This 15-day Costa Rica adventure involves a 154-mile (248-km) crossing from one coast to the other. It's ideal for those who thrive in different physical disciplines, which on this trip includes mountain biking, hiking, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. It's a physically demanding route that traverses mountains, rivers, and rural villages as you cross the Continental Divide and make your way to the Caribbean coast.

Cycling Manuel Antonio, Arenal & the Caribbean Coast - 14 Days

If you're an intrepid traveler who likes testing the limits of endurance, this Costa Rican adventure is for you. Over 14 days you'll engage in a variety of physical disciplines including mountain biking, white-water rafting, and kayaking. Your goal is to travel from one coast to the other solely on your own power, and you'll do this by conquering mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and even crossing over the Continental Divide.

Costa Rica Cycling, Rafting, & Kayaking - 13 Days

The goal of this 13-day Costa Rican adventure is to travel from coast to coast without an engine. That means you'll be mountain biking, hiking, even traveling down wild rivers on rafts and kayaks. It's a demanding journey that requires a good level of physical fitness, and while it's not easy, the rewards are great as you'll visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls, mountains, beaches, and rainforest in the country.

Active Costa Rica: Río Pacuare Rafting, Arenal & Manuel Antonio- 8 Days

From whitewater rafting to waterfall rappelling, this active eight-day itinerary around Costa Rica is filled with adventure! After a day of sightseeing in San José, you'll embark on two days of rafting down Class III-IV rapids on the Río Pacuare. Continue to Arenal for volcano hikes and a zip-lining excursion through the rainforest. You'll finish up in Manuel Antonio National Park, where you'll spot crocodiles, snorkel with tropical fish, and sail along the coast at sunset.