CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

Day 1
Fly to Managua; transfer to historic Granada. Following a short briefing in the evening, it's time to get some rest before our day's cycling tomorrow.

Day 2
After breakfast, we will have a briefing on the day's ride and make some last minute adjustments to the bikes before we set off through the colonial centre of Granada, taking care to avoid the horse drawn carriages which are a common form of transport in the city. As we approach the western edge of town, we pick up the main road leading towards the Pan-American Highway (watch out for potholes!) for an easy climb to the junction with the road to Masaya. We will have a short rest stop before the fairly abrupt climb to our lunch stop at the Catarina lookout, which offers stunning views over Apoyo Crater Lake, Granada and Lake Nicaragua, as well as Mombacho and Masaya Volcanoes. There are several restaurants at this popular viewpoint, many serving fresh fish.
After lunch we transfer to the market town of Masaya, famous for its handicrafts, where we will have some time to look at the local products in the artisans' market. Following our visit to the market, we drive to the Masaya Volcano National Park. The road goes almost to the lip of the crater, and it's possible to see bubbling lava as well as the parakeets which make their nests in the crater despite the constant emissions of sulphuric gas. The park also houses an attractive museum and a butterfly garden. We drive back to Granada in time for a dip in the hotel pool, and there will be time in the evening for a stroll around the historical centre of the city.
Total cycling distance today is 13 miles on fully paved but sometimes rough roads

Day 3
After breakfast and a half-hour drive, we cycle through the rolling countryside which surrounds the famous 'Pueblos Blancos' ('White Towns') which are seen as the birthplace of Nicaraguan culture, as well as General Sandino, the hero of the modern revolution. Each of the small towns is dedicated to different crafts and products, such as pottery, furniture and ornamental plants. Close to the town of San Marcos, we ride downhill to Jinotepe on the Pan-American Highway and load up the bikes for our drive to San Jorge on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. The transfer takes about an hour and a half. From San Jorge it's a relaxing 1-hour boar trip to Ometepe Island, and the views of its twin volcanoes (Concepción and Maderas) are spectacular. If we arrive early enough, we will have the option to ride the 17 miles to the hotel, but this is dependent on the notoriously erratic ferry schedules, and we may need to complete the journey by minibus (approx. 45 mins). If we do ride this section, then it is a fairly flat ride, with one steady climb followed by a mostly downhill leg into the town of Santo Domingo, where we stay in a pleasant beachfront hotel.
Total cycling distance today is 17 miles, plus the optional 17 miles on Ometepe. The roads are all paved except for the final 3 miles to Santo Domingo.

Day 4
The morning is left free for some exploration of the island. It is possible to hike on the forested Maderas Volcano, do a bit of horse riding or relax in the nearby coldwater springs at Ojos de Agua, or you may simply want to relax on the beach and admire the views. We will meet at the hotel at 1100 for an early lunch before driving to Moyogalpa for the ferry back to the mainland. After a short transfer to the town of Rivas, we again get in the saddle for a ride along a beautiful hidden back road to San Juan del Sur, a Pacific beach town. The road takes us through dry forest where we may see Howler Monkeys and large iguanas, and we pass several small villages. If you plan to bring any gifts for local people, the children and teachers in the small rural schools along the way really appreciate pencils, pens and crayons.
San Juan del Sur is a perfect crescent shaped bay with outstanding seafood, a festive atmosphere and good lodgings. This is a popular beach for Nicaragua families on holiday, so you will get a chance to observe the locals at play: join them for a cold Toña beer or Macua, a delicious rum cocktail! Dinner tonight is at a great seafood spot on the beach.
Total cycling distance today is 17 miles, along mostly level roads with some mild climbs. The road is 90% well-groomed dirt, and 10% paved.

Day 5
After breakfast we bike towards the Pan-American Highway, but turn off along an isolated mountain back road through rolling hills and farmland which offers lots of shade and protection from the winds which blow across Lake Nicaragua. We traverse several streams which are excellent spots to watch for howler monkeys and iguanas. We rejoin the highway at Sapoa, where we will finish today's bike stage, and continue south by minibus to the border with Costa Rica. After clearing immigration (this can take a while at the Nicaraguan border post) we will have a brief lunch stop then drive through dry tropical forest to our rustic lodge on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. From the border, the drive is around 90 minutes. Several optional excursions, including canopy tours, hikes and horse rides in the nearby national park can be arranged at the hotel.
Total cycling distance today is 27 miles, with several climbs, some of which are quite steep on the mountain road. The road is paved until we turn onto the mountain road, which is graded dirt.

Day 6
After a hearty early breakfast, we set off on a great downhill ride all the way to the Pan-American Highway. The scenery is beautiful and the flora noticeably changes as we descend to the humid lowlands. We load the bikes up when we reach the highway and head to the cloud forest of Monteverde. The drive takes around 2.5 hours. The road to Monteverde is notoriously bumpy, especially if there have been recent rains, but the destination and the scenery en route makes the journey worthwhile. After a quick freshen-up at our lovely family-run lodge, we go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for a guided hike along the trails. There are a great many birds which inhabit the cloud forest, most notably Costa Rica's national bird, the Resplendant Quetzal. Near the reserve entrance is an incredible hummingbird garden where we can see the interaction between different species and witness the males protecting their territory quite aggressively.
Total cycling distance today is 16 miles, mostly fast downhill but with some short climbs near the finish point. The roads are 100% groomed dirt and gravel

Day 7
After breakfast, we again take the bumpy road out of Monteverde (2 hours) through dairy farms and coffee plantations to the town of Tilarán. If the weather is good, we should get some great views of Lake Arenal and the distant Arenal volcano which looms in the distance. We stop for a typical Costa Rican meal on the lakeshore, then set off by bike around the lake, passing very close to the volcano itself. This is one of our most spectacular cycling stages, starting in lush agricultural land which gradually gives way to thick rainforest as we approach the dam which forms the lake. Watch out for monkeys, toucans and the amazingly colourful blue Morpho butterflies as we cycle. If it's clear, the dam is a great place to take a break and watch the volcano. It is in a state of constant activity, and we can often see hot rocks tumbling down its slopes.
We spend the night in a hotel in the centre of La Fortuna which has observation decks for night time volcano watching (when the mountain is at its most impressive), as well as pools and pretty gardens. We enjoy a buffet dinner tonight followed by a soak in the Eco-Termales hot springs. If the weather is clear, we can head closer to the volcano for a better view of the lava.
Total cycling distance today is 27.5 miles, mostly on rolling hills with some short climbs, followed by fast downhill to La Fortuna. The road is 95% paved and 5% dirt or gravel

Day 8
Another early start today as we head east into the rolling terrain of the San Carlos plains, riding though rich agricultural zones, sugar cane and pineapple plantations and rural villages. We are generally descending on this leg, although there are some short climbs later in the morning when the heat becomes more noticeable. Watch for the stunning neon-blue Morpho butterfly, as well as toucans, as we make water crossings. Our initial destination today is Aguas Zarcas, from where we transfer to Siquirres for lunch (approx. 2 hours). We continue by bus onto Limon (1 hour) where time permitting we start a beautiful 15-mile cycle ride along the Caribbean coast road. Our destination is Cahuita, a typical Caribbean town, complete with a lively reggae music culture and spicy cuisine.
Total cycling distance today is 27 miles along paved roads, or 42 miles if we are able to ride along the coast.

Day 9
Ride down to the tropical lowlands; transfer or cycle to Cahuita on the Caribbean coast.

Day 10
We begin biking south at the base of the towering Talamanca Mountains. We follow the main coast road at first, before turning off to the indigenous community of Bri-Bri, home to members of the Guaymi tribe. We may see some of the traditionally-dressed women in the flowing embroidered dresses as we pass through this area. The ride continues through banana plantations to the border crossing on the banks of the Sixaola River. After a quick lunch we leave Costa Rica and cycle over the bridge into Panama - the crossing can be a little challenging as the bridge is not in great condition, so caution is required. After the border formalities, we resume biking through to Changuinola and a banana plantation where we board a launch for a superb trip down an old canal. There is lots of wildlife both in and alongside the canal, with a large variety of shore and water birds. We hit the coast and sail into the Caribbean to wonderful Bocas del Toro island, our home for the next two nights. We stay in the heart of the main town, in a historic building that once served as the main offices of the United Fruit Company.
Total cycling distance today is 42 miles along mostly flat roads, although there are some climbs as we head to Bri-Bri. The roads are paved except the final three miles, which are on a quite bumpy dirt and gravel road.

Day 11
A free day today to explore the Bocas del Toro Islands, which are rapidly becoming a popular destination in the Caribbean. Today you will get a chance to see why: spectacular palm-shaded white sand beaches, crystal clear water, wonderful snorkelling and diving, lots of wildlife, kayaking, and even great surfing are all available! It's also possible to take boat trips to the other islands, or go on dolphin watching tours. All of these optional activities can be arranged through the hotel or nearby tour agencies. For those who simply have to ride every day, biking is available on the island, and the 20-mile round trip to Bocas del Drago on the island's western tip is recommended.

Day 12
After taking the boat to the mainland, we drive for about two hours up into the mountains that separate Panama's two coastlines. The change in temperature, humidity and eco-systems is significant as we gain altitude. At the top of the pass we find beautiful Lago Fortuna, set in a rainforest-clad tropical valley, and we then have a fast downhill ride with great mountain views and several river crossings to Gualaca and the Pan-American Highway beyond. At the junction, we board the minibus and drive to the colonial town of Chitre (approx. 3 hours, including lunch stop).
Total cycling distance today is 30 miles, mostly fast downhill with some short climbs towards the finish point. The roads are paved all the way.

Day 13
An early start today as we avoid the heat and ride through the Panamanian countryside. Some of the morning's ride takes us along remote back roads past large sugar plantations, and there's also the chance to take a cooling dip in a river along the way. We finish biking at Ocu where we have lunch and visit the town's last remaining Panama hat maker. We drive to Panama City in the afternoon (approx. 2.5 hours), crossing the famous canal where we're very likely to see huge ships as they make the journey between the Caribbean and the Pacific. Our hotel is located in the suburb of Albrook, where many opulent residences are testament to the days when US military officers and Canal Authority officials lived in the city. In the evening we will have dinner and enjoy a traditional band and dancing show.
Total cycling distance today is 38.5 miles, with a level start but becoming increasingly hilly as we approach Ocu. Most of the road is paved, although there are 14 miles of well-groomed dirt road.

Day 14
Our final day of biking is truly memorable: we bike along the Panama Canal and will see all of its highlights (please note that access is currently suspended at the Caribbean coast and so we cannot presently cycle the entire length, we will continue to monitor this situation). We start from our hotel, close to the Pacific end of the Panama Canal, and will stop at the Miraflores Locks to view the process of raising and lowering the traffic. We then head in to the Soberana National Park which spans nearly the entire width of the country along the East side of the Canal. We then continue on to an animal rescue center and the Gamboa Rainforest, where we will stop for a great and well-deserved buffet lunch. Kayaking, canopy tours and boat tours are available, or there is the option to bike along the Pipeline Road (again, restrictions may prevent some or all of this ride) which is famous among ornithologists for its abundance and variety of birdlife. We return to Panama City for a final group dinner at a lively restaurant right on the bay.
Total cycling distance today is 13 miles, and is mostly level along the canal, but with some climbing within the Soberana Park and along the Pipelin Road. The main road is fully paved, but the Pipeline Road is an additional 14 miles of gravel and dirt.

Day 15
Free time for last minute exploration or shopping; depart Panama City.

Day 16
Arrive London.