CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

Adult Group Holidays Moderate / Challenging Cycling

16 days from GBP2,099 to GBP2,479 including flights
Tripcode: MUC

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Countries Visited: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: 4.2 from 9 reviews.

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  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written March 2010

    Despite a couple of days of unseasonably bad weather, this was a really good, enjoyable holiday, well run, with plenty to do and some great cycling.  The accommodation and food were much better than I anticipated and the scenery was fantastic. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    There were several.  Nicaragua and especially Granada and the lovely hotel Pation del Malinche, the river trip on the Rio Tenorio and our fantastic guide who pointed out wildlife I would never have noticed in a million years and of course the Panama Canal and we were so lucky to see one ship just exiting Miraflores locks, one going through and one waiting.  Memorable stuff.  Oh yes, and Ometepe Island and the cream of seafood soup...........

    What did you think of your group leader?
    Rob was great, one of the best leaders I've had and believe me I've had a few!!  He kept us all moving along smoothly without us ever feeling we were being pushed.  His briefings were concise and accurate, he was friendly, helpful and considerate.  Looked after us all really well.  His team were great as well especially Paul the bike mechanic, amazing how he mended punctures on the run!!
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Take all your money in US dollars, they are accepted almost everywhere in the three countries.  If, like me, you are only an occasional cyclist, pace yourself and you'll be fine.  Remember, it's not a race!
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Personally of the three countries, we all seemed to prefer Nicaragua, possibly because it had the least US influence.  We never saw one Macdonalds while we were there!  Its a really enjoyable trip with lots to see and do as well as some great  cycling.  Our group was made up of a great bunch of 5 different nationalities which of course helps. I would seriously recommend this trip to anyone who likes outdoor activity and variety.  Go for it!
     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written February 2010

    An excellent holiday, with an interesting and varied itinerary.  As mentioned in the other reviews a few more miles on some of the days would have been good but having said that with the hills and the heat it was sufficiently challenging. Not mentioned in the trip notes is that there are a lot of 2 night stops on this trip which was excellent.  The itinerary was arranged so you have sufficient time in an evening to relax. There were excellent hotels (only a few did not have pools) which was better than expected as most had only been listed as “standard” in the trip notes.  Also of note was that relative to other holidays vehicle transfers were less than anticipated and it was particularly welcome that they were minimal in the first few days when the group was recovering from jet lag. The bikes were excellent and extremely well maintained.  The bus was equipped with a water bowser, so no need to buy bottled water and Gatorade was available 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    Many many highlights, Masaya Volcano, Ometepe Island,  Biking round lake Arenal, Crossing into Panama, riding down from Continental Divide in Panama (1000m descent) and the Panama Canal.
    What did you think of your group leader?
    Rob was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and with the assistance of the local team worked very hard to ensure that the trip ran smoothly and that everybody got the most out of the holiday.  From the moment we landed to when we were returned to the airport they seem to have everything covered.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    You do not need water bottles, all the bikes had 2 bottle cages and bottles, a small saddle bag and a computer were also provided.  SPD peddles were useful, if you ride with them at home I would take them.  Mosquitoes were a bit of an issue at a couple places (but significantly less of an issue than anticipated) – a plug in bug killer was useful.  The other must take item is a large memory card for your camera
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    No Vodafone coverage in Costa Rica, limited coverage in Nicaragua and Panama (although text messages were a bit hit and miss)… just leave the mobile at home.  Although lots of WIFI available I would recommend this trip, and would not be deterred by the long flights from the UK.  I have previously done the Cuba trip.  In comparison the landscape and scenery on this trip was considerably more interesting with abundant wildlife and numerous volcanoes.  The other big difference was the food which was very good on this trip.
     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written January 2010

    I had a fantastic holiday - was really looked after by the staff and the group was fantastic. A great combination of cycling and sightseeing. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    The long day's ride around Arenal and the dam, ending at hotel San Bosco and in the evening the Eco-Termales Hot Springs. Absolutely fantastic day and evening. Having said that, the day we went up into the mountains in Panama was also absolutely awesome.
    What did you think of your group leader?
    Rob was brilliant - probably the best group leader I've had on any Exodus cycling holiday (I've been on 3).  He had everything really well planned and took really good care of us.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Just that I'd recommend this trip.
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Just that along with Rob the other guides were really great.  It was a fantastic holiday and I really enjoyed it.
     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written December 2009

    We loved the trip which was incredibly well organised by Exodus. Met some great people from The States, Canada and The UK - and some fantastic guides from Costa Rica. What we loved was the friendly people, the wildlife and the green, green countryside - so many beautiful birds, butterflies and flowers and the most amazing animals - including our first Sloth, poisonous frogs and Iguanas. Don't expect too much cycling - only about 25 miles a day but in amongst that there was some great sightseeing too. Although to some of you it may sound quite a lot, honestly even if you're half fit you should manage it and you will probably want more! Wished it could go on a whole lot longer - like all the way down to the tip of South America! A great trip - loved it. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    Probably the trip down the river on the dinghy - where we saw some fantastic wildlife - Iguanas, Alligators, herons, pelicans and toucans.

    Or was it when we saw the Panama Canal and cycled along it through a national park watching the wildlife - sloths, iguanas, squirrels, alligators, morpho butterflies and loads of beautiful birds?

    Or cycling around the volcanoe and then bathing in the hot springs afterwards; followed by a pina colada

    Or meeting friends from different countries?

    What did you think of your group leader?

    A lovely bloke - very laid back and great at organising. He could have given us more info on the countries we were in.

    Great support workers

    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    We had a fab time and thought it was well balanced with sightseeing and cycling but if you're going merely for the cycling, don't expect too much distance wise. If you are a big cyclist you can go fast at the front but if you're slow that's fine - you will be supported at the back. You can always get picked up by the support vehicle. The Exodus leaders/team are very good at setting the pace for everyones ability.

    Sit back and enjoy the trip! We put on weight - didn't loose it as expected but hey it was worth it...

     

    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Have fun and go for it - wish we were still out there! and it inspired us to look at more cycling trips with Exodus... a good recommendation.
     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written June 2009

    This trip has a great variety of scenes, nature, people, wildlife and weather.  

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    I really enjoyed this trip (I have done 8 cycle tours with Exodus). Highlights for me included the friendly people of Nicaragua, getting up close with an amazing variety of humming birds and a night walk in the rain forest in Costa Rica. Seeing ships coming through the Panama Canal and cycling alongside was also amazing. 

    What did you think of your group leader?

    Each tour is guided by Kevin, who has great attention to detail and his meticulous planning ensures that this busy schedule runs smoothly.

    Kevin prepares and gives out his own daily trip notes that provide extra details about the cycling, mileage and things to look out for.

    A nice touch from Kevin was that immediately on coming into the arrivals hall, he offered a cold can of drink as a welcome.  A very simple - but thoughtful touch.

    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    This isn’t a ‘whole day, every day' in the saddle trip; (average 30 miles a day) but to cover the distances required, you’d struggle to do more. It is also very hot at times, which makes it harder to do large mileages.

    Having said that, if you are one of these people like me, who promise you’ll do lots of training and then don’t! – then this trip is ideal. The mileage builds up to a 50-mile day ride, giving your muscles and bottom time to acclimatise!

    Is there anything else you would like to add?

    Things to note. It is called a rain forest for a reason – we got very, very wet on one day – but the bus is there if you do want to stay dry. Having said that virtually every other day was very hot and sunny.  Also, run through to US customs as you transfer at Dallas – even though it is a transfer they make you ‘enter’ and ‘leave’ the U.S., which may take up all the ‘free’ transfer time.

     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written February 2009

    An interesting, varied itinerary through little-visited parts of the world, taking in towns and beaches, cloudforest and volcanoes; excellent equipment and backup; coatis in the road, sunshine, cerveza and great company! 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    There was at least one such moment almost every day. Highlights that linger in the memory include Ometepe Island; dolphin watching, mangroves and perfect beaches at Bocas del Toro; drinking pina coladas whilst wallowing in natural hot springs at La Fortuna; Panama City and the canal; the friendliness of the local people everywhere and within our group; and of course the cycling! My own favourite cycling day was probably the fast downhill stretch from the hills of the Continental Divide in Panama, but every day brought different scenery - in the hills of Costa Rica, along the base of the perfectly symmetrical volcano on Ometepe, or along a picture-postcard coastline with palm trees and breaking surf. Sometimes we cycled along dirt tracks, at other times along well-made roads, though rarely did our bikes have to share the road with heavy traffic - even on the Pan-Am Highway!
    What did you think of your group leader?

    Kevin is an experienced group leader who clearly works very hard to organise this tour and who is very knowledgeable about the areas we visited and their wildlife, geology, customs etc. All cycle equipment was supplied by his company and the condition and maintenance of the bikes was impeccable. He went to some trouble on occasion to sort out my fussy food requirements! He was also careful to arrange the daily schedules so that, as far as possible, we avoided cycling around midday. However he did seem to get rather stressed at times and was inclined to rush the group. I would have appreciated more time at the rest stops during the cycling stages, and more opportunity to observe scenery and wildlife as we travelled.

    The support team - Luis the driver, and Paul and Randall the riders/mechanics - also deserve mention for their unfailing good humour and encouragement!

    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    If you are strict vegetarian you may get rather hungry! Rice and beans are fine now and then, but not three times a day for several days on the trot; fish and seafood frequently featured on menus but otherwise it was meat-with-everything.

    There isn't a lot of opportunity to shop for souvenirs but the cost of lunches and evening meals was higher than many in the group anticipated and some people had problems using cards from British banks at the ATMs. I would take plenty of USA dollars (in small notes) to allow for this.

    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Just book it, you'll have a great time! :)
     
  • CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written November 2008

    We have been lucky enough to have had some great holidays over the years. This was one of the very best. On reflection we found it hard to think of anything negative. Fascinating countries, diverse experiences, great company, well organised and lead by a great team of guides. Perfect! 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    Not sure about inspirational but we had a number of fantastic experiences - in fact over a beer some evenings, we'd reflect that tomorrow might be a bit of a let down as today had been so good - it never was. Each day was enjoyable for different reasons. The highlights were probably: -

    • The boat trip to Bocas del Toras - such a surprise (and we won't spoil it for those that have yet to do the trip)
    • Walking our bikes across the ( very knackered) bridge across the border from Costa Rica into Panama
    • Cycling within 2 miles of a (very) active volcano in Costa Rica
    • Sipping a Pina Colada in the thermal baths in Fortuna - heavenly
    • The Panama Canal  - amazing to think it was operating on principles developed almost 100 years ago
    • The greetings of 4 year olds in Panamanian villages shouting  "Hey Gringo!"
    • Sitting on the side of a beautiful lake in Panama,  surrounded by turtles, crocs and other wildlife, then looking up to see an enormous container ship floating silently by on its way through the canal - amazing!
    • Waiting for 12 days to see a single Blue Morpho butterfly then being surrounded by them
    What did you think of your group leader?

    We  read a review before leaving that made negative comments about the tour leader and based on our experience want to challenge this. Let it be known that Kevin Hill is a gem! Exodus would do well to hang onto this man.

    Kevin understood that leading a tour isn't just about getting people there. He worked tirelessly to help create the complete holiday.  (and anyone who meets a group at the airport after 18 hours travelling with cold beers is off to a good start with us). His organisational skills and prior preparation, including testing parts of the route before we arrived, daily itineraries and maps  all showed that he took his role seriously. He appeared to have planned experiences for us with  real thought and consideration. He said very little about  some of the highlights described above, so  we could enjoy the surprise but obviously got a buzz out of seeing the impact  this had. He struck us as a man who really does want people to have a great time - and his team was first class. They were all great guys - good fun, helpful and nothing was too much trouble to them.

    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    Read the trip  notes before you go! The previous reviewer didn't seem to have done this and was disappointed. We went knowing that to cross 3 countries in two weeks would involve some transfers. They actually weren't as bad as we expected - there were only two long days near the end.

    Do this kind of trip if you want to include some great cycling in your holiday (which we did), but not if you are looking for an exclusive cycling trip as you might be disappointed. The cycling wasn't tough if you are reasonably fit, but the team were very supportive of those who wanted to travel in the bus at times.

    If you find cycling in the heat  difficult, the temperatures in October were fine - and where possible rides were planned at times of day to take the heat into account - so be prepared for 7am breakfasts and leisurely lunches.

    After 4 days in Nicaragua, by which time  you feel you'll start to look like rice and beans, the food definitely becomes more inspiring, and don't worry about forgetting anything in the first aid kit - Kevin was a walking Boots the Chemist!

    Is there anything else you would like to add?

    Just do it!

    The trip allows you to see three beautiful and quite different countries from 2 wheels, along carefully selected and variable routes, in what is generally great company. 

    Whilst we packed a lot in we never felt we were being rushed.  The opportunity to ride across islands, to the Pacific then to the Caribbean and back again, through rain and cloud forests, pineapple and banana plantations, towns and villages, where people were friendly, welcoming and in some cases delighted to see us, was fantastic.

    The highlights might suggest that Panama was our favourite - but it was really hard to choose one as they were all well worth a visit for different reasons. It has certainly inspired us to think about other parts of Central and South America.

    We sound like an advert for Exodus don't we?

     
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