There are two possible reasons why one would think about biking in Costa Rica. The first would be the one we consider for any country, the pleasure of riding along the highways and byways, looking at the landscape, appreciating the architecture, the food, the people, and etc. We think we can knock this reason off really quickly, because whatever we might think of the landscape, food, people, etc. the highways are just too generally narrow, crowded, or hilly to allow for much pleasure. That of course applies to us crabby old timers. Younger folks can and do view all manner of challenges as adventure. And, they are welcome to it!

The second reason to think about biking in Costa Rica is a little abstract.  We would take the main reason for going to Costa Rica at all to be eco-tourism. That could be kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, or in very many cases birding. (And yes, there are some just nice beaches to lie on.) Despite the beaches, one could generalize and say that the fun spots are up a volcano or back in the jungle somewhere. That opens the question of how to get to and among the spots. i.e. transportation. Bike riding is not just fun, it is also transportation. So how about it? The answer here too is that with often crowded, narrow,  and/or hilly roads, bike is just not the best way to go.

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 We have asked ourselves what then is the best way to go.  In Europe where fun could involve cathedrals or museums or shopping, a bus or train to downtown could work as a way to get there. But when the fun is at a lodge back in the bush, you need either a rented car or some sort of taxi-like service. Transport like that is normally costly, and especially with taxi, once you are back in the bush, meals will not be possible with  a trip to a grocery store, or even a small restaurant in a town. It's a situation where our whole concept of cycle touring, and of finding accommodation and food falls apart. 

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We would love to be corrected by someone who has figured a way around the pitfalls, but right now we just don't see it. It means we are either saving up for a guided Costa Rica tour, or sticking to countries and routes better known as appropriate for cycling. As in the past, that puts us mainly in Europe, though there will be lots of advocates out there for parts of Asia, and even (horrors!) America. So that's why this blog will (eventually) be about Spain, France, and Germany!