Sabalito Guide Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

(country code 506) 2692-1084

Mountain Biking

Bike rental and guide services are available. We have a variety of trails amongst the volcanoes of Costa Rican's Northern mountain range. From gravel roads to double track and single track, we have something for everybody no matter what level you are at. Some of the best trails are muddy during the rainy season so we prefer to ride from February through May. Riding is available any time of the year though. Many of the rides go through private farms so you will need a guide. Shuttle service is available for some of the rides. The rides are listed in order of length. The Levels refer to the technical difficulty of the hardest parts. 

Call Norman List for guide services and shuttles. Phone 8377-3377.   Email at normanlist@gmail.com

  Windmill Loop  

An easy ride with a little bit of everything. Great views as you ride by the windmills.

Time: 40"
Level: Easy

Guide Service: $25+$5 pp
 

This ride starts on a dirt track high in Sabalito. Then we follow a mix of rough cow trails and paths. There are beautiful views of the lake. Then a fast descent on a dirt road to Rio Piedras. The ride back up is on the highway and up to the starting point. If you don't want to ride back up, there is a shuttle bus available. You can also end the ride with a swim at the Tico Wind site.

This is a rough track connecting two dirt roads. It can be ridden up or down. If ridden down it is fast and furious with a short steep climb at the end. If ridden up it is a short steep very technical downhill first with a longer hard climb up.  The Link itself takes about 25 minutes. 

Shroom Zoom is named after the magic mushrooms that grow on the cowpies along this trail. Start in Sabalito. We ride up the highway and the gravel road up Skingraft. Skingraft is very steep and if you were to ride it down you don't want to fall or you may need skingrafts. The view at the top is stunning. On a clear day you will be able to see Lake Arenal and all the way to the volcanoes in Nicaragua. Just after the top we turn into a farm and ride cow trails back down along beautiful scenery. 

We do this route when other rides are too muddy. It is a mix of asphalt and gravel roads. This ride is easy except for the hairy downhill on a rutted double track at the end.  Less accomplished riders can walk the hard parts. They are not very long.

Time: 2"00"
Level: Easy
Guide Service: $25+$25pp

Lots of beautiful vistas along this primitive double-track through farm land. We pass horses and cows and occasionally we have to detour because an angry bull is in the way. There will be a couple of creek crossings. Then a steep gravel road back up to the windmills. We ride along the windmills on the ridge. It can be very windy there. Then a very technical downhill down to Sabalito. The technical part is only a quarter mile long so it can be walked down.

Uphill along a gravel road to the entrance of Don Mario's farm. There we follow deep rutted cow trails down through a variety of terrain with lots of good views. We leave the farm and enter again at another point to ride the Valley part. This is a technical mostly downhill ride along cow trails with even more beautiful views. Back up along the dirt road. This ride can be combined with the Link.

A mostly non-technical downhill to the tiny town of Los Angeles where we stop for a refreshment. Then the ride back up along the highway and gravel roads.

We usually start this ride in Tilarán. Uphill along the highway to Quebrada Grande. Then up and down along a gravel road and finally steep downhill along a gravel road with loose rock. Then a steep technical section that brings you to the Cañas River. A dirt road follows the river down. This is one of the prettiest sections of all the rides. About halfway is a swimming hole with rocks to dive off. Then on downhill along the river to Libano. From there you can either ride the 8km uphill back to Tilarán, or use our shuttle service.

Uphill along a gravel road to the entrance of a farm. A long downhill along a rough steep double track. Cross the Corobici river. Then a short steep climb up to Hacienda Tenorio. Slowly up a rocky road back to the gravel road and a long uphill back to Sabalito. If this ride is done without shuttle service it is quite strenuous.

This is a non technical ride that can be done when the trails are muddy from the rain. Lots of gravel roads and a fast section of highway down to Palmira. From there slowly back up to the starting point on dirt roads

Time:4'30"
Level:Easy
Guide Service: $45+$35 pp

You have to be in decent shape for this one even though there is a lot of downhill in this ride. The length and the heat make this ride demanding. This is the mother of all of our rides. There are sections with thorns. You have to have at least two spare inner tubes with you. The name of the ride means "Three kids". This came about because in the middle of nowhere there is a cabin with a couple and three little boys. We must be as alien to them as astronauts. There are lots of beautiful views along this ride. The first half is more adventurous than you may be used to. At times there is no trail and you have to pick your way through the rocks. Oftentimes we stampede a herd of cows. Halfway we stop in Palmira for refreshments and we load up on water. The rest of the trip is on dirt roads to Cañas. We swim in the Corobici river and then we have lunch at the Corobici restaurant, which overlooks a beautiful bend in the river. We take a shuttle back to the starting point. Only animals ride this back up on the highway. The temperature in Cañas is usually around 95F, ten degrees higher than at our starting point. On the asphalt the temperature is even higher. If you are in extremely good shape you can ride it back up on the dirt road. 

This is a non-technical ride that is very strenuous. The ride is 120km long. Only attempt to do this in one day if you are in extremely good shape. The ride starts in Sabalito and follows the highway to Tronadora. From there on we proceed on dirt roads for the next four hours. There are long stretches without any population. We cross many streams and a river. We pass by volcano Arenal. On a clear day the view of this mountain is spectacular and you may be able to see the eruptions and lava stream. After passing Arenal we continue back on the highway through the jungle. If you stop long enough coatimundis will come out of the trees begging for food. We eat at Hotel Heroes which features fine Swiss cuisine. Then on to Nuevo Arenal for a pastry at Tom's German Bakery. Then on to Sabalito. If you do this all in one day you will be very glad to be back.

Time:10 hours +
Level: Easy
Guide Service: $100+$60 pp if done in one day includes lunch
Guide Service: $250+$60 pp if done in two days includes shuttle and hotel

A unique way to see Costa Rica. This ride needs a minimum of five persons. We start in Sabalito and go through farms on cow trails and dirt roads along the volcanoes. First Tenorio then Miravalles where we spend the night at the foot of this volcano at Hotel Yoko. There are hot baths fed from the thermals springs of the volcano. The second day goes to the foot of volcano Rincon de la Vieja. An hour and a half uphill brings us to cooler temperatures and to the entrance of the National Park. We traverse the Park and depending on the weather we go for a dip in a pool under a waterfall. We cross many creeks and some of them will smell of sulphur.The second night is at the Rincon de la Vieja Lodge. The third day goes downhill through the park on horse trails and double track with lots of creek crossings. We end up on dirt roads and finish at Las Lilas with a swim in the river. Cold beer and other refreshments will be waiting there.  We shuttle back to Liberia for pizza and then we go back to the starting point. You have to be in decent shape for the second day of this ride. The first and second day are each 30 miles long and take about 5 hours. The last day is a little shorter. 

Time: Three Days
Level: Intermediate
Cost:$525 pp/double occupancy incl. shuttles and accommodations

Call Norman List at 8377-3377 for guide services and shuttles.
Email at  normanlist@gmail.com

We strongly recommend bringing Powerbars or some other kind of nutrition for the rides that are longer than two hours. Bring along at least a quart of water for each hour of riding. Pinch flats are a frequent occurrence due to an abundance of sharp rocks on the fast downhills. Inflate your tires to 40 psi and you will probably be OK.  Apply a high SPF sunblock before the ride. 

If you are planning to ride with us you will be more comfortable if you bring the following:

Bike shoes
Pedals (if your cleats are not SPID compatible)
Bike shorts
Gloves
Helmet

There is also a Mountain Bike Photo Gallery !!

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