Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:12 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)
Written by Nikki Solano
Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
La Fortuna is fortunately home to more things to do than any other location in Costa Rica. Mountain biking tours are widely available – some include trips around the volcano, to Arenal Lake, and all the way to Monteverde, while both paved road and unpaved road options are available. Mountain biking tours can also be combined with other popular activities, made famous by a well-known mountain biking / lake kayaking combo tour.
For those who would prefer to roam around town and explore their own areas, who are strapped to a tight budget, and/or who are simply not interested in a guided biking tour, you’re in luck. La Fortuna has a few different places where bikes are available for rent. If you are someone like my husband or I – who could care less about the quality of the bike as long as it fit and ran smoothly – try Ciro’s. This shop is a general store meets souvenir stand meets turnkey desk, offering everything from internet service, t-shirts, umbrellas, refreshments, pay-by-the-piece candy, and of course, mountain bikes. It can be found in the eastern part of town (opposite the volcano along the main street) directly across from the high school. The price was right – about $1 per bike per hour (ride first, pay later). You’ll also likely meet Andres – the friendly and English-speaking shop owner – as well as his sitting dog that is most often found behind the counter.
On Ricky and I’s most recent biking trip we picked up two bikes at Ciro’s and headed through downtown on the road to San Ramon. We took a right following the signs to the La Fortuna waterfall and rode to the entrance. Although this route has forever been a bumpy one, recent construction has made it a much nicer ride. From the waterfall, we recommend heading back along the same road, however instead of turning left to return to La Fortuna, instead turn right. Soon after you will come to a small bridge, under which is “El Salto” – a small swimming hole where you can relax and cool off before returning to town. For more information about El Salto, you can read a related post Free Local Swimming Hole & Tarzan Swing in La Fortuna/Arenal (El Salto).
*Discounts for mountain biking tours are available through Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated at: http://www.puravidaeh.ca/
Click here to access discounts for Mountain Biking Tours
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QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: If mountain bikes are available to rent, would you prefer to spend more on a higher quality bike? Or rent a basic one and pocket the cost difference?
Pura vida!
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