Bike Arenal
Bike Arenal
5
Full view
About
Bike Arenal is Costa Rica’s leading Bike Tour and Multisport Tour Operator. Located in La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano we offer multi-day bike tours including accommodations and meals. Visit active volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls, small rural villages and tropical beaches. Multisport Itineraries include biking, white water rafting, rainforest hikes, zip lines, surf lessons and more.Custom designed Adventure Holidays and Active Family Vacations.One-day mountain Bike Tours in Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake.
La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Travellers talk about
(15 reviews)
(7 reviews)
(46 reviews)
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
263 reviews
Excellent
227
Very good
21
Average
6
Poor
5
Terrible
4
Matthew
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Great adventure exploring Costa Rica with Alejandro and Brayner. We visited some beautiful places, staying at lovely small independent hotels whilst cycling across varied terrain. Brilliant organisation by Alejandro from way before the trip when we first started planning it and he and Brayner were great company - highly recommended.
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D K
3 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
We did the full day tour with Mauricio including the volcano hike, hanging bridges, waterfall and hot springs. Our guide was awesome - not only friendly but went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed, and more. He also was great at spotting wildlife, pointing them out, getting us great pictures of both the wildlife and our family. I would fully recommend the full day tour with Mauricio and Bike Arenal.
Written 25 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We had a fantastic visit to Costa Rica with Bike Arenal. Alejandro and Diego, our guide and driver, helped us get closer to the land and the people of this beautiful country. Our family of four has done a fair bit of self-supported bicycle touring (inn-to-inn tours). This was our first time with a guide and support driver and it really helped us absorb what we were experiencing. Alejandro helpfully provided cultural and natural context as we peddled on paved and back-country roads. In addition to cycling near Arenal, we had a half-day of hiking in Arenal and two days on the beach of Samara. The three-star hotels were exactly what we were looking for and Alejandro's restaurant recommendations were impeccable. Highly recommend.
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
christian c
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
My son and me have use to go around the world to make bike ans this year was Costa Rica. I recommend strongly Bike Arenal in order to rent bikes in this very nice region. They propose good bike ready to be used even already used, they are in order. The team, Evelyn, Alejandro, Manuel pay great attention to help you and supply the support to fix any problem and the bikes are appropriate for the topography rather difficult in a very nice landscape. If I go back to Costa Rica, I know where I would like to go and where to rent good bikes. Pierre and Christian Charlier from Belgium.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GabsLau
Hong Kong, China15 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
I had a great time doing the 1968 Single and Double Track with Bike Arenal. They picked me up from the hotel in the morning and drive to a carpark beneath the volcano. The bike I was given was pretty good, gears shifted well and fit my size. We proceeded to the MTB trail. There are many challenging parts which we are encouraged to choose whether we want to take them on or push the bike to through. But I would say 60% of the route is moderate and enjoyable terrain. Our guide also share interesting information about animals and plants we saw on route. Notes that you have to like getting muddy to enjoy this route.
Written 22 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
plava_laguna89
Atlanta, GA331 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
We did an easy 4-hr tour around the volcano. It was entirely flat except the very end where you could choose to ride in the car. Our guide and support driver were excellent. We saw lots of animals, had some fun in the river and had a nice snack break. Highly recommend.
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FellowTraveler559527
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
We choose the Lake Arenal to El Castillo ride for a shorter distance. The scenery was beautiful and it was perfect weather. The guide was professional and a lot of fun. We pointed out wildlife and flora along the way. Very generous with the snacks!
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie B
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Lovely bike ride for our family (15,16 yr old boys + mum and dad), lovely to stop on the way to see howler monkeys a viper snake toucans and a coati. The guides were great explaining to us about the volcanic eruption and the local animals and plants. The stop at El Castillo to rest and have snacks was great - pineapple sweet and tasty! All of the guides were very friendly and looked after the group so well on the roads keeping an eye on the occasional car that passed by calling it out for us. It was a lovely mix of wildlife observing in between quite challenging but fun sections of hill followed by lovely refreshing downhill glides! Really fun excellent morning! Thanks to all - Diego and his team xx
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shannon m
3 contributions
Apr 2023
We had a fantastic time riding to El Castillo and back. The pace was perfect for our family of six (ages 9, 15, 15 and 17) plus parents. We had a nice picnic at the lake and then headed back. The van follows you the entire way in case someone needs a tire change etc. it was a top notch tour. The bikes were excellent (specialized). Very well maintained. Highly recommend.
Written 12 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlo Z
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
Short review:
Guide and driver, 5 stars
Owner, 3 stars (prompt communication but lack of transparency on bikes)
Bikes, 1 star
Long review:
The tour itself was fine although all on paved roads and with a fair amount of traffic, so not really a “MTB tour”. Ore guide, Antonio, is a great guy and he and the driver made the tour worthwhile. Antonio speaks good English, Italian (the main language during the tour), and German and he entertained us with interesting facts about local history and culture.
The bikes quality is a very different and much worse story. I reached out ahead of time to find out about the bikes offering and I was provided with no information. Once I saw the bikes I realized why: we were offered old, hardly maintained, hard tail clunkers:#1 had water spurting out of the fork seals! Bike #2 skipped the chain on almost all gears due to a worn out chain and cassette. The fork felt very stiff, with no regulation and a broken lock out. It gets even worse but no point in beating a dead horse.
If you can get Antonio as a guide and a better bike, Bike Arenal is a decent option for a fun bike tour, although the course options are limited and not always require a mountain bike.
Guide and driver, 5 stars
Owner, 3 stars (prompt communication but lack of transparency on bikes)
Bikes, 1 star
Long review:
The tour itself was fine although all on paved roads and with a fair amount of traffic, so not really a “MTB tour”. Ore guide, Antonio, is a great guy and he and the driver made the tour worthwhile. Antonio speaks good English, Italian (the main language during the tour), and German and he entertained us with interesting facts about local history and culture.
The bikes quality is a very different and much worse story. I reached out ahead of time to find out about the bikes offering and I was provided with no information. Once I saw the bikes I realized why: we were offered old, hardly maintained, hard tail clunkers:#1 had water spurting out of the fork seals! Bike #2 skipped the chain on almost all gears due to a worn out chain and cassette. The fork felt very stiff, with no regulation and a broken lock out. It gets even worse but no point in beating a dead horse.
If you can get Antonio as a guide and a better bike, Bike Arenal is a decent option for a fun bike tour, although the course options are limited and not always require a mountain bike.
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane C
Waukesha, WI10 contributions
Are there mountain bike tours available in mid-late April?
Alejandro Bike Arenal
Paris, France
Hola Diane, yes our tour will be available all year.
tawnyyyy
Utah110 contributions
Hi, looking to rent bikes for some day exploring with a small group, but we have some less-fit riders, do they have ebikes as an option to rent also?
Hola, by now we do not have e-bikes available, how many do you think will need ? Also we can offer you support vehicle or we can offer an organized tour in case you are interested. Please let us know and we will be more than happy to help you out.
Joe B
Fair Haven, NJ2 contributions
what tour would you recommend for an experienced mountain biker?
Jennifer F
Seattle, WA26 contributions
Hi, we are two families with 5 kids ages 8-12. We'd like to do some biking around arenal - our kids are accustomed to biking mostly on paved roads and trails that are not too steep or rocky. Are there any guided tours you can recommend, and if so, can you let us know what the total cost would be? (4 adults, 5 kids). We would like to do this on 2/23. Thanks!
Peter S
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania2 contributions
Do you sell stationary bikes? If not, can you tell me where I might find one?
43jeffreys
12 contributions
We will be staying in Arenal Springs Resort in a few weeks and would like to rent bicycles for the entire week, just to get to town for restaurants and shopping. Looks like 3-4 miles and maybe a bit hilly. thoughts ? thanks.
robseattles
Mercer Island, WA7 contributions
No problem. We drove that stretch several times. Not sure your hotel location. Once in town very flat. Good luck and ask bike shop for ideas also. They were very helpful.
CChase3006
Bismarck, ND
I would like to do the same trip. What was the cost for the 1/2 day?
Alejandro Bike Arenal
Paris, France
Hello dear friend, we are so happy that you want to join us in our bike trips thanks for that. About your question can you please let us know in which bike tour are you interested, so that way we can give you more details. Thank you so much and Saludos from Bike Arenal staff.
Lexxus98
Atlanta, GA23 contributions
Hello,
Do you pick up and drop off from The RIU Gunacaste?
Alejandro Bike Arenal
Paris, France
Hi dear friend, yes we can do that, but we need to know which of our activities are you interested? Half day, full day or a multi day biking tour ? And when do you want to do the activity. Also we offer transportation services from/to airports so if you need any help please feel free to contact us and we will be more than happy to help you out ... Saludos from Bike Arenal staff.
Mahana P
anchorage alaska135 contributions
Are there any challenging single track mountain biking trails?
Alejandro Bike Arenal
Paris, France
Hola!
thank you for contacting Bike Arenal.
In La Fortuna area there is a Park with arround 15 kilometers of volcanic lava trails where we use to go cycling is a good place for single trails, also there is another place where you can practice downhill, both places are private properties but you can pay fees and use them.