This Mountain Bike Race is Considered One of the Toughest in the Whole World!
Usually depicted as a beautiful backdrop for your tropical vacations or as enveloping ecosystems that host wholesomeness and tranquility, Costa Rica’s natural wonders are also the perfect setting for adventure.
Plenty of survival programs have used the country’s uncharted rainforest for its demanding challenges, and many of this Central American gem’s highlights have also been featured in films looking for that tropical lushness and sense of wonder. After all, with such a vast percentage of the country being natural reserves, and an effective global campaign of exalting Costa Rica as one of the premier ecotourism and sustainable destinations in the whole world, the relationship with nature flows differently here.
One of the best examples of this can be found in the different sporting events that happen in the country, with La Ruta being one of the most iconic. This legendary mountain bike stage race is widely considered as one of the world’s toughest, as it incorporates the full range of the country’s diverse landscapes. Crossing 20 microclimates that go all the way from demanding jungle terrain to incredible elevations, conquering La Ruta is truly a feat.
With nearly 30 years of legacy since being conceived by Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Roman Urbina, La Ruta is fully established as one of the most alluring (and daunting) experiences for both expert and amateur bikers. The trail starts at sea level, in Playa Herradura in Puntarenas, and then begins to cross 275km between five mountain ranges, all up to 12,000m above sea. La Ruta ends near Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, representing the same route that took the Spanish conquistadores nearly 20 years to cross.
Each year, this event draws hundreds of participants and creates an atmosphere of expectation within the whole country, so being a part of it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that must not be missed for those who are up to the challenge.