Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama

This trip exceeded our expectations! The cycling was often challenging with some biggish hills in hot weather but also great fun (what goes up has to come down) and mostly on well made roads without too much traffic. Two longish sections on dirt roads challenge the suspension but are fine in the weather that we had for those sections. At the end of the trip we felt we had achieved something worthwhile. But it was not all cycling with trips to an active volcano, hot and cold springs and and wildlife spotting during river rafting among the notable highlights. The trip accommodation and food ranged from good to adequate. The hotel at Las Lajas and the last meal in Old Panama being particular highlights. The trip was well organised and well run with Roberto (Chino) and his team doing a great job. They responded very well to the issues of our delayed luggage and very poor weather in the Caribbean. The latter meant that we had an extra night at Las Lajas which was more than welcome. Chino, Paul and Ronal had become great friends with the group by the end of the trip. If you enjoy a bit of a challange and doing something a bit different from the usual holiday routine then this trip is for you - overall a superb experience which is going to take some beating!

Great way to get a flavour of the three countries. The trip was well organised, great guide and support team - Andres, Paul, Ronald and Alvaro. Good bikes in Costa Rica and Panama, okay in Nicatagua. If I could change one thing, I'd have brought my own saddle. Some challenging hilly rides but also well organised technical/food stops. Excellent extra activities like a night volcano trip in Nicaragua, boat will life spotting trip in Costa Rica and Miraflores locks visit in Panama. Good internary, we've visited some cool and beautiful places, however two nights in La Fortuna was one night too many, and two nights in Panama City was one night too many. Otherwise a fantastic trip.

What a fantastic way to see 3 fantastic countries. This trip however is not for the faint hearted - expect to be on the go 24/7 from the moment you land in Nicaragua. Despite this trip being focused around cycling it was so much more than that with plenty of activities off the bike. If you are looking for a real adventure with lots of laughs along the way then this is the trip for you. Cycling - There was a real mix of cycling from tarmac roads to gravel tracks. There were some challenging hills that required a decent level of cycling fitness to complete especially in the heat that reached over 100 on some days. The views were spectacular and wildlife was spotted along the way. We averaged around 30 miles a day and our group was fairly fast so this was usually completed within 3-4 hours. The approach to the cycling was pretty relaxed so if you wanted to stop at any point for a rest or to take photos you were free to do so. The cycling catered for everyone and it was up to you if you wanted to race or just relax at the back! We had our guide along with 2 support cyclists (mechanics) in Nicaragua - Roberto Aguilar (aka Chino), Albaro and Paul and then for Costa Rica and Panama there was just Chino and Paul. The support vehicle, driven by the very safe driver Ronal, was always on hand to assist anyone who may have been struggling, to provide water, rest-bite or even extra fuel (fruit & biscuits). Other Activities - One of the trip highlights for me was going up to the top of the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua at night and actually looking into the top of it - looking into the top of a live volcano was something that I never thought I would have the opportunity to do - breath-taking! Volcanic Spa at La Fortuna (Costa Rica) - a great way to relax in the evening after a days cycling. It was like being in heaven with Cocktails on hand! River Rafting (Nicaragua) - our guide spotted all kinds of wildlife that unless you have the eye for you would have never seen. Crocodiles, Toucans, Iguanas and much more. Nature trail on Ometepe, natural Spa........ There is just too many things to mention. A special mention has to go out to our tour guide Chino and his support staff who were exceptional. If you are considering this trip - DO IT!!!

I had a BRILLIANT holiday that had everything in it - hot sunshine, beautiful volcanos, amazing sunsets, tropical rain forests, lakes, rivers, Pacific & Caribbean beaches, remote villages, colourful colonial towns, wildlife, nightlife, great people and of course lots of cycling. A wonderful way of seeing three Central American countries if you can only go away for two weeks.

This was a superb trip. The combination of great cycling, scenery, wildlife was very memorable. All the hotels were good quality and good locations. Food was superb throughout the trip, a bit too good as my waistline will attest! Wildlife did not disappoint, seeing monkeys, birds, crocodiles, dolphins etc, along the way - the only thing I missed was a toucan - heard them, but did not manage to catch a photo - might have to go back!. Cycling was a bit hot some days - grateful for the warm rain sometimes! Stunning views in the mountains and forests. A couple of harder days with significant "undulations", but patience and encouragement from the team got us there. The group we were with was great, a lot of laughter during the rides, and good company in the evenings where we had dinner together most nights. The Exodus team were fab - everything perfectly organised and always ready when anyone needed help. Whole trip ran like clockwork.

Probably the best holiday I've ever had, which is saying something.  The cycling was challenging but not difficult, the scenery fantastic and the food excellent too.

Absolutely loved it! From the trip itself to the friends we made on it and the Exodus teams on the ground in each country, this was an adventure of a lifetime and no better way to dip your toes into Central America than by bike. The trip was executed daily with an efficiency of a Swiss clock by our guide Roberto. The bikes were comfy and looked after meticulously by the team. Cycling is the main event here and the heart of the trip was the breath taking views of volcanos, wildlife and rainforest.

If you are considering this trip, do not hesitate! It is a wonderful introduction to three very diverse countries. If you like variety, this is the trip for you -- each of the countries is distinct, but there are few similarities from one stop to the other. As well, there is a lot of variety in the activities beyond cycling, including: visits to a coffee plantation and a family-run chocolate making spot ... river rafting ... zip-lining above and through the cloud and rain forest ... Panama Canal visitors center ... animal rescue / rehabilitation facility just to name a few. So, it is not only about cycling, but obviously that is the focus and the means of moving from one destination to the next. The cycling is demanding--yes ... but not so much that the average person cannot feel comfortable on this trip and there are always options if the hill climbing is too much. The benefits of being close to nature and to people are something that can only be experienced on a bike. You won't feel exhausted - but you will have a pleasant "GOOD TIRED" feeling each night. Every morning I was enthusiastic to get back on the bike for what we had to discover that day.

Physically tough but worth all the sweat and sunburn to see such stunning scenery and wildlife by day, and recover over great food and beer each evening with fun, like-minded people.

A challenging and very enjoyable two weeks. Three very different countries in a short space of time. You will feel hot, dirty and tired - but stick with it - there is so much to enjoy! The cycling is challenging, and it does get easier - but do your training. The pace can be frantic - sometimes the hotels pass in a blur, arriving at dusk and then leaving early in the morning. But it is worth it to get such a great snapshot of Central American life.