Motorcycle Tours are a popular Costa Rican adventure

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Many of you know that I'm an avid motorcyclist and that I researched my first edition Moon Cuba using a BMW G100S Paris-Dakar motorcycle that I shipped from California. (If you haven't read it yet, buy an autographed copy of Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba today!)

Although I've never motorcycled around Costa Rica, it's not for lack of desire. I simply have never found the time.

Costa Ricans themselves are big into motorcycling. Thousands of small Hondas, Suzukis and Yamahas whiz around urban streets. And Costa Rica's moneyed middle-class have a hankering for everything big, from Harley-Davidsons to BMW R1200GS Adventure, my own dream bike.

And the riding in Costa Rica is world-class.

You can rent bikes for your own two-wheel touring. But for my mind, the biggest thrill to be had is sharing your adventure on an organized group tour, such as offered by Moto Tours Costa Rica, run by Virginia-born moto-cross fanatics, R.J. and Wayne Faddis. They use late-model KTM motorcycles for their adventure-packed trips through the Central Highlands and beyond. Take your pick of road tours, off-road tours, and dirt bike adventures–these guys know a great dirt road when they see it! The duo will also custom-design a tour of any length.

An alternative is Costa Rica Motorcycle Tours, which also rents bikes, prepares tailor-made motorcycle itineraries for loners, and offers escorted tours with fixed departures. The company also owns the KTM and Aprilia franchise in Costa Rica, and can deliver your wheels to your hotel.

Harley fans haven't been left out. If you want to ride a hog, contact Tour’s María Alexandra or Harley Rentals, both of which offer one- to eight-day trips using Harley-Davidsons.

You can also sign up for tours offered by North American companies. My pal, Skip Mascorro, owner of Texas-based Moto-Discovery Tours runs eight-day guided tours in Costa Rica and four- to 11-day “El Vagabundo” tours, a go-as-you-please program.

For further information about travel in Costa Rica, buy Moon Costa Rica

If you're traveling only to San José and the Caribbean, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast pocket guide.

If you're traveling only to the beaches of Nicoya, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula pocket guide.

If you're traveling only to Arenal and/or Monteverde, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Arenal & Monteverde pocket guide.

Disclosure: I occasionally accept free or discounted travel when it coincides with my editorial goals. However, my opinion is never for sale. The opinions you see in Cuba & Costa Rica Journal are my unbiased reflection of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Copyright © Christopher P. Baker