{"id":48448,"date":"2026-05-23T06:32:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T05:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=48448"},"modified":"2026-05-23T06:32:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T05:32:46","slug":"costa-rica-coast-to-coast-from-sugarcane-fields-to-rafting-in-the-rainforest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2026\/05\/costa-rica-coast-to-coast-from-sugarcane-fields-to-rafting-in-the-rainforest\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica Coast to Coast – From Sugarcane Fields to Rafting in the Rainforest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Road to Rio Pacuare<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I slept a bit, but not much, so I was thankful for a fairly early start today and a quick breakfast in the hall before climbing back onto our bikes once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started with a pleasant ride along easy roads beside the Rio Pejivalle and then through endless sugar plantations where trucks were being piled high with harvested sugarcane. We were, of course, still keeping an eye out for the elusive sloth and had a couple of false sightings, both of which turned out to be insect nests \u2014 termites, bees, or wasps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stopped briefly at a junction before heading up into the mountains with a decent climb to start the day. I put in a bit of effort for the first time here and soon left the others behind. I didn\u2019t go too hard though, as I still had to keep a lookout for sloths as I climbed. I didn\u2019t want to miss one only to discover later that the others had spotted it behind me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Volcano<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Selfie<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the top we had good views out towards the volcano of Cerro Pasqu\u00ed in the distance before stopping at a small roadside shop for supplies. We would be camping for the next couple of nights with no resupply stops, so everyone stocked up on snacks and essentials. Somehow this message largely passed me by, so I only bought some ibuprofen and a drink, which I immediately consumed at the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there we continued along the road for a while before stopping at a busy roadside restaurant for a huge lunch. Afterwards came an easy descent down to a private estate, where we headed off-road onto dusty tracks baked hard by the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rainforest<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Viewpoint<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We stopped at a viewpoint overlooking rainforest-covered hillsides before beginning a long, fun descent down towards the R\u00edo Pacuare. I couldn\u2019t resist letting off the brakes and leaving the others behind on the descent. We\u2019d worked hard to gain all this elevation over the previous few days \u2014 I might as well enjoy losing it again. Although, it has to be said, the brakes and suspension on the bike could have been better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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