MonteTours Blog

Monteverde is a beautiful and adventurous destination for mountain bikers, offering challenging terrain and stunning natural surroundings. From exploring the Cloud Forest Reserve to riding through the Arenal Volcano National Park, there are plenty of exciting mountain bike tours in Monteverde. 

In this article, I will highlight the area’s top 5 mountain bike tours, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience for riders of all skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned mountain biker or just starting, these tours will surely provide an exciting and memorable adventure. 

I’ll also give you the links to easily book them online. So grab your helmet and get ready to hit the Monteverde, Costa Rica trails!

The Top 5 Best Monteverde Mountain Bike Tours

The following are the top 5 best Mountain Bike Tours in Monteverde, which I listed in order of approximate duration. 

You will notice that all of them are on E-Bikes (i.e., Electric Mountain Bikes), and we do them on E-Bikes due to the difficulty of the terrain in Monteverde. We have very steep climbs here, which make Mountain Biking pretty tricky, but when you have an electronic bike, things get much more fun and easygoing. 

However, if you’re a fit rider, you can either lower the power on the E-Bike or turn it off altogether for the entire trip or for a part of it to get a great workout. 

With that out of the way, let’s go over the list!

1. Sunset MTB E-Bike Tour
2. Sunrise MTB E-Bike Tour
3. Cloud Forest MTB E-Bike Tour
4. El Tigre MTB E-Bike Tour
5. Lake Trail MTB E-Bike Tour

Sunset Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour

Available daily from December through April and starting at 4:30 PM, the Epic Sunset Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour is a fantastic 2-hour guided ride on an electric mountain bike to contemplate a fabulous sunset overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya as the sun kisses the ocean far away. 

You will first need to get to the meeting point, about a 5-minute drive from Santa Elena, Monteverde (you will get a Google Map on your confirmation email after booking online). 

Then, you will ride for about 45 minutes to reach a unique, private lookout to see the sunset and have some snacks, included with the tour, before moving on to ride on some of Monteverde’s best backroads for mountain biking. 

The tour includes: 

• Tour Guide
• Use of Helmet
• High-end E-Bikes
• Snacks (Fruit, Water, Bars)
• Flat Pedals (to fit sneakers)
• Bike Adjustment (to fit your size)

This fantastic experience starts at $99 + taxes per person and requires a basic fitness level and an intermediate MTB skill level (i.e., you train at least once a week, and you can pedal for two hours on varied terrain). The minimum age is 12. It is only available for small groups (1 to 4 people + Tour Guide) and requires a reservation at least three days before your desired tour date.

Sunrise Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour

Available daily from May through November and starting at 4:30 AM, the Epic Sunrise Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour is a fantastic 2.5-hour guided ride on an electric mountain bike to contemplate a spectacular sunrise overlooking the Arenal volcano. 

You will first need to get to the meeting point, about a 5-minute drive from Santa Elena, Monteverde (you will get a Google Map on your confirmation email after booking online). 

Then, you will ride for about 30 minutes to reach a spectacular lookout to see the sunrise and have some snacks, included with the tour, before moving on to ride on some of Monteverde’s best backroads for mountain biking. 

The tour includes: 

• Tour Guide
• Use of Helmet
• High-end E-Bikes
• Snacks (Small Breakfast)
• Flat Pedals (to fit sneakers)
• Bike Adjustment (to fit your size)

This incredible experience starts at $99 + taxes per person and requires a basic fitness level and an intermediate MTB skill level (i.e., you train at least once a week, and you can pedal for two hours on varied terrain). The minimum age is 12. It is only available for small groups (1 to 4 people + Tour Guide) and requires a reservation at least two days before your desired tour date.

Cloud Forest Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour

Available daily, year-round, and starting at 8 AM, the Cloud Forest Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour is a fantastic 3.5-hour guided ride on an electric mountain bike around some of the most beautiful, less touristy backroads of Monteverde.

You will first need to get to the meeting point, about a 5-minute drive from Santa Elena, Monteverde (you will get a Google Map on your confirmation email after booking online). 

Then, our Tour Guide will have a short briefing where your guide will agree with you on a route that will match your experience level. And off you will have a fantastic time checking out places most tourists can’t access, such as hidden lookouts with gorgeous views of some of Monteverde’s most beautiful spots. 

The tour includes: 

• Tour Guide
• Hydration Mix
• Use of Helmet
• High-end E-Bikes
• Flat Pedals (to fit sneakers)
• Bike Adjustment (to fit your size)

This outstanding experience starts at $109 + taxes per person, requires a moderate fitness level and an intermediate MTB skill level (i.e., you train at least three times a week, and you can pedal for three hours on varied terrain). The minimum age is 12. It is only available for small groups (1 to 4 people + Tour Guide) and requires a reservation at least three days before your desired tour date.  

El Tigre Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour

Available daily year-round and starting at 7:30 AM, the El Tigre Waterfall Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour is a fantastic adventure that combines 2.5 hours of mountain biking with 2 hours of trekking and 30 minutes of horseback riding. 

You will first need to get to the meeting point, about a 5-minute drive from Santa Elena, Monteverde (you will get a Google Map on your confirmation email after booking online). 

Then, you will ride for about 2 hours to reach El Tigre Waterfalls, a popular, emblematic park on the outskirts of Monteverde. Next, you will make El Tigre Waterfall’s trail to see four beautiful waterfalls, crossing multiple hanging bridges on a 5 KM downhill trail. 

Then, you will go on a 30-minute horseback ride uphill to close the loop of the El Tigre Waterfalls’ trail, getting back to reception, where you left your bike. And finally, you will ride for another 30 minutes to get back to the meeting point where your adventure began a few hours earlier. 

The tour includes: 

• Tour Guide
• Hydration Mix
• Use of Helmet
• High-end E-Bikes
• Snacks (Fruit, Water, Bars)
• Flat Pedals (to fit sneakers)
• Bike Adjustment (to fit your size)

This fantastic experience starts at $169 + taxes per person, requires an advanced fitness level and an intermediate MTB skill level (i.e., you train almost daily, and you can pedal for four hours on varied terrain). The minimum age is 12. It is only available for small groups (1 to 4 people + Tour Guide) and requires a reservation at least five days before your desired tour date. 

Lake Trail Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour

Available daily year-round and starting at 6:00 AM, the Lake Trail Monteverde Mountain Bike Tour is an experience of a lifetime, suitable only for advanced cyclists, especially mountain bikers. 

You will first need to get to the meeting point, about a 5-minute drive from Santa Elena, Monteverde (you will get a Google Map on your confirmation email after booking online). 

Then, you will go on a massive 800-meter (2,700 feet) descent bordering the Children’s Eternal Forest, featuring some of the most astonishing

views in Costa Rica, before reaching the town of Rio Chiquito on Arenal Lake’s shore. Then we will return to Monteverde through the colorful route of Las Nubes de Tilarán. 

The return to Monteverde can be an overwhelmingly long and challenging task. However, a support vehicle will aid you throughout the 4-hour-ish climb, with enough snacks and hydration to keep you going or take you on board should you need to call it a day. 

The tour includes: 

• Tour Guide
• Hydration Mix
• Use of Helmet
• High-end E-Bikes
• Snacks (Fruit, Water, Bars)
• Flat Pedals (to fit sneakers)
• Bike Adjustment (to fit your size)
• Support Vehicle to aid the Tour Group

This fantastic experience starts at $195 + taxes per person and requires an advanced fitness level (i.e., you train almost daily, and you can pedal for six hours on varied terrain) and an intermediate MTB skill level. The minimum age is 18. It is only available for small groups (1 to 4 people + Tour Guide) and requires a reservation at least one week before your desired tour date. 

Comparing The Best Monteverde Mountain Bike Tours

Here’s the end of this article. Thank you for reading this far, and feel free to share this info with fellow travelers as you deem appropriate. Happy travels and ¡Pura Vida, amigos!

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of MonteTours Costa Rica. I live in Monteverde and love nature, adventure, and Mountain Biking. My partner and I love spending time outdoors and dining in Monteverde. We have more than 30 years of combined experience in the area, and there is no park, coffee shop, or restaurant we haven’t tried at least once!

We love helping visitors and connecting them with the different tours and activities to have a memorable experience in Monteverde.

If you need help planning things to do in the area, send us a message, and we will happily assist you!