Costa Rica is the breathtaking setting for the toughest mountain bike race on the planet, La Ruta de los Conquistadores
Are you ready to take on the biggest challenge of your life? You must be if you've come this far! Over the event's four days, you will compete with some of the best "hard-core" mountain bike (adventure) racers in the world, but you will also share the trails with a generous number of enthusiasts MTB amateur riders. You will experience the same grueling terrain and extreme tropical climate that the original Spanish conquistadors endured during their first expedition crossing the continent from coast to coast.
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 A quick review to La Ruta's history
Riding his bike, 14 years ago, Race Organizer and Founder Roman Urbina explored and retraced the cross country route of the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Caballón. The route started on the Pacific Coast in the beach town of Jacó.
The first fifteen minutes is a pleasurable ride along the coastal highway before comming to the first of many grueling climbs. Upon reaching the town of Bijagual, the journey takes a sharp left and heads into the back end of the nature reserve, Carara National Park. This reserve is populated by poison dart frogs and scarlet macaws.
 The route descends into the Valley of Turrubares and continues toward the central highlands, taking you through numerous spectacular microclimates. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Central Valley is cooler with more rain at higher elevations. On average, Costa Rica receives 3,300 mm (130 inches) of rainfall per year.
The highest point in the expedition is the Irazú Volcano, which towers over San José at the eastern edge of the Central Valley. It reaches hights of 3,432m (11,259 feet). Irazú and its neighbor, the Turrialba Volcano, border the old capital city and religious center, Cartago, Costa Rica. Another conquistador, Perafán de Rivera, explored the region with its rich volcanic soils that today contribute to the prosperous agricultural industries surrounding Cartago and the town of Turrialba.
After an in depth exploration around the Turrialba Volcano, Rivera continued towards the Atlantic flatlands traveling some of Costa Rica´s largest rivers and most dense jungle, which today have been replaced by immense banana plantations which grows excellent in the wet marshes bordering the Caribbean coast.
As such, La Ruta was born -a grueling, (coast to coast) four stage… four days mountain bike race that will challenge not only your physical strength, but your sanity as well.
 The stages
Day 1 will departs from the Best Western Jacó Beach Hotel on the Pacific Coast, and finishes 96 Km later at El Rodeo horse farm, 20 Km West from San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city.
Day 2, the new segment (starting for the 2007's event) begins at El Rodeo and draws an amazing nice-views course (72,2 Km.) over the mountains around the Central Valley before finishing at TerraMall Shopping Center, 15 Km. East from San José.
Day 3 (66.7 Km.), commencing at TerraMall, takes Pro racers and MTB enthusiasts to a 30 Km ascent up to the highest point of the whole event, the Irazú Volcano (3.010 meters above sea level). Then they get to "El Tapojo" downhill to Turrialba Volcano first and to the coffee town of Aquiares finally.
The fourth and final course (120 Km) starts at Aquiares and closes the event at the Caribbean beach of "Playa Bonita", on Saturday. This course includes the famous train-tracks and bridges section.
La Ruta de los Conquistadores have a total length of 356 Km and more than 11.500 meters of accumulated ascent, retracing the path of the Spanish Conquistador across Costa Rica's biodiversity, its many forests and nine of its 12 different microclimates.
For any sort of mountainbikers
Attending recommendation of Pro racers and amateur participants, the organization established race's course according to all kind of entrants.
The organization wanted to make an event for any sort of people, not only for the most prestigious Pro racer, but for the important group of local and non-local amateur enthusiasts that are interested on coming to Costa Rica and make La Ruta as a ride, as a funny opportunity to know our beautiful country, riding their mountain bikes and facing their own conditions… their own humanity
Event dates:
- November 12, 13, 14 and 15 (2008 edition)
Prices:
- $999 double occupancy
- $1799 single occupancy
Start times:
- Day 1: 5:10 a.m.
- Days 2-3-4: 6:30 a.m.
 | Includes:
- 4 day race entrance
- Evening meal after each stage
- Breakfast at each hotel
- Hotel accommodations in 3-4 stars hotels (nights of November 13-14-15-16)
- Energy drinks
- Energy bars
- Fruits at all check points
- Starting number for your handle bar
- Transfer of luggage and bike to each start point (don't include shuttle to Jacó)
- Race medal (only finishers)
- Bike wash
- Insurance
- Private ambulance service
- Support stations throughout the race
- La Ruta de los Conquistadores Race Magazine
- La Ruta de los Conquistadores Bag (size 80x35x32 cm)
- La Ruta de los Conquistadores T-Shirt
- La Ruta de los Conquistadores Special Edition Jersey
- Champion chip
Duration:
- 6-12 hourse each day |
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