Things are shaping up for Christmas in Central America. We will fly down around December 20th or 21st and ride around for about two weeks. We will most likely start in San Jose, Costa Rica, and hope to cross into Nicaragua for at least a few days to see Granada and Ometepe Island.

I always wear my Aerostich Roadcrafter 1-piece suit and touring boots, even when it's quite hot here in California. I wore it to Baja last year. But I'm thinking it might be nice to travel a little lighter (and cooler) if conditions warrant it. Any recommendations?

__________________
Craig Haggart
Sunnyvale, California
'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness' - Mark Twain

I rode to Panama and back two years ago and wore First Gear textile jacket and pants. You would be surprised how cold it is up at 10,000 feet in Costa Rica on the Camino del muerte and up on top of the Volcanos. But yes it's hot down in the lower elevations on the Nicoye penninsula etc.

I flew down to Costa Rica earlier in '06 and rented a dirt bike for two weeks. Couldn't get across the border into Nica with a rental bike. Not sure what the situation is now. But there is plenty to see and do to keep you busy for two weeks just in CR. Especially if you head around to the Pacific side of the Osa Penninsula and go over and visit Cahuita and Puerto Viejo on the Carribean side.

Rainy season winds down in November/December so you should have nice weather, but it still can be wet and you might miss that Roadcrafter if you are wearing mesh through the tropical rainstorms. I wouldn't spend money on new gear myself especially if the gear you have worked fine in Baja.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

__________________
South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076

Thanks for the input, John! I have a couple months to think about it but for now I'll just plan on taking my 'Stich.

I have been in contact with a few bike rental places, and it appears to be possible to get the paperwork necessary to cross into Nicaragua (though with an understandably hefty deposit).

Any suggestions on must-see (or best-avoided) places during a 2-week ride? Oh, and how was Panama? I've often thought that it would be interesting to ride to the end of the road in Yaviza.

__________________
Craig Haggart
Sunnyvale, California
'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness' - Mark Twain

Let's see. Some of my favorite places. Hmmm. I loved Rancho DiAndrew down near Uvita south of Dominical.

Rancho DiAndrew (Uvita, Costa Rica) - Lodging Reviews - TripAdvisor

Up a valley overlooking the jungle out to the Pacific. Jumping off waterfalls into mountain pools. I stayed there for a week last time I was through. That place was heaven.

Riding to the top of Mt Irazu volcano and Poas Volcano. Heck every mountain road was great. Definitely check out the cloud forest up in Monteverde. And riding around Lago Arenal and checking out that area, up through the waterfall garden area. Up to the Canoa Negro wildlife reserve. Nicoya penninsula away from the tourist spots is nice but probably the coastal rivers will be too high to ford in December on the fun Pacific side. Definitely the Osa penninsula. And the road going straight up behind Ciudad Niely zig zagging up into the clouds towards San Vito. You'll just scratch the surface in two weeks.

As far as Panama, my favorite area was in the highlands around Volcan and Boquete near Costa Rica. Riding down to Yaviza is something you do once to see what's there. A lot of straight line riding through mowed down teak forests for several hundred miles down and back. Like riding to Prudhoe Bay, do it if you must. Although I may have to go down that way to catch a boat down the Pacific side in a couple months.

There's a lot to see in Costa Rica though. You'll have fun!

Best,
John Downs

__________________
South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076

Thanks a million! I'm printing out your reply so we have the details while poring over maps at our planning meeting. Sure do appreciate it.

__________________
Craig Haggart
Sunnyvale, California
'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness' - Mark Twain

What to wear ? Blue jeans and a mesh jacket and throw on a light rainsuit and sweater if it starts to rain or gets chilly at mountaintops.
No need to overdress.
For some added route variety if going into Panama cross to or from the Volcan area of Panama in the highlands to San Vito CR but for the other entry consider doing the Caribbean side from Sixaola CR ( have they built the new border bridge yet ?) This will let you tour the banana country of Bocas del Toro bay area and then cross the mountain spine south to rejoin the Panamerican Highway all the way to Yaviza .

__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93