Cycling in Costa Rica

The compact Central American nation, sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, is already well known as a magnet for backpackers and nature lovers.

As well as being wealthier and more politically stable than its neighbours - the military was constitutionally abolished in 1949 - Costa Rica packs an amazing variety of natural beauty into an area little bigger than Switzerland, around one-quarter of which is national parkland.

The country's tourist trade is heavily geared towards outdoors pursuits, whether jungle trekking and bird watching or more vigourous activities such as surfing and white-water rafting.

But every year, one intrepid group - this time including me - goes a step further. They get to see the entire breadth of the country from the saddle of a bicycle.

La Ruta de los Conquistadores (The Route of the Conquerors) has, over the past 14 years, grown from an informal ride organised by an intrepid group of friends into one of Costa Rica's most famous events.

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