Costa Rica Trail – La Transtica

You know, right, how to say “hello”, “goodbye”, “thank you” and “ you’re welcome” in Costa Rica ? 🇨🇷 No? Well, here’s how you say it… Pura Vida ! 🎶 Literally, “the pure life” 😉. This little anecdote says a lot about the philosophy of the people of this small country in Central America 🌅. Indeed, the Costa Ricans embrace a philosophy of life that promotes gratitude and joy 🤝. So, remember this expression, “pura vida”, because, soon, you too will head to the Costa Rica for one of the most epic races in all of Latin America 🌎. I’m obviously talking about the Transtica, a race held in 5 stages over 10 days, which will take you across the Costa Rica from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean Sea ! 🌅

It’s right in the heart of the Central America, and more precisely at the Costa Rica you’ll need to head for to take part in this exceptional event: the Transtica! 🇨🇷 Ideally located between the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea 🌊, Costa Rica offers an incredible wildlife and flora: between the volcanoes 🌋, sandy beaches 🏝, and the national parkswhere you can spot brown pelicans 🦜 and sloths 🦥… No need to say more, it’s Costa Ricathe paradise for nature lovers! 🌳 And what’s the best way to discover this country? Enter an ultra trail and traverse the country end-to-end, of course! 🏃‍♂️ This year, two routes are organized at the end of November: november : an extreme race whose 5 stages are about 40 km (200 km and 9,300 mD+ in total) and an adventure race whose stages are about 20 km (120 km and 5,300 mD+ in total) 😉.

For your information, in November in Costa Rica, it’s usually between 17 and 26 degrees, but it can rain. Another challenge for the seasoned runner you are, so it’s up to you to prepare well! 🤝 And by the way, as far as the course goes, what’s the plan? 🏃‍♂️ Your journey is very simple: you’ll start from the Manuel Antonio beach on the Pacific coast, and you’ll finish your route at Manzanillo on the Caribbean coast, just near the border with Panama ! 🇵🇦 Far from tourist standards, you’ll have the chance, or even the privilege, to discover Costa Rica in its most authentic version. You’ll feel like you’re in a scene from Jurassic World (the dinosaurs are missing 🦕) ! The itinerary traverses surprisingly varied landscapes combining beaches 🏝, valleys 🌅, mountain passes ⛰, suspension bridges 🌉, river crossings 🏞, humid and tropical montane forests 🦥 and 🌄 landscapes, sugarcane fields 🎋, coffee plantations and palm groves!

You’ll also get the chance to race along the fine white-sand beaches of the Pacific… But you’ll also get to discover Santa Maria de Dota and its coffee plantations, its tropical forests and pastures. Also, you’ll race through the jungle to reach the Caribbean coast known for hosting many species of monkeys 🐒, iguanas 🦎, birds 🦜… but also, and especially, sea turtles ! 🐢 For your information, the Costa Rica alone accounts for 5% of all wildlife in the world! 😍

The challenge takes place in semi-autonomy 🏕 : semi-self-sufficiency, a precise list of mandatory gear, an marked course with Check Points and either liquid or solid provisioning, the presence of a French medical team, and a representative of the Costa Rica 🇨🇷... You’ll have all the comfort you need (within reasonable limits, you won’t be staying at a 5-star place either 😜).

And after the race, what do we do? 😉 Free time to visit San José and especially enjoy some culinary specialties (the race is over, so treat yourself 🤤). You can particularly try the national dish, the Gallo Pinto, literally the “Pinto Chicken”, which is made with black beans and rice, and seasoned with either eggs or meat, with aromatics and served with corn flour flatbreads and fried plantains. We also recommend trying the Guaro, the national drink of Costa Rica, which, like rum, is derived from sugar cane 🎋.

We hope we’ve convinced you to take part in this exceptional race. There’s only one thing left to say: pura vida a todos ! 🎶