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Running Vacation Costa Rica Guide 2023

Looking for a running adventure that mixes sun and surf with sweat? You’re not alone in looking to find the best of the best running vacation Costa Rica.

With a range of amazing running adventures that include relaxing Costa Rican hideaways to challenging, cross-country courses that take you from coast to coast, Costa Rica really puts the paradise in runnerโ€™s paradise.

The only real problem that comes up when looking for Costa Rica running vacations is narrowing down the field. Given the stunning options available, that process can begin to feel overwhelming.

Weโ€™re here to help you make sense of the broad selection of Costa Rica running vacations so you can make the right choice for you – and get back to running! 

As international runners ourselves (who may or may not have agreed to pace a friend for the Rio de Janeiro Marathonโ€ฆ the night before the marathon), we know the importance of picking out the right adventure to get the vacation you want.

So, before you get out your passports, letโ€™s look through what kinds of running vacations Costa Rica has to offer, as well as which ones are right for you.

Why Do A Running Vacation In Costa Rica

For runners who want to keep their stamina up while still soaking in a beautiful vacation, Costa Rica tops the list.

For casual athletes, Costa Rica presents the opportunity to run along the beach and through the jungle during the day while you wind down in relaxing eco-lodges in the evening.

For runners who like to get to know where theyโ€™re running, you can meet the farmers who grow some of the best coffee in the world, then taste a cup while youโ€™re catching your breath before the next run.

For endurance athletes, youโ€™ll have volcanoes to run up and challenge courses that stretch past 200 kilometers over six days. Where better to push yourself than Costa Rica?

For the adventurous runners among us, theyโ€™ll note that Costa Rica is also an ideal spot for white water rafting, ziplining, hiking, scuba diving, and more. The only difference? On their Costa Rica run vacation, theyโ€™ll be running from adventure to adventure.

To help us make sense of the incredible variety of adventures, weโ€™ve broken down what we believe to be the three main styles of Costa Rica run vacations below.

Types Of Running Vacations In Costa Rica

Based on the kind of runner you are or the kind of running vacation youโ€™d like to have, we believe this will help you choose the best Costa Rica running vacation for you.

  • Running Retreats – A Costa Rica running retreat is designed around running and relaxing. The runs may be challenging and the days may have additional adventures listed, but the core goal remains to combine regular running with mindfulness, down time, and relaxation.

    These trips are designed for runners of all experience levels.
  • Running Adventures – A Costa Rica running adventure is meant to be fun. This high-energy vacation combines awesome running venues with some of Costa Ricaโ€™s best adventures for a memory-filled trip that will leave you feeling refreshed and reenergized. These trips are designed for runners of all experience levels.

    These trips are designed for runners of all experience levels.
  • Race Vacations – A Costa Rica race vacation is one thatโ€™s oriented around an official race or a running challenge. This is designed primarily to let you experience the challenging and breathtaking running environments Costa Rica has to offer.

    These trips are designed for more intermediate to experienced runners.

Best Costa Rica Running Retreats

Prioritizing a retreat/base camp vibe, Run BC Adventures Costa Rica run trip connects you to Costa Ricaโ€™s plentiful natural running destinations – waterfalls and mountaintops, to name a few – with 5 nights spent in the same ecolodge. 

Though many of the Costa Rica running retreats include yoga, mindfulness, and enjoying the natural wonders, this Run BC Adventures trip makes it a much bigger focus. And when you spend less time moving from place to place, you get to spend more time relaxing in a hammock in Costa Rica. If thereโ€™s a better post-run activity, I donโ€™t want to hear it.

Best Costa Rica Running Adventures

For one of the most well-established Costa Rica running adventures that blends daily runs with the best of Costa Ricaโ€™s activities, give Vacation Racesโ€™ Costa Rica: Central a look.

From running the jungle trails in Puerto Viejo, running toward rafting on the Sarapiqui River, running around dormant crater lakes, and then running in the shadows of Arenal Volcano, thereโ€™s no run here thatโ€™s not also its own adventure. You can even check out each dayโ€™s run in detail here.

Best Costa Rica Race Vacations

If youโ€™re ready to test yourself along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Coastal Challenge is the once-in-a-lifetime experience youโ€™re looking for.

The Coastal Challenge pushes runners along โ€œjungle and rainforest trails, mountain trail and single track across ridge lines, highlands and coastal ranges; pristine beaches, rocky outcroppings and reefs, river valleys, river and estuary crossingsโ€ and comes in two categories: Expedition and Adventure.

  1. The 240km (150 mile) Expedition takes place over 6 stages for the equivalent of about 40km (25 miles) per day.
  2. The 140km (90 mile) Adventure takes place over 6 stages, too, for the equivalent of about 24km (15 miles) a day.

The 2023 Coastal Challenge takes place from February 4th, 2023 to February 11th, 2023. Think youโ€™re up for it? You can send in your registration request here.

Honorable Mentions For Other Costa Rica Running Vacations

Other Interesting Costa Rica Running Retreats

  • Aire Libreโ€™s all-inclusive Costa Rica Running Retreat is 7 days and 6 nights of dreamy exploration as it mixes in cloud forests of Monteverde, volcanic landscapes, rain forests, and Caribbean beaches. Plus, thereโ€™s coffee to be brewed and sea life to scuba dive with? Sign us up.
  • For a Costa Rica run retreat thatโ€™s equal parts inspiration and perspiration, Runfully Globalโ€™s Costa Rica Retreat may be for you. The Runfully Method uses running/jogging to break through mental blocks, so this is especially designed for creatives and entrepreneurs looking to make progress in their personal and professional pursuits.
  • Soul & Trail, known for international running retreats in Bali, Vietnam, and the Pyrenees, offers their own Costa Rica Running Retreat. There isnโ€™t as much information listed online, so youโ€™ll have to inquire for more.

Other Interesting Costa Rica Running Adventures

Other Interesting Costa Rica Race Vacations

Other Running Adventures Around The World

Schedule doesnโ€™t line up? Want to see what else is out there?

Weโ€™ve got you covered with the best running retreats in the U.S., our favorite run travel companies for seeing the world, and a country-by-country guide of international running holidays.

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