At Coastal Challenge, we get 6 days and either 240 or 145 km through jungle, beaches, ridgelines, river crossings, and mobile camps. February rain is less concerning than 34-degree heat and humidity. The estimated $3,050 Expedition price includes much of the remote logistics, but this is still a splurge and difficult to spectate. Partners can enjoy Manuel Antonio and Drake Bay at either end; following the moving race is another matter.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 4 fields on this race.
Why we'd pick it
- The 10000 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- Open · Direct entry — no lottery to lose.
- Thin on non-race things to do for a partner (2/5).
- Race day usually sits 24.3–29.6°C, about 40% chance of rain.
The course
Six stages move down Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast through jungle singletrack, Talamanca ridgelines, beaches, river crossings, and mobile camps. The Expedition covers 240 km and the Adventure 145 km, with only short asphalt sections and aid roughly every 10 km. February is dry season, so heat and humidity dominate; the stored 10,000-meter gain and 2,000-meter high point remain planning estimates.
Difficulty and PR scores
Difficulty is the course and the conditions. The PR score is a separate read on a fast clock. Missing inputs are dropped and the other weights are rescaled. The method, with the weights.
- Difficulty
- 57 / 100
- PR / BQ friendliness
- Not scored
Weight used: 60%. Need 40% before we print a number.
Weight used: 30%. Need 45% before we print a number.
Weather median for 2011–2025, race date ±7 days, 225 days, at Provisional start / Quepos. Grid elevation 0 m.
No cited BQ rate for this race.
| Input | 0–100 | What went in |
|---|---|---|
| G Gain | — | No trusted gain per km. Uncertain stored gain is not used. |
| A Altitude | 0 | 0 m. 0 below 300 m, 100 at 2000 m. Source: open-meteo-grid. |
| H Heat | 95 | High 29.6°C, dew point 22.3°C. The hotter of the two bands is used. |
| W Wind | 15 | 1.24 m/s median. Bands: under 3 → 15, under 5 → 40, under 8 → 70, else 100. |
| S Surface | 90 | trail. Road 15, mixed 45, gravel 70, trail 90. |
| T Cool temps | 5 | 100 minus heat (95). |
| B BQ evidence | — | No cited BQ rate. |
Stays around the race
These are area searches near the published start, finish, and course pins. TripRace may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. We are not naming a hotel.
- Along the course · Quepos / Manuel Antonio — Quepos / Manuel Antonio
- Near the finish — Drake Bay finish
