The Mule Trail Race (El Camino de Mulas) is a self-supported bikepacking adventure that traverses Costa Rica from its southern border with Panama to the northern border with Nicaragua.
Event Details:
•Date: February 8, 2025
•Distances:
•630 km Route: Starting on February 8, 2025, from the Costa Rica/Panama border at 7:00 am, with over 14,000 meters of climbing. Participants have 4.5 days to complete the course.
•450 km Route: Starting on February 9, 2025, from Dominical Beach at 4:00 pm, with nearly 7,000 meters of climbing. Participants have 3 days to complete the course.
•Terrain: The course includes gravel and primitive dirt trails, river crossings, beaches, jungles, and significant elevation changes, offering a unique and challenging experience.
•Requirements: Participants must use a GPS device to follow the designated course and a SPOT or Garmin InReach device for tracking progress.
Our choice for The Mule Trail are Fat Bikes with either 26×4, 27.5×3.5 or 29×3 inch wheel/tire setups. This is mainly for the stability while loaded, control on loose gravel, comfy ride and advantage on muddy and sandy sections, however you can ride any type of bicycle as long as it human powered
•Support: This is a self-supported race; riders are responsible for their own logistics, including food, rest, and repairs, without external assistance.
•Included Services: The organization provides airport pick-up, lodging for two nights prior to the start, shuttle to start locations, and shuttle from the finish back to San José, Costa Rica.
For more information and registration details, visit the official website:
Note: Participants should prepare adequately for varying weather conditions and challenging terrain, ensuring their equipment is suitable for long-distance, self-supported cycling.