Stage 1 – Turrialba and Irazú Volcanoes
Irazú Volcano is Costa Rica’s highest volcano at over eleven thousand feet. Turrialba Volcano is also as impressive and recently became our second most active volcano. Both mountains are located just east of San José and dominate the entire countryside.
On race day, the stage starts and finishes in the small town of Pacayas just east of Cartago, Costa Rica’s second largest city. During the first 40 KM, the route climbs steadily from about 3500 feet to about 7000 feet passing by Turrialba volcano first and later at the highest point of the stage near Irazú Volcano. The last 20 KM of this first stage are downhill.
Total Distance: 63 kilometers

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Map	Profile

Stage 2 – Barva Volcano
This volcano’s pristine rainforest provides the stage for the second day of the race. This starts low on the slopes of Barva Volcano from the Hotel Montecampana near Heredia. After a 10 mile climb racers enter the Barva Volcano National Park for a taste of primary rainforest and technical singletrack down to the foothills of Poás Volcano. The surrounding forest is home to the Resplandescent Quetzal bird, Tapirs and several species of wild cats.The second stage finish line is in Doka Estate Coffee Farm, where the riders will arrive after enduring a technical downhill section traversing coffee plantations.
Total Distance: 38 kilometers

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Map	Profile

Single track section in the middle of the forest near to the Barva Volcano

Stage 3 – Poás and Arenal Volcanoes
El Reto’s last stage starts at the top of Poás Volcano near its mile-wide crater considered the second widest in the world. Soon after the start, racers tackle a long technical singletrack downhill heading north through rich highland forest. The next section is an ascent to the mountains near the agricultural town of Zarcero and the Chayote Forest Reserve.  The stage ends on the hot and humid northern plans with a final climb to the finish line near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica’s most active volcano.  The staging area is at Los Lagos Resort, where the natural volcanic hot springs and a delicious lunch await tired racers.
Total Distance: 110 kilometers

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Map	Profile

Downhill section near to the Poas Volcano

Maps, course and profiles are subject to small changes.

Click here to see some pictures of the stages