Southern Spain in Feb? Somewhere else?

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 11-26-2023, 06:04 PM

Looking for the unicorn place that is relatively safe for self travel/exploration away from resorts areas (aka not most of mexico)......has shuttle riding AND pedal to riding (everything I have seen/experience in MX is shuttle/guide only.....maybe CDMX has pedal to stuff?)......has a beach....etc etc.

Flights to Malaga in Feb are cheap, but only mid 60s in Feb? No beach weather obviously.

Where else?

**schindlerpiste** · 11-26-2023, 06:11 PM

Costa Rica. Drake Bay. Osa Peninsula is where I would go.

I have a friend who lives in Valencia Spain, and he spends Jan-March in C.R.

**toast2266** · 11-26-2023, 06:46 PM

Yeah, I think if you want temps above mid 50's - low 60's, central or south America is probably your best option internationally.

**LeeLau** · 11-26-2023, 09:04 PM

The best I can think of possibly is the Almeria region. But it does get cold even there. Some trails above town to which you can pedal but it's not a big network. Most other towns especially Alpujarra region around Granada for example may require shuttle and transport

I can try to dig information from friends who've ridden there. Lots of Brits do travel there to ride so also look in Singletrack UK

Start with this https://m.pinkbike.com/news/epic-trails-spain-2015.html

Also this https://m.pinkbike.com/news/andaluca...ture-2016.html

Both provide transport and uplifts though but will give you a flavour for the region.

**Laps** · 11-27-2023, 06:15 AM

Alpujarra would be an insane place to ride if you like to pedal. Trails everywhere and not a bike in sight, even in August.

But not at all what you are looking for.

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**raisingarizona13** · 11-27-2023, 10:57 AM

Is New Zealand or Australia off the table?

Both countries have really embraced mountain bike trail building and Australia has a thriving punk rock scene.

F I love Amy from Amyl And The Sniffers.

**jm2e** · 11-27-2023, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by raisingarizona13

F I love Amy from Amyl And The Sniffers.

Oooff

**toast2266** · 11-27-2023, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by raisingarizona13

Is New Zealand or Australia off the table?

Could head down to Tasmania in late Feb and catch the new hardline comp in Maydena. That'd be pretty cool to watch. And the trails they raced there in the EWS this year looked super awesome.

**huckbucket** · 11-27-2023, 01:00 PM

Girona's gravel scene is heating up. Might be a little cold for you in mid-winter.

**mildbill.** · 11-27-2023, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

Girona's gravel scene is heating up.

Good mtb in Girona as well, dropping right into town (plus lots more farther afield). Great food, bike-friendly town. Not a place to do Beach.

**mcski** · 11-27-2023, 05:15 PM

My brother in law just bought a hotel in that area. Glad to know there’s a reason to visit lol

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 12-22-2023, 09:31 PM

Bump. We want to book something for February. We have a bunch of Alaskan miles but can't use em to get to Oaxaca apparently. Oaxaca is my top choice. I have been there...want to ride there again and then go to Puerto Escondido for a couple days (there are no direct flights from OAX to Puerto Escondido that I can find).

What else is south, has pretty good riding and isn't like $2000 flights aka NZ etc?

**Iowagriz** · 12-22-2023, 10:41 PM

Flights.google.com
Bozeman, but don't input destination or dates
Blue button for explore
Next screen, below Bozeman, click on the 1-week next six months
Change to Feb and Done
Bottom of new page, click on View Map
Move map to various countries

Hopefully, that all makes sense, I find that easier to do on a laptop. Move map around and explore prefixing for various parts of the world.

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**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 12-23-2023, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Iowagriz

Flights.google.com
Bozeman, but don't input destination or dates
Blue button for explore
Next screen, below Bozeman, click on the 1-week next six months
Change to Feb and Done
Bottom of new page, click on View Map
Move map to various countries

Hopefully, that all makes sense, I find that easier to do on a laptop. Move map around and explore prefixing for various parts of the world.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Awesome, thanks! I really wish I could just go somewhere warm and just hang around like normal people supposedly do. Gotta ride some bike and/or surf.

**fastfred** · 12-23-2023, 09:42 AM

You don't want to go somewhere and hang around with and like normal people it's not fun and its almost depressing having a 40 something walking I mean waddling along and breathing heavy while at sea level I just subjected myself to this it wasn't all bad but it was painful at times

Adventure vacations are where it's at

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**smmokan** · 12-23-2023, 09:49 AM

What about Costa Rica? I know nothing about the riding down there personally, but occasionally I hear good things about it. If you could get more info, it would obviously be easy to combine with a short beach vacation. Flights seem like they'd be easy/cheap with direct flights from Denver down to both Liberia and San Jose.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 12-23-2023, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by smmokan

What about Costa Rica? I know nothing about the riding down there personally, but occasionally I hear good things about it. If you could get more info, it would obviously be easy to combine with a short beach vacation. Flights seem like they'd be easy/cheap with direct flights from Denver down to both Liberia and San Jose.

That seems like the play, but riding seems possibly lacking? There is a bike park inland in the mountains. Other than that the trail systems seem minimal at best.

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**Bunion 2020** · 12-26-2023, 01:03 PM

Ex-patrol buddy of mine has done a lot of guiding in CR and speaks highly of the riding. I can steer you in her direction for info if you like.

https://www.ridetheearth.com/

**toast2266** · 12-26-2023, 01:57 PM

I've also heard good things about riding in CR, although I didn't ride at all when I was down there. Seems like the kinda place where a guide is probably necessary, at least for the first few trips.

**schindlerpiste** · 12-26-2023, 03:11 PM

^^^Especially, if you go down to Corcovado. There has to be good riding in the area of Poas and/or Arenal, and probably good riding near Manuel Antonio. There will be great surfing and limited good riding between Playa Hermosa and Manuel Antonio.

**rideit** · 12-26-2023, 07:47 PM

I will be in CR for a month starting Feb. 14, I’ll ask my cousins for beta. (I have many generations of family there).
I have ridden there, but it was…o.k., I guess. (Private bike trail park near San José).
I won’t be riding, but if you come down, we gotta hang out!

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 12-27-2023, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

Ex-patrol buddy of mine has done a lot of guiding in CR and speaks highly of the riding. I can steer you in her direction for info if you like.

https://www.ridetheearth.com/

Ahh nice I follow her companyu on instagram and have tried to get my GF to go to some of her chick only riding camps/trips. Looks dope. I may reach out to her.

Sounds like at least 2 or 3 days of guided is the play pretty much anywhere in central america/MX. CR at least we could do some MTB and then move to a beach spot for 4 or 5 days and surf and chill. I do really want to go to OAX again, but if we can use miles to go to CR for "free" that would be rad.

**zion zig zag** · 12-27-2023, 09:22 AM

This looks fun in CR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NanaHohxpn8

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**raisingarizona13** · 12-27-2023, 12:12 PM

Well it may not be as sexy as traveling to another country but the riding down here in Arizona, Nevada, S. California and S. Utah is hitting this winter. I'm not sad about the lack of snow whatsoever. If anything I'm relieved after last year.