The Coastal Challenge - San José 2027

The Coastal Challenge starts with registration and a briefing in San José, sending runners before dawn to Quepos for a six-day stage race on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. The full Expedition Run covers 240 km, with an Adventure Run option of 145 km; another listing states the long course is 230 km. This is a multi-day trail and expedition race, featuring stages of approximately marathon distance and early starts in the tropical heat. The route traces Costa Rica’s tropical Pacific coastline and ascends into the Talamancas, the coastal mountains of the country's southwest. Stage locations include Rafiki Lodge, Dominical Beach, Ballena Bay Camp, Sierpe Lodge Camp, and Grandito Beach Camp. The most significant climbing day involves 2,613 m of elevation gain over 37.7 km. The race concludes near Panama in a secluded fishing village, accessible only by boat until recently. Competitors depart by boat to Sierpe before a coach transfer back to San José.