www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Brothers,
I just returned from a full day of ATV riding with Gary of Parasio ATV tours. The 60,000 acre privatly owned coffee plantation / cedar plantation is incredible! Views off the top of the mountain just southeast of SJ in both directions are astounding and a MUST SEE!
The owner/staff were very hospitable and had some great eats including morning and afternoon marmalade (I bought two jars) with tea biscuits and a GREAT lunch with grilled chicken breast, potatos, rice, black beans, a coleslaw-like salad and cinnimon plantations for desert.
Trails were awesome with some narrow steep trails into the rain forest and some wider trails graded and paved with rock for some fast and fun times. The afternoon ride saw some great mud trails (called the Pu**t Shaker) along with more astounding views as the clouds rolled in. Light rain turned to a storm just as we got back to the home base.
All in all the best thing I've done in SJ that didn't involve a chica. And to be honest, even better than some of those

Pro,

Is this something you would recommend to a 50 something gringo, not in the greatest physical condition? Is it physically challenging, stressful, dirty, wet, dangerous, etc.?

Zebra

Z,
I know you addressed the question to PS, but I can answer it...

You should have no problem. It is not very physically challenging. You're just sitting there, not like you're pushing or pulling the thing.

Physically challenging... Yes, if you get stuck in a ditch or something, yes, you may have to manuever your way out, or wait for help from the tour leader or fellow rider.

Dirty... VERY! Especially now during the rainy season, it will undoubtedly rain at some point during your tour, so it will get muddy and you will get dirty. I'd suggest wearing your #2 clothing that day.

Dangerous... it can be if you are not careful. These things are NOT toys! They are very fast and when it is slippery you need to be careful around turns. I don't know the trail Cary has but the tour I did, we went up the side of a mountain (literally a 500ft drop). It was a light drizzle, I was going fairly fast when I tried to avoid a small ditch. I made a quick sharp turn and when I went to correct myself, my back wheels slid to the side and the ATV was heading over the side of the mountain. There is no fencing or anything. I jumped off that shit very fast and just grabbed the front grille to keep it from going over. I started yelling but our guide was way the Phuck ahead of us but my friend heard me and quickly came back and helped me pull it back up from the cliff. I wouldn't worry about the danger part. I would not recommend bringing chicas, a woman may find it too challenging.

I recommend this tour and looks like Cary is a good host. Plus with the discount, even better.

Thanks, O........Doesn't seem like it's for me.

I'll second evrything about the ATV tour - top notch and Cary is a great guy too.

He is building a new trail which he said should be finished in a few months.

I'd say that anyone could do it. There is usually a second guide for those less experienced/less able.

Had a couple of bumps but probably because I got over confident on my first time.

remember to book through the website to get the full discounts

I went on several ATV tours with Cary, and it is a MUST while in SJO. If you never been on an ATV before, don't worry about it. It is easy to drive and it does not take long to master the controls. You will enjoy the views from 8000 ft. By the way, if you go to the website you will see a photo of me in front of a bunch of cows!


http://www.atvtourscostarica.com/costaricaticas/

_________________
Why is air a lot like sex?
It's no big deal unless you're not getting any.

Confucius Says...
"Panties not best thing on earth, but next to best thing on earth"

Smooth is right very easy to get comfortable with the ATV a top notch group. I am going again on my next trip!

_________________
There is no better place on earth

Yeah, I was calling him Gary for about a year too. His numbre is Cary. Awsome ATV guide. Use to ride Superbikes. Got thrown off and broke his back, and every other bone in his body. I ride with Cary every trip down. I was the only rider on my trip during the Xmas holidays. We shredded up the mountain. He showed me the trout hatchery the owner has at his old house. Awsome! The owner has property for sale on that mountain. He owns a timber and construction Co. that will build to your specefications cheap. The owners brother is part owner of Cafe Montaverde. He sells great beans for $5 a pound.

I did a full day ATV tour with Cary and it was AWESOME!! Had a blast. I brought a chica as well. She didnt do so hot riding her own, so she went with me after a while which made it a little more fun. Lunch was good and the bikes were plenty powerful. We got rained on in the rainforest which made the ride even better. Met Shadowman on the same tour and saw him at airport today. Seemed like a nice guy. I highly reccommend this ATV tour to anyone looking for something a little different to do. Thanks Cary!

- The Teacher

Is it very easy to fall off the hill?

It's not easy. But these aren't K*ds toys. They are powerful machines, so you need to act accordingly. They are a lot of fun. They haul ass, so you can race with your friends, play all kinds of games (last one buys beer), etc.

Word of caution though... during the rainy season, it will probably rain at some point during the ride. It gets muddy and slippery. You need to be more careful when turning and high speeds. Also, the dirt (reddish clay) kicks up and will get into your clothing and shoes, so I would not recommend wearing your best/nicest clothing that day. I ruined a pair of jeans, a nice shirt, and almost new pair of sneakers. That shit wouldn't come out.

As for falling down a hill, you probably won't make it very far because of all the trees/bushes. I'd bet if an ATV went over, it wouldn't go five feet.

Orange, did Cary not give you a rainsuit on your trip?? It rained the time I went and he stopped and pulled out slicks for all of us. You are right on about the mud on the shoes though....

I normally bring cover alls to wear. You're a muddy mess afterwards. I'm glad Cary got automatic gear shifts on all his bikes now. Less thinking more riding.

I didn't do my ride with Cary. I did it Jaco in 2005. We weren't given any raingear. It started to rain midway thru and I was a total mess, we had to hose off the mud or the cab wouldn't take us back to the hotel. I didn't want to walk the 5 miles. Plus, we had manual gea shiting. But those things were fast. It was cool sliding around in the mud.

Damn, I want to do it again now that I think about it.

I highly recommed this tour as well. It's a ton of fun and I will definitely do it again when I go back. cary provides a great history and backdrop for the tour and is an interesting guy in his own right. Good luck in Dakar!

He also always provides a second guide, so that if there are beginners who aren't catching on quickly they can be separated from the herd and given a tour that will be fun for them while respecting the ability level. when I say ability I mean natural aptitude and comfort. I was with 2 other guys (iteachu and another) plus iteachu's chica. she couldn't keep up and so was separated so the boys could go out and kick ass, but it was the first time or first time in years for all of us and it was no problem at all. Wear crappy shoes and sweats or dirt clothes your prepared to toss, as you will get dirty.

Great stuff, and the views from 8000 feet up were spectacular.