Combine 3 days, 300 miles, 24,000+ vertical feet of climbing,100+ degree temperatures, 90%+ humidity, 9 ecosystems, 2 oceans, and 1 continent and you get the toughest mountain bike race on the planet.

When the Spanish colonized Costa Rica, conquerors led by Juan De Cavalln took 20 years to cross the land between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Today mountain bikers from all around the world follow almost the same paths when they participate in the three day mountain bike race, LA RUTA DE LOS CONQUISTADORES- now in its 10th year.

DAY 1
3:30 a.m. wake up call, Jaco.

Riders are startled out of bed as race organizers pound on doors of the quaint and comfortable bungalows. There's just enough time for breakfast and pre-race rituals. The gun fires before the sun can climb above the towering peaks that lies between the coast and the day's final destination.

This is the infamous Day 1 of La Ruta. Today, the largest number of entrants will drop out, unable to complete the 100 mile trek back to San Jose.

Chants of "Eso!! Eso!!" from the pack of 300 riders help fuel the adrenaline. The legs begin to warm as the pack moves swiftly along the smooth paved road. Newcomers to La Ruta quickly get a glimpse of what's in store on Day 1, as in less than 10 kilometers from the start, a rutted rocky mountain road rises seemingly straight up in front of them…

And by the time the day is over, racers will climb more than 11,000 vertical feet, riding through thigh deep mud, waste high rivers, through the unending rain forest where temperatures will reach more than 100 degrees and the humidity makes it even more difficult to breathe.

Survival. That is what Day 1 is about.

DAY 2
4:15 a.m. wake up call, San Jose.

If racers were even able to sleep, due to the intense pain in every leg muscle or a bleeding stomach caused by a diet of energy bars and sports drinks, they rise to assess the damage just prior to the start of Day 2.

Again, the day begins gently with riders passing through the paved city streets. Temperatures are pleasant with the morning glow coloring the thin line of clouds hovering over the surrounding peaks. Once out of the confines of the city, any feeling of placidity immediately evaporates as racers face a daunting climb up what many return riders refer to as the wall of mud- several miles of climbing up a steep incline carrying over a cow path.

Day 2 offers riders a severe departure from the heat of the rain forests from Day 1. The route takes racers along a steep unending 3000-meter climb up the Volcano Irazu. At the top of Irazu the temperatures can drop more than 40 degrees, as sweat freezes.

But the day is far from over with the nasty decent is still to come. Make certain to bring an extra set of bake pads! Because you WILL need them... and soon!! The incredible pain of just trying to hold on will have many riders praying for an uphill climb again.

But once racers hit the paved road just 15 kilometers outside of Turriabla, the end is near with only a fun decent of passing cars at more than 45 mph left between you and a massage!

DAY 3
5:00 a.m. wake up call, Turriabla.

If you've managed to survive this far, you now only have the easiest day of riding left. But this is a very long day. Steep challenging climbs give way to a long decent to the Caribbean coast. Racers pass through small farming villages and along plantation roads stretching more than 110 miles.

Sounds like an easy finish. Lots of downhill's and flats. It's hot, around 100 degrees, but the humidity isn't as bad as Day 1. No problem... think again.

Race organizers take great pleasure in beating on racers physically for two days straight. Then… day 3. Time to see how you can last psychologically. Just when you think it's time to enjoy the Costa Rica countryside, race organizer, Roman Urbina, plays a game with you- forcing you to ride miles on uneven railroad ties and across ancient suspension bridges crossing high above alligator infested rivers. Stay strong. The end is near. Just not as near as you hope.

But then, finally, 300 miles later and 24,000 vertical feet of climbing past- racers are greeted by the cheers of the locals at the finish. An epic adventure conquered.

Eso! Eso!

— Courtesy, Back to the Earth Group