Ride deeper.
Ride Panama.
Cloud forest, volcanic ridgelines, Canal rainforest and two oceans — on private MTB trips designed by a rider who knows the country from the saddle.
Panama is more than a Canal. A volcanic spine runs through the country, covered in coffee farms, rainforest and highland singletrack. On the right day, you can start near the Pacific and finish with Caribbean salt on your tires.
Our trips are private by design. Your group, your dates and a pace that lets you ride hard without missing the country around you.
Choose your line
High-end bikes, local guides and full support are included. Bring your own bike if you prefer.
Pacific to Caribbean Crossing
Cross a continent by mountain bike: Panama City, Canal rainforest, Lake Gatún and the final descent into Portobelo.
Volcán Barú Descent
Sunrise at 3,475 meters, then 2,000 vertical meters of volcanic rock, cloud forest and coffee-country trail.
Boquete Cloud Forest Enduro
Shuttle-assisted singletrack through coffee farms, red dirt and highland forest, with one comfortable base in Boquete.
El Valle Crater Trails
Ride the rim of an ancient volcanic crater, then recover in waterfalls and thermal pools two hours from Panama City.
Colonial Camino de Cruces
Ride a 500-year-old trade route through rainforest, wildlife and Canal history, only 30 minutes from the city.
Azuero Wild Coast
Ride from Chitré toward Playa Venao through ranch country, small towns, Pacific beaches and fresh ceviche stops.
Need a custom route?
Families, clubs, corporate groups or a trail you found on a map. Tell William what you want to ride and he will build the expedition around it.
Eight mountain bike rides that explain Panama
We analyzed 166 GPS-recorded rides from William's Strava history. The result is a practical guide to the places he actually returns to — from a 105-ride local loop to 1,434 meters of climbing in Altos del María.
Small on purpose · Local by origin · Private by design
Local knowledge.
Full expedition support.
Born on these trails
These are not routes copied from a guidebook. William has ridden and refined them over years, with real GPS history to prove it.
Eight riders maximum
Private groups mean nobody gets dropped and nobody waits all day. The route and pace belong to your crew.
Everything handled
Support vehicle, mechanic, hydration, local meals and carefully selected stays. You focus on the next corner.
High-end bikes included
Modern full-suspension bikes are included. Bring your own and we will help receive and assemble it.
William Downing
Before Panama had marked MTB routes on Strava, William was already getting deliberately lost on the country's backroads and forest tracks.
After decades working across Panama, he turned his Sunday ritual into Istmo Rides: carefully designed trips that connect riders with the landscapes, families and food he has known for years.
He still designs every route personally — and is still the first one into the mud when the rain arrives.
William DowningFounder · Lead guideTell us how you like to ride.
Send your dates, group size and experience level. William will answer personally and shape the route around your crew.