Leave the daily grind behind, and step into the ‘Pura Vida ’ of Costa Rica! Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS) has partnered with the Colorado School of Mines to offer a course filled with fun and adventure. You'll be challenged by hikes, rafting, climbing and rappeling through the exciting rivers and luscious rainforests, or enjoy breathtaking beaches and the blue water while learning how to surf.

Get ready for the wild and natural beauty of your surroundings to push your body and spirit to achieve a level of accomplishment and personal development you never thought possible!

This trek will take you on Costa Rica's most enchanting offerings; the lush jungle, an exciting river, and a gorgeous beach!  In only 7 days, you will trek through the rainforest, raft Class III-IV rapids, try your skills and luck on a surfboard, and enjoy the water with sea kayaking. You will also have the unique opportunity to spend time an evening with a Costa Rican family in their home, and see their daily activities and traditions.  You will never experience Costa Rica like this again!

The course will focus on challenge through fun and adventure.  Students will be given duties and responsibilities throughout the entirety of the course. These duties and responsibilities include and are not limited to group cook, group motivator, group “doctor” (doesn’t give out medication but rather asks each one of his peers the status of their physical condition), group clean up, group leader, group “environmentalist” (makes sure the group leaves no traces behind when leaving any natural area), etc. Students will rotate through these specific duties and responsibilities.

Itinerary
Days: 7
Dates: March 8th - 15th, 2008

March 8th, 2008 Participants arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica in the late morning/early afternoon. Pick-up at Juan Santa María International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica and transfer to the Outward Bound Base camp nestled in the hills of San Ramon de Tres Rios. Welcome and orientation meeting, “Duffle Shuffle” (packing for the trail). Overnight in San Isidro, a 3 hour drive from our base in San Ramon de Tres Rios.

March 9th, 2008 Wake up in the morning and transfer from San Isidro to Brujo where you will begin your 3 hour hike to the home of the Fonseca family. You will arrive here by early afternoon and then it will be time to strap on a harness. It’s time to do some tree climbing. Learn the basic techniques of technical climbing as you use ropes and harnesses to climb up a rainforest tree. The trees are cloaked with strangler figs, which form your hand and foot holds. The afternoon is spent rappelling off a jungle waterfall face (during the rainy season, this is an exciting waterfall that helps feed the river underneath. In the dry season, the water disappears but that doesn’t take away from the fun of rappelling off a wall of rock). In the evening, relax your sore muscles in a natural sweat lodge. Tonight, the group will sleep in the family room or on the front porch under the stars.

March 10th, 2008 Early morning hike to the area of Brujo, get into rafts, and begin your day on safe but exciting Class I-IV rapids of the Savegre River (during the dry season, this river runs relatively low and might have to be switched for a different river, at which point the rafting day will be moved to the front of the itinerary). You and your group members will need to work as a team to maneuver rapids. River ecology as well as principles of hydrology will be experienced up close. Take a side hike to layered waterfalls and discover which one makes the best shower! In the evening, make your way to Manuel Antonio. Spend the night in the CRROBS Manuel Antonio base.

March 11th, 2008 Welcome to the Manuel Antonio Beach! Today you will partake in a surfing or boogie boarding lesson in the morning, and enjoy free time to beach-comb in the afternoon. Wave formation and coastal ecosystems are discussed.

March 12th, 2008 Spend the day at the Manuel Antonio National Park where you will have the chance to see monkeys and experience some beautiful trails and beaches. On the way back you get the chance to shop for souvenirs along the sidewalk from all of the local vendors.

March 13th, 2008 Visit a spot on the Manuel Antonio beach that is great for snorkeling and sea kayaking.

March 14th, 2008 Today will be spent on a city tour in San Jose. After visiting one or two cultural sites, test out your bargaining skills in Spanish as you try to shop for little knickknacks and souvenirs . Enjoy a final dinner at a typical Costa Rican restaurant for closing ceremonies. Spend the night at our Tres Rios Base.

March 15th, 2008 Transfer to international airport and fly home