Your Costa Rican adventure will lead you through the thick of the rainforest
where you’ll have the opportunity to view tropical rainforest animals
in their natural environment and into the remote Valley of Piedras Blancas.
The energy of this remote rural village, nestled in a breathtaking rainforest
valley will bring your Spanish level to new heights as you are immersed
in the flowing Spanish tongues of your welcoming host families. Help with
daily activities, such as: grinding sugar cane out of the fields,
ripping ripe pineapples from the earth, or making tortillas from scratch.
The troop will participate in a service project which will help this
lively neighborhood to continue to thrive and help preserve its most precious
asset, the rainforest.
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Participants arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Pick-up at Juan Santa
María International Airport in San José, Costa Rica
and transfer to the Outward Bound Base camp nestled in the hills
of Tres Rios. Welcome and orientation meeting, “Duffle Shuffle”
(packing for the trail). Overnight at the Tres Rios Base Camp. |
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Morning transfer to the trekking area. A Costa Rican instructor
will accompany your Spanish group for the entire rainforest portion
of any CRROBS course. His or her role is to share unique knowledge
of the species found in the rainforest as well as introduce new
Costa Rican words. Hike into Cloud Forest and see some of the rainforest's
most interesting flora and fauna. Camp under the stars at La Flecha. |
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 Wake
up early and spend the morning hiking to your first homestay, the
family of Orlando Zamora Fallas. Here, you will get tosee how a
typical Tico family lives. Tonight your group will be the guests
of the home, enjoying a typical home-cooked Costa Rican meal. Since
most families in Piedras Blancas have many young children, you can
always find a willing partner for a card game, art project, or just
a nice chat for a chance to practice your Spanish.
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 In
the morning, there is a short hike to your next homestay. There
you will help the Lopez family in Piedras Blancas in their traditions
and daily chores. Activities could include planting or harvesting
traditional foods such as bananas, rice, beans, sugar cane, chocolate
beans, avocados, oranges, squash, or corn. Food preparation could
include hand milking cows or goats, grinding corn, hand-making tortillas
or cooking over an open fire. Engage in a service project working
with local children or assisting the community with greenhouse or
farming needs (service project depends on availability and season).
Spend the night at the Lopez’s.
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 Your
trek continues generally downhill towards the tiny village of Piedras
Blancas. This village is named after the many white boulders found
in the area. Many of the village homes are built using the boulders
as walls or dividers. Tonight, you will be the guests of Hernan’s
family.
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 Hike
to the area of Brujo where you will experience another homestay.
Adventure, team building, and cultural activities will take here.
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 Hike
to the area of Brujo, get into rafts, and begin your day on safe
but exciting Class I-IV rivers., Riverine 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! Stay overnight
at the CRROBS base in Manuel Antonio.
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Spend the morning in Manuel Antonio National Park. Partake in
a surfing and/or boogie boarding or snorkeling lesson in the morning,
and enjoy free time to beach-comb. Wave formation as well as coastal
ecosystems are discussed. Evening transfer back to the San Jose
base. |
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City tour day 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
and closing ceremonies. Spend the night at our Tres Rios Base. |
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Time to pack your bags and transfer to the international airport.
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