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.

The majority of this first day will be spent in transfer to the trekking area that you will start from tomorrow. The group will be transferred by bus or minivans to the area of Santa Maria, where everyone will hop into 4x4 vehicles to get to the trekking area. You will hike this day for approximately 30 minutes to where you will set up camp for the night in the area of Las Rejas.

The first day of trekking begins at an approximate elevation of 8,000 feet and is approximately 8.75 miles in length. This area is home to the quetzal bird, which has historical significance for indigenous groups, as well as a myriad of other flora and fauna. A Costa Rican instructor accompanies each 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, and to converse in Spanish with the students.
The route continues dropping in elevation through transitional and cloud forests. The forest is shrouded in mist for much of the day and trees are covered with moss and lichens. This forest feels enchanted as the route becomes more and more remote.
The route enters lower-elevation tropical rainforest. This area is home to many species including parrots, parakeets, toucans, birds of prey, ocelots, three species of monkeys, sloths and even tapirs. This area is quite rugged and mountainous, so the pace is unhurried to allow you to take in the abundant natural beauty of the area. Tonight the group will be setting up camp in the area of La Flecha.

Wake up early and hike the remaining 5.5 miles to reach your destination, the mountain village area of Piedras Blancas. This town 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 your group will be the guests of a local village family, 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. Spend the night at your first homestay, the family of Orlando Zamora Fallas.

In the morning, hike approximately 2.5 miles from Orlando’s house to the house of the Lopez family. Host families in the Piedras Blancas region will share many of their traditions and daily chores with you. 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.
The team will also have the opportunity to take part in a conservation project in the village area. Whatever the project, your rainforest leadership experience is more complete knowing that you have actively been involved in preserving it and the culture that depends on it.

From the Lopez homestay, hike approximately 2 miles to the homestay of Don Hernan Granados.

After Hernan’s hike approximately 3 miles to the area of Brujo, where you will experience one more homestay before you go rafting.

Experience the exciting Savegre River! The river flows through a combination of rainforest and scenic rural farmland. Combine this with warm green waves and surfing holes for an experience you'll never forget! Riverine ecology as well as principles of hydrology will be experienced up close. Depending on water conditions, students might have the possibility of captaining the rafts and guide their peers through the rapids.

The next couple of days will be spent at the Manuel Antonio CRROBS bungalow with CRROBS expert surf instructors. Partake in a surfing and/or boogie boarding or snorkeling lessons. Students will learn about wave formation as well as coastal ecosystems. When the swell is hitting and the tide is right, you will be in the ocean studying rips, reading waves, and catching tubes. When the ocean is calm and the tide is out, you will be exploring your natural environment: engaging in group building as well as leadership activities.

Today, spend time visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is one of the most popular attractions of Costa Rica, and home to many species of wildlife, including the mono titi– monkeys that are indigenous to the Manuel Antonio area. The park also contains some of the most pristine beaches in the area. In the afternoon, transfer back to Tres Rios Base for your final dinner and celebration.

The group will divide in two, one group at the national park and one group will be surfing, then the groups will rotate.

In the morning, swing through the trees with a canopy tour, and transfer back to CRROBS base. Once the group reaches base in the afternoon, they will have internet time to work with their teacher.

The group will be spending the next few nights at the CRROBS base.
This morning the group will visit a local school.

In the afternoon, you will have time to talk/work with your teacher.

This morning visit a textile factory. In the afternoon, you will have time to talk/work with your teacher.

Today, the group will go to visit a local Shaman outside of San Jose. In the afternoon, you will have time to talk/work with your teacher.

From our CRROBS base, transfer to Play Avellanas were you will spend the next few days surfing and other various group activities.

Today, the group will participate in a local conservation project at Playa Avellanas.

Spend the day at Playa Avellanas.

White water raft the Pacuare River, in the evening, transfer back to our CRROBS base.

The afternoon 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.

Time to pack your bags and transfer to the international airport.