Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School

Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS) has partnered with Lewis Palmer High School to offer an exciting opportunity to learn in Costa Rica. Put down those books and hike, raft, climb and rappel through Costa Rican rainforests while learning Spanish and about Costa Rican culture.

11 Days, June 1-11, 2009
June 1, 2009: Arrival: Participants arrive in San José, 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 Ramón de Tres Ríos at 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level. Welcome, orientation meeting and "Duffle Shuffle" (packing for the trail). Spend the night at base in the student dorms.
June 2: San Jose: Leadership initiatives at base camp and a city tour of Costa Rica's capital, San José. Visit an artisanry market, walk down la Avenida Central and see Costa Rica's most cherished architectural masterpiece, El Teatro Nacional.
June 3 - 9: Sea Kayaking Expedition: Transportation to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, a port city on the Pacific coast who's name literally means "Sandy Point" in Spanish. From Puntarenas, students will take a ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya to Paquera. From Paquera students will embark upon their sea kayaking expedition, exploring various islands, their unique ecosystems and the treasures they hold.

You will start by kayaking through wildlife-rich mangrove forests while learning about their rich ecological composition and the important role they play in the environment. Make your way south around the peninsula in calm, turquoise waters, stopping in scenic coves that boast white coral sands and towering palms.

Some of the islands you visit may be entirely uninhabited, serving as a home to nothing but a wide array of sea birds. Other islands are inhabited by small fishing communities. San Lucas Island is perhaps the most unique island you'll visit, as it served as a penal colony until 1991 and was considered the roughest jail in Costa Rica. Today, the prison walls and underground cells are crumbling ruins, but still offer many somber stories of times past.

Some nights will be spent at homestays, giving students the opportunity to become acquainted with the culture of the islands and the rustic accommodations of the people who live in the area. Other nights will be spent camping out under the stars on picture-perfect beaches where ridley and leatherback sea turtles come to lay their eggs.

Other activities will include snorkeling among coral reefs in the crystal clear waters, hiking and rappelling down a waterfall. On Day 9 you will make your way back to Puntarenas via ferry and from there be transported back to base camp in San Ramón de Tres Ríos.
June 10: Canopy Tour and Turrialba Volcano (Option 1): Discover the large and complex ecosystem of the the tropical rainforests from a different perspective by gliding high above the canopy floor along cables at speeds up to 50 kph (30 mph). Canopy tours have quickly become one of the most recognizable forms of ecotourism in Costa Rica.

Afternoon transfer to Turrialba, a region that boasts of excellent coffee and the finest cheese in Costa Rica. Named after the region in which it lies is the Turrialba Volcano. This stratovolcano is situated at 3,340 meters (10,958 feet) and has an average temperature of 16ºC (60ºF). Upon arriving at the Turrialba Volcano National Park, you will hike 1-3 hours (depending upon pace) to the summit where you will find three craters referencing the immense power that lies beneath the peaceful surface.

Transportation back to our base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos where students will have the opportunity to reflect upon their adventures and will be treated to a final dinner.
June 10: Pacuare River (Option 2): Raft the class III and IV rapids of the Pacuare, a river listed as one of the top 10 river trips in the world by National Geographic. Keep an eye out for animals such as jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and a wide variety of tropical birds that make their home in the verdant rainforest through which the river snakes its way.

Transportation back to our base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos where students will have the opportunity to reflect upon their adventures and will be treated to a final dinner.
June 11: Departure: Gather your belongings and prepare for your departure. Outward Bound transportation to the Juan Santamaría International Airport.

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