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: Volcan Irazu: Transportation to the historical city of Cartago, Costa Rica that once served as the nation's capi- tal. Visit the famous ruins by Central Park, as well as the immaculate Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles. Travel on to the base of Irazú Vol- cano. Situated at 3,432 meters (11,260 feet), this stratovolcano is Costa Rica's highest active vol- cano. At the summit, you'll notice surroundings that are better compared to the surface of the moon than anything on earth and two astounding craters, one of which boasts a green crater lake. It's claimed that on a clear day one can see both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans from the top. This night will be spent camping and getting ac- quainted with nature.
June 4: Hiking: Our skilled instructors will guide you on a five- hour hike through the lush tropical rainforests. As an expert on the area, he or she will be able to point out many small wonders that one would otherwise overlook. Apart from the rich flora of the area, there are also opportunities to see mammals and birds, such as: kinkajous, squirrels, porcupines, armadillos, coyotes, ocelots, otters, quetzals, hummingbirds, toucans and hawks, among others. Spend the night in an old coffee mansion.
June 5: Turrialba Volcano: Hike on to Turrialba, a region that boasts of excel- lent coffee and the finest cheese in Costa Rica. Named after the region in which it lies is the Turrialba Volcano. This stratovolcano is situ- ated at 3,340 meters (10,958 feet) and has an aver- age 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 sur- face.
June 6: Hot Springs: Challenge yourself to a technical tree climb and then relax your muscles in natural hot springs. Spend the night at a local homestay and get a firsthand taste of typical Costa Rican culture.
June 7: Pejibaye: Raft the cool, clear water of the Pejibaye River that flows directly from the mountains of the Ta- lamanca Mountain Range. The tranquil class II and III rapids will provide a somewhat leisurely way to observe the exotic flora and fauna, as well as the coffee and sugar can plantations along the river. Depending on the level of the river, you muse either rafts or inflatable kayaks ("duckies"). Local homestay for the night.
June 8: Pejibaye: Spend another day on the river and visit another homestay in the night.
June 9: Canopy Tour: Discover the large and complex ecosystem of the the tropical rainforests from a different perspec- tive 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 recog- nizable forms of ecotourism in Costa Rica.
June 10: Closing Ceremonies: Transportation back to our base in San Ramón de Tres Rios where students will have the opportu- nity 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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