Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School

Take your Outdoor Recreation group out of the same routine activities and into the challenging Costa Rica rainforest! Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS) has partnered with Syracuse University to offer an exciting opportunity to students in this dynamic and unpredictable environment. CRROBS inspires and develops leadership, compassion, responsibility, environmental respect and service through experiences in nature guided by our expert staff.

8 Days, Spring, 2010
Day I: Arrival: Arrival at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and transfer to the Costa Rica Outward Bound base nestled in the hills of San Ramón de Tres Ríos, located about an hour from the airport and situated in a tropical rainforest that sits at about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level. At base, you will be welcomed by your instructors who will lead you in an orientation meeting and “Duffle Shuffle”(packing for the trail).
Day II: Volcan Turrialba: Transportation 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 route and pace) to the summit where you will ﬁnd three craters referencing the immense power that lies beneath the peaceful surface. Transportation back to the base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos.
Days III-IV: Rio Pacuare: Transportation to the Pacuare River, named by National Geographic as one of the top ten rivers in the world. A safety talk ends in donning life jackets, strapping on helmets and taking on the Class III and IV rapids of the Pacuare in six man rafts. 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 opportunity to captain the rafts and guide their peers through the rapids. The ﬁrst night will either be spent camping on the river bank or with a local host family. After the second day of rafting, the students will be transferred back to our base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos where they will spend the night.
Day V: Toro Amarrillo and Canopy Tour: Transportation to the Toro Amarrillo River, a river that gets the latter part of its name because of the yellow (“amarillo”) tinge it acquires from the rich mineral deposits and the ﬁrst part of its name (“toro” or “bull”) from the big waves and non-stop rapids. Giant boulders and turns make these class III and IV rapids both technical and challenging. After taking out of the river, continue on to discover the large and complex ecosystem of the tropical rainforest 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. Return to base camp in San Ramón de Tres Ríos.
Day VI: Waterfall Rappel: Waterfalls are one of the many natural wonders that lie around every corner in Costa Rica. Through canyoning (or “waterfall rappelling”), you can experience the beauty of one of these attractions up-close and personally . Hike to the source of a gushing waterfall located deep within the dense tropical jungle. Your instructor will get you set up with ropes and harnesses. Take a deep breath and then plunge into the water-worn, 36.5-meter (120-foot) decent as thousands of gallons of water rush by you. At the end of the rappel enjoy a refreshing swim at the base of the fall. It’s an adventure that would make Tarzan jealous and the best part is that it has nothing to do with physical strength; it’s all about trusting others and instilling conﬁdence in your students that they will take home with them at the end of their trip. Your group will be transported 4-5 hours to Manuel Antonio in the afternoon where they will spend the night.
Day VII: Manuel Antonio: Spend a relaxing yet energizing time at the spectacular Paciﬁc Ocean beach area of Manuel Antonio. Try your hand at surﬁng, boogie boarding and sea kayaking in the warm Paciﬁc waters. Students will also have the opportunity to check out Manuel Antonio National Park along with the tropical plants and wildlife found within it. Some of the most common animals sited are monkeys, sloths and iguanas. Spend the night at the Costa Rica Outward Bound base camp in Manuel Antonio.
Day VIII: Departure: Gather your belongings and prepare for your departure. Outward Bound will provide transportation to the Juan Santamaria International Airport.

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