Seven Day SCUBA & Sail, Eight Day Multi Element, Seven Day Surf Intensive, 30 Day Spanish Intensive.
30 Day Spanish Intensive
Learning Spanish is sure to increase the enjoyment and interaction of your Costa Rican experience and bring you closer to a true understanding of the country in which you explore; and the best part is, you don’t have to have any knowledge of Spanish to take this course!
Our Spanish emphasis course enjoys all of the outdoor splendor of the multi-element course, for which CRROBS is famous for, including treks through rainforests and cloud forests, tree-climbing, waterfall rappelling, surfing and whitewater rafting. But we augment the course to include a first hand study of the Costa Rican culture and language, so no matter what level of Spanish you have (or don’t have) your abilities will increase dramatically through this cultural adventure!
All Spanish-emphasis courses are lead by bilingual instructors and at least one Costa Rican native. Explore the outdoor wonders of Costa Rica while taking your Spanish skills the next level, and receive college credit for doing so. Oh, and if that’s not enough adventure for you, did we forget to mention that you’ll visit an active volcano and explore the natural areas around it! Join us for this course in "pura vida" - it's all you expect and more.
Day 0) Participants arrive at Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. They are transferred to the mountainous Outward Bound base camp in San Ramon de Tres Rios. Welcome and orientation meeting with your two Costa Rican guides, “Duffle Shuffle,” and overnight at base.
Day 1) San Jose walking tour including the National Museum, cathedrals, plazas and parks.
Day 2) Early morning transfer to Santa Elena Reserve near Monteverde.
Day 3-4) Service project in Santa Elena Reserve.
Day 5-9) Begin Santa Elena to Cerro de la Muerte trekking phase. During this section you will see Lake Arenal, visit hot springs, hike the Toucan Trail and visit a museum.
Day 10) Begin the Cerro de la Muerte to lower Piedras Blancas trekking phase. The first day of trekking runs through areas of high-elevation, tropical-alpine tundra at an approximate elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level. The area is home to the Quetzal bird, the national bird of Guatemala as well as an important bird for all Central American indigenous groups. An indigenous assistant instructor from the Piedras Blancas region accompanies each group for the entire rainforest portion of any CRROBS course. Their role is to share with the group their unique knowledge of the flora and fauna found in the rainforest as they have lived there for their entire lives and to interact in Spanish with the students. Stay overnight at a remote shelter.
Day 11) Our 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. As the route continually becomes more remote, you’ll set up camp along a high ridge.
Day 12) Enter the tropical rainforest and travel through several life zones that are home to many rainforest species including: parrots, parakeets, toucans and toucanettes, birds of prey, ocelots, three species on monkeys, sloths and tapirs. While mammals are less frequently sighted, many bird species can be seen along with evidence of mammals (i.e. tracks and vocalizations). For example, the mantled howler monkey’s call is heard by almost all groups. This area is extremely rugged and mountainous so our speed is slow as we take in the abundant natural beauty of the area. Stay overnight in a remote shelter.
Day 13) Continue trekking through varied layers of rainforest as the group descends in elevation. Your indigenous guide will explain much of the flora and fauna along the way with an emphasis on their medicinal values. Camp overnight in the rainforest near a magnificent waterfall or in a remote shelter.
Day 14) The trek continues generally downhill toward the tiny village of Piedras Blancas, which is named after the many white boulders made of calcium found in the area. The homes here are open-air with a roof to protect them from the elements, enabling your group to both see and hear everything that happens in this tropical oasis. Tonight the students are guests of a local village family.
Day 15) In the afternoon, become involved in local traditions and daily chores with host families throughout Piedras Blancas. Activities could include planting or harvesting traditional foods such as: bananas, rice, beans, sugarcane, chocolate beans, avocados, oranges, squash, corn, etc. Food preparation could include hand-milking cows or goats, thrashing rice, grinding corn, hand making tortillas, and cooking over an open fire.
Day 16) The Outward Bound solo is a powerful experience that can affect your life in profound ways. Experience pure solitude for a period of 12-24 hours. Spend time alone in the wilderness to be with nature and to take inventory of where your life is and where you want it to be. For many participants, this opportunity is the highlight of the course.
Day 17) End of solo experience. Special meal with host family.
Day 18-22) Homestays. You will be paired up with one or two other students and placed with a local rainforest family in the Piedras Blancas Valley for five days. During this time you will not only experience true Costa Rican campesino culture and belief systems, you will also get an opportunity to learn and practice Spanish on a more personal level.
Day 23) Hike to the Rancho Tinamú farm where your group will have the opportunity to perform
a service project, hike down to a beautiful waterfall, learn about
alternative energy sources and observe different farm activities like
milking cows, caring for farm animals and tending crops.
Day 24) Climbing day. You will learn the basic techniques of technical climbing as you use ropes and harnesses to climb up a strangler fig in the rainforest. Rock and tree climbing run many parallels, especially as the rainforest tress are cloaked with strangler figs, which form your hand and foot holds. The afternoon is spent doing a conservation project in the village area. Whatever the project, the rainforest experience is more complete knowing that you have actively been involved in preserving it and the culture that depends on it.
Day 25) Hike to the village of Londres and make a short transfer to the well-known beach area of Manuel Antonio. Spend the evening at a local discoteca and overnight in a group bungalow.
Day 26) Spend the day at Manual Antonio’s Pacific beach where CRROBS’ expert surf instructors will be on hand to teach and assist students in the warm water breaks. Your group will also have the opportunity to try boogie boarding or body surfing. In the evening, test your dancing skills during a salsa and meringue lesson given by a local instructor.
Day 27-28) River rafting on the Rio General, a safe but exciting Class II-IV river. Take side hikes to layered waterfalls in between hitting the rapids and screaming “right turn.” Camp under the stars at riverside beaches.
Day 29) Continue rafting the Rio General until the later afternoon transfer to San Jose. Enjoy a final dinner and celebration before staying overnight at base camp.
Day 30) Transfer to the international airport and fly home.
Click here to go back to the customize page
