Our Fall Coast to Coast Semester Students have completed their epic hike from one side of Costa Rica to the other!
Prior to their hiking phase, the group spent a week in Panama gaining their NAUI scuba certification and exploring the islands of Bocas del Toro. During the scuba course, they managed to spot plenty of tropical fish, sting rays, sea cucumbers and sea urchins and finished the course with an impressive 100ft dive. All the students tried their hand at wakeboarding and even started to learn some tricks! When they weren’t on the water, the group were touring Bocas town, exploring caves on Isla Bastimentos, visiting indigenous communities and sampling some delicious Caribbean-style cuisine.
The group then returned to our rainforest base to recharge and ready their gear for the next, and final, part of their adventure! The Coast to Coast trek is not your average hike, this route takes our students from the Caribbean coast, through dense rainforests, over the mountains of the Central Valley, and all the way to the beaches of the Pacific coast. The group slept in community centers, camped under the stars and stayed with local families along the way.
Towards the final stages of their hike, the group experienced the ‘Wilderness Solo’. This is a reflective exercise designed to help students focus on their lives so far and their future after returning from the Outward Bound course. Equipped with shelter, their notebooks and sustenance, the students were led to their separate locations to set up camp in solitude and did not return until a whistle sounded 24 hours later!
Once they had completed and reflected on their ‘Solo’ experiences, the students had a few more days hiking before reaching the Pacific coast where they spent a few days on the beach enjoying a well-earned rest.
Hasta luego to our Fall Coast to Coast students! We hope to see you again in the future.
Join us on our next Coast to Coast Expedition. Envision yourself spending 85 days in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua!