Costa Rica hike, bike and raft adventure

Planet

A true 248 km multi-activity adventure includes mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting, and sea kayaking. No motors, engines or even animal packs to help, just human power from start to finish, so zero transport Co2 emissions on the ground! It is not easy to talk about one element of this trip that makes a difference with regards to responsible practices, as our partners have been trailblazing the way with active eco trips since 1994.

The route traverses mountain villages, coffee and sugar plantations, riverside communities and small villages. Arriving by bike into remote mountain villages and supporting communities by buying supplies or helping to release hatchling turtles on the coast, there can be few trips in the world that use a range of activities to cross from one side of a continent to the other whilst learning and embracing the natural elements of the country.

Many of the staff have worked with our partners for over 20 years. Most are Costa Rican, and all have recycling and reusing in their DNA! If it can be fixed or reused, it will be whether an ageing mountain bike or family truck. Food is sourced from local providers and prepared under the stars on campsites where the impact on the natural environment is kept to a bare minimum.

People

In addition to our adventure, there are specialist responsible travel adventures that can and have been arranged, including group charity trips of numbers over 50. Building a school in an indigenous village with a group of UK students and courses for doctors who want to work in jungle environments.

The difference made cannot be counted in replanted trees or the number of community projects affected by the work of our partners, as the process takes place ongoing and organically. Nothing much has changed since they started, and nothing needs to change as best practices have always been second nature.

The trip visits several communities where guides are known well and groups always receive a warm welcome. Places like Orosi in Cartargo rarely feature on a main stream itinerary but the beautiful hills and temperate climate make this the ideal place to grow coffee. We camp in a local b and b lodge interacting and learning about the local community – and of course drinking plenty of coffee to keep us going. We always buy locally whether we are on the trip. Community produced products tend to make better gifts too whether hibiscus honey or shade grown coffee.