Costa Rica Coast to Coast - Jungle Challenge What s New? As you ll may know in October 2016 SAFE@LAST joined Depaul UK and became part of the Depaul family. The merger of these two excellent organisations will ensure SAFE@LAST continues to provide services to children and young people across the region into the future. How the merger will benefit SAFE@LAST and young people: It ensures SAFE@LAST s services including education and prevention work in schools, one-to-one support for young people and families and a dedicated helpline will continue. The well known SAFE@LAST brand and identity will remain. Funds raised to support our work will continue to be used in the same way, to support young people in South Yorkshire. SAFE@LAST s services for young people will be more sustainable and secure. The wonderful expertise and knowledge SAFE@LAST can be shared across the UK to help even more young people. The support of a larger organisation will help give SAFE@LAST a louder voice to champion issues young runaways face. What about the Jungle Challenge? Everyone is very excited that the Costa Rica Coast to Coast Jungle Challenge will be continuing. We ll still be working with Discover Adventure who will lead the challenge. The Coast to Coast Challenge will be an adventurous journey on foot and by raft from the Pacific to the Caribbean Coast! We ll follow a route that takes us from traditional farming communities through coffee plantations and oak forests, deep into cloudforest and dense tropical rainforest, serenaded by howler monkeys and exotic bird calls. We take in the country s highest active volcano before our challenge ends with an unforgettable journey by raft and boat to a beautiful tropical beach. The dates of the trip have been changed to ensure everyone has enough time to fundraise and train for the challenge. The new trip dates are; Tuesday 31st October 2017 to Saturday 11th November 2017.
What support will I get? We ll make sure you have all the support you need for a successful and rewarding challenge. Discover Adventure has been running adventurous, challenging trips all over the world since 1994 and will lead on all aspects of the trip including organising your travel, challenge guides and accommodation while in Costa Rica. Our new South Yorkshire based Community Fundraiser, Matt, will help you with your preparation for the trip supporting your training, planning and fundraising including organising regular get togethers so you can get to know your fellow trekkers. We ll provide you with fundraising resources e.g. buckets, hints and tips and a challenge hoody. How will the money I raise make a difference? The ultimate aim of this challenge is to ensure SAFE@LAST can support young people who feel they have no choice but to run away from home or care. The funds you raised through this challenge will be used in exactly the same way as was planned before and will be dedicated to supporting SAFE@LAST s services in South Yorkshire. While SAFE@LAST will benefit from economies of scale now its part of the Depaul family we still need to work very hard to ensure it has the funds to continue its work. Any funds you ve already raised will roll forward and count towards your fundraising total. What are my options to fund the trip? You can still choose between two funding options. As a self funder where you fund the entire cost of the trip yourself and raise funds on top to support SAFE@LAST. Or just fund the deposit and fuel supplement yourself and then raise a greater amount and we ll use some of your fundraising to cover your trip costs. The cost for the trip have changed slightly as a result the devaluation of sterling. Please see page five for the current costs.
Costa Rica Coast to Coast - jungle Challenge Itinerary Day 1: Fly London San Jose We arrive late afternoon/early evening, transfer to our hotel and relax! Night at the hotel. Day 2: San Jose Pacific Coast Londres Drive approx 4 hrs; trek approx 12 km / 5 hrs After an early morning breakfast we transfer by bus to a beach on the Pacific Coast. Turning inland, we start our trek! Our route takes us through palm oil plantations and agricultural land which is predominantly flat, before reaching the foothills of the more remote and forested highlands. The site of our evening s camp is a small farming community. Day 3: Londres San Isidro - Trek 18 km/8 hrs Today we trek to the small village of San Isidro along good tracks and paths that gradually climb up to the edge of the rainforest. There are several demanding ascents and descents and several stream crossings and it can be quite muddy, but we are rewarded by fabulous views down to the Pacific Coast. Day 4: San Isidro Betania - Trek 8km/6 hrs Today our trail is initially steep with several stream crossings as it takes us into dense vegetation. Watch out for wildlife such as beautiful tree frogs. It is often quite dark and damp in the dense vegetation of the rainforest as sunlight cannot penetrate the canopy above our heads. The trail is slippery and we have to clamber over and under enormous roots and fallen trees as agile spider monkeys mock our progress from above. We continue until we reach a clearing and our accommodation at Betania in the Cascades area. Day 5: Betania Naranjo Quetzal y Tucan - Trek approx 17km / 10 12 hrs Today is our most strenuous day: a long route on challenging terrain with demanding, muddy ascents and descents. Keep your eyes open for the many wonderful birds and the occasional small group of howler monkeys! Our tracks are narrow with thick vegetation towering up to each side, and we cross several rivers and cascades. Reaching our high point of 1965m, we descend sharply to the Rio Brujo. The track becomes wider as we make our way further into cloudforest to our farmstead and camp for the night. Day 6: Quetzal y Tucan Santa María de Dota - Trek 19 km, approx 7 hrs Today s trek takes us through small communities and agricultural land. We leave this amazing area of rainforest; sad to leave such an incredible habitat behind us, but perhaps glad to rejoin less challenging paths! We trek on wider, easier tracks, but there are still several steep climbs before us, which take us to a high-point of 2045m.
Day 7: Santa María de Dota Volcan Irazu Rio Pacuare - Total drive approx 4 5 hrs; trek approx 6km / 2 hrs Today sees us driving to the spectacular Volcan Irazu (3432m), the highest active volcano in Costa Rica. We have time to explore the crater rim with its views over the vivid green lake in one of the craters. On a really clear day it s possible to see both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts! We then have a further drive to the start of our trek, which takes us uphill on relatively good tracks though farmland and jungle before a challenging descent takes us on a narrow mud track through rainforest to the banks of the Rio Pacuare. Time permitting, there may be a chance for a refreshing river swim on arrival. Day 8: Rafting Rio Pacuare - Raft approx 4 5 hrs; trek approx 1 hr We will be rafting for around 30km (19 miles), which will take about 4 or 5 hours, depending upon the water level. The beautiful stretch of water includes several white-water rapids (grade III IV; no experience necessary) but also plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the scenery. This is considered one of the best rafting rivers in the Americas, not just because of its exciting waters, but also because of the lush vegetation that surrounds it. We will trek up to a waterfall and have a break for lunch during the course of the day, but this will be an exhilarating day that becomes a trip highlight for many. We camp again on the banks of the Pacuare River. Day 9: Rio Pacuare Caribbean Coast - Drive 2 hrs; trek approx 12km / 3-4 hrs After an early breakfast and a last look at the river, we meet our vehicles and have a lovely drive along the beautiful palm-tree-lined coastline towards Cahuita National Park. The final section of our Costa Rica trek takes us along the beach a wonderful end to our challenge! Our wide, level track turns into a narrow trail which winds alongside the white sands of the Caribbean coast. We may see wildlife such as capuchin and howler monkeys and crab-eating raccoons. We reach our hotel in the small town of Cahuita, and for the first time in a week can enjoy the comforts of a hotel! We meet later in the evening for a slap-up barbeque and celebrate our huge achievement. Day 10: Cahuita Cahuita s black-sand beach is within walking distance of the town, and you can swim or surf in the warm Caribbean waters. Slightly further away there are white-sand beaches and coral reefs perfect for snorkelling, and the Cahuita National Park with its diverse wildlife. We have the day free to relax and enjoy our surroundings. Day 11: Depart San Jose Drive 5 6 hrs We have an early morning drive back to San Jose and to the airport for our afternoon flight back to the UK. Day 12: Arrive UK
What's included: All accommodation All flights and transport Camping equipment (except sleeping bag and sleeping mat) All meals except two as specified in the itinerary White-water rafting equipment, guides and instruction Entrance to Reserves and any sites visited as part of the itinerary Experienced Discover Adventure leaders and doctor with a local support crew of horses, guides, cooks and drivers. Accommodation: We camp for 7 nights during the trek in a combination of tents and wooden sleeping-platforms or rooms that are usually part of a homestead or permanent camp. Some have facilities such as kitchens, dining areas, toilets and showers, others are a little more basic. When in tents you will be sharing with another person on the challenge. In homestead rooms we bed down on the floor in larger groups. Hotels will be clean and with private facilities, but not luxurious. Food: All food is included except two meals as specified in the itinerary. The food is great and there is plenty of it. Costs: Self Payment Option Deposit: 450 (can be split into two payments) Self payment balance: 1,774 Fuel Supplement: approx. 200 Total: 2,424 Fundraising target: 1,500 Fundraising Option Deposit: 450 (can be split into two payments) Fuel Supplement: approx. 200 Fundraising target: 4,350 What's not included: Personal travel insurance Any vaccinations you need Two meals as specified Tips for local crew, or international departure tax Entrance fees to any optional sites or attractions Extra drinks, souvenirs and other personal expenses Flight information: Flights are from London Heathrow or Gatwick and we are most likely to fly with Iberia Airlines or BA. Flights will be confirmed several months before departure Vaccinations: Tetanus injection in the last ten years Highly recommend protection against Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid There is a risk of Malaria in the coastal areas where we finish and therefore we advise taking malarial prophylaxis Trip Support: Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders and include an expedition doctor. You will be supported by a local support crew made up of local guides, drivers and cooks, and horses where appropriate. Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Your crew will be equipped with radios and emergency satellite phones, extensive medical kit and other safety apparatus where necessary. They always have access to our 24-hour emergency UK back-up. Got questions? Want to know more? Matthew.Redmore@depaulcharity.org.uk