Costa Rica Rainforest Whitewater Rafting and Conservation Trek
Pura Vida!
Get ready for a some Wilderness Medicine Educational Trek! Join us for a trek to the Rios Lodge, located in the rainforest on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. This unique location will allow for a hands-on, immersive educational experience. Through a partnership with Rios Lodge, the Rivers and Forests Alliance, and the local guiding community, participants will have unprecedented access to one of nature’s best classrooms.
2024 Dates
- November 4-7, 2024
- Recommended travel is to arrive in Costa Riva on November 3rd. Without optional activities book departure travel from San Jose on November 8th.
- If planning to participate in optional activities book travel to depart San Jose on November 9th.
Itinerary
- Nov 3th: Arrive in Costa Rica. Lodging on your own, Recommended: Parque del Lago Hotel San Jose.
- Nov 4th: Pick up early AM at Parque del Lago Hotel San Jose, bus ride and then raft to Rios Lodge
- Nov 5th: Medical Lectures and exploring
- Nov 6th: Medical Lectures and exploring
- Nov 7th: Choose One: 1) Teach Guides OR 2) Lodge Activities OR 3) Raft/ Travel to San Jose (Note do not plan to fly out until 8th)
- Nov 8th: OPTIONAL: Raft/Travel to San Jose (Note do not plan to fly out until 9th)
Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Costa Rica. You will be picked up by bus in San Jose, where the course will begin with a bus ride to the river. During the bus ride, your faculty and local guides will introduce the you to the history of conservation in Costa Rica. Participants will then take a raft trip down exciting class II-III rapids to the Rios Lodge. During their trip, faculty will begin instruction of wilderness medicine skills, and give riverside presentations on relevant medical topics. You will also learn fundamentals of river safety and swift water rescue.
Once at the lodge, the participants will have an evening lecture after getting settled into their rainforest accommodations. The following 2 days will be filled with a variety of educational programs, including lectures and hands-on workshops on wilderness and emergency medicine topics related to tropical and river travel. Participants will also have sessions on ecology and conservation. They will participate in a tree planting event and learn about climate change and health.
On the fourth day at the lodge, students will have the option to either raft or hike out to continue their own adventure in Costa Rica, or catch an earlier return home. The rafting trip from the lodge down packs in even more excitement than the trip in. The day will be spent on class III-IV rapids, with a riverside lunch. For those wishing to stay for further education or time at the lodge, an optional opportunity to teach local guides will be held on the fourth day. Guests will also have the ability to enjoy optional activities around the lodge including canopy tour, tubing, water slide hike, hiking to a hidden waterfall, horseback trail ride through the rainforest (additional cost- $200), or yoga, chi gung, meditation, and relaxation time.
On the fifth day all remaining students will raft out, where they will have transportation back to San Jose or continue on with in-country travel. Options include exclusive access to Central America’s first downhill mountain bike park (45 minutes outside San Jose), surfing on the west coast, or diving excursions on the Caribbean.
Cuisine
Rios Lodge offers a truly unique dining experience. Despite being a completely off-grid rainforest eco-resort, the culinary experience is unmatched. Guests rave about the food, and consistently consider it a highlight of the trip! All meals are included while at the lodge.
Giving Back
By participating in this trek, you are not only feeding your mind and your soul, but you are also supporting the local guiding community and the environment. Proceeds from this trek go directly to supporting ongoing projects to provide free wilderness medicine education to the local guiding community, drowning prevention education, and conservation of the rainforest through a partnership with the Rivers and Forests Alliance.
Learning Modules & Objectives:
Drowning Lecture (1hr):
Identify at least 2 risk factors for drowning
Define “drowning”
Identify the treatment strategies for drowning in the field
Describe criteria for evacuation of drowning patients
Drowning Resuscitation Lab (2hr):
Demonstrate effective airway management
Demonstrate in-water rescue breathing
Demonstrate effective mask ventilation
Tropical Medicine (1hr):
Identify 3 common diseases associated with travel to Central America
Describe treatment strategies for common tropical diseases
Tree Planting/Conservation Hike (3hr):
Appreciate the biodiversity local flora and fauna
Appreciate importance of primary rainforest to the health of the planet
Appreciate the importance of primary rainforest for migration of birds and mammals
Create direct impact improving biological corridor via the Gallo Preserve.
Dangerous Plants and Animals of the Rainforest (1hr):
Describe the treatment of common envenomations in the tropics
Recognize toxidromes of at least 2 toxic plants found in the rainforest
Night Hike (1hr):
Recognize common dangerous reptiles and insects in the rainforest
Recognize toxic plants in the rainforest
Patient Movement Workshop (2hr):
Demonstrate proper techniques for moving incapacitated patients using improvised litters
Describe common evacuation concerns using real-world examples from Rios Lodge
Preparing for Travel in the Tropics (1hr):
Discuss resources available for pre-trip planning
Discuss current recommendations for chemoprophylaxis for malaria
Discuss medical kits specific for tropical travel
Discuss current vaccination recommendations for tropical travel
Infectious Disease in the Tropics (1hr):
Recognize signs and symptoms of diseases unique to the tropics
Identify treatment strategies for tropical diseases
Update on Rabies (30 min):
Discuss global prevalence and common vectors for rabies
Understand the current guidelines for rabies prophylaxis
Waterborne Illness (30 min):
Identify pros/cons of various water treatment methods
Recognize treatment strategies for waterborne illness
Whitewater Injuries (1hr):
Describe the most common injuries on whitewater trips
Demonstrate field reduction techniques for shoulder dislocation
Prolonged Field Care (1hr):
Use the MARCH-PAWS algorithm to demonstrate a systematic approach to caring for patients in a resource poor environment
Develop an evidence-based approach to caring for patients for greater than 24 hours in the field
Surf’s Up- Surfing Injuries (30 min):
Identify 3 common injuries in surfers
Describe unique considerations for the treatment of common surfing injuries
Pricing
Course Fees:
| Type of Room | 3 Night/ 4 Day | 4 Night/ 5 Day |
| EcoHostel- Bunk with shared bathroom | $1,323.20 | $1,447.50 |
| Private Room- Double Occupancy | $1,589.88 | $1,803.45 |
| Private Room- Single Occupancy | $2,026.06 | $2,384.27 |
Price includes all educational activities, transportation to and from San Jose, rafting into the lodge, all meals while at the lodge, as well as your accommodations. All taxes included.
This trip consists of at least three days at the Rios Lodge, with an optional fourth and fifth day for additional training, or relaxation and exploration.
Price does not include alcoholic beverages at the lodge, or flights to and from San Jose, Costa Rica. Please plan to arrive in San Jose on November 3, the day prior to the start of the conference. It is recommended that all participants stay at the Parque del Lago Hotel San Jose the night before the start of our trek. The Rios Lodge reservations team can assist with making these reservations. The bus will pick you up early in the morning of November 4th from Parque del Lago Hotel, the day the trek starts. You may choose to depart Rios Lodge on November 7th to return home, or continue in-country adventures, visiting the coast, the cloud forest, or coffee plantations. Guests may also remain at the lodge for an additional day of optional activities. Guests should not book flights to return home on the same day they raft out of the lodge. Although guests usually arrive in San Jose by early afternoon, traffic is unpredictable, and we do not recommend return flights on the same day you depart the lodge.
Additional activities are available for additional cost and are arranged through Rios Lodge.
Discounted price also available for guests accompanying trek participants who will not be participating in the educational activities (family members, children, etc).
Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel:
www.parquedellago.com
Contact Rios Lodge Now to Register:
After submitting this registration form a reservation specialist from Rios Lodge will be in touch with you shortly. Invoices are non refundable and need to be paid within 48 hours of receipt.
Pura Vida!
