Costa Rica Rainforest Whitewater Rafting and Conservation Trek
Pura Vida!
Join us for an extraordinary Wilderness Medicine educational experience in Costa Rica—where world-class whitewater rafting, stunning jungle landscapes, and hands-on medical training come together. This trek takes you to 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. This adventure combines expert-led educational sessions with a thrilling river expedition, and rainforest exploration, giving you the chance to refine your skills in one of the most biodiverse environments on Earth.
2025 Dates
- November 2-7, 2025
- Recommended travel is to arrive in Costa Rica on November 2nd. Without optional activities book departure travel from San Jose on November 7th.
- If planning to participate in optional activities book travel to depart San Jose on November 8th.
Itinerary
- Day 1 Nov 2nd: Arrive in Costa Rica
- You will be picked up at the airport
- Lodging included at Parque del Lago Hotel San Jose
- Meet your fellow participants and faculty
- Day 2 Nov 3rd: Raft the Paquare, arrive at Rios Lodge
- Pick up early AM at Parque del Lago Hotel San Jose, bus ride and then raft to Rios Lodge
- Navigate exhilarating rapids with expert guides
- Lunch and afternoon lectures
- Day 3 Nov 4th: Lectures and exploring
- Early morning canopy tours
- Creek exploration hike and swim
- Afternoon lectures
- Night hike with local guides to identify rainforest flora and fauna
- Day 4 Nov 5th: Lectures and exploring
- Patient movement workshop- getting your patient out of the rainforest
- Conservation hike and tree planting
- Dinner and evening lectures
- Day 5 Nov 6th: Choose One:
- 1) Help teach a free wilderness first aid workshop to local guides OR
- 2) Raft/ Travel to San Jose. Lodging provided in San Jose
- Day 6 Nov 7th: All remaining guests depart Rios Lodge
- Raft out of the lodge
- Travel to San Jose, lodging provided in San Jose
- Guests who departed the lodge Nov 6 fly home
- Day 7 Nov 8th: All remaining guests fly home
Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Costa Rica. Once in San Jose, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to the Parque del Lago Hotel, where you will meet your fellow participants and faculty. 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 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 tubing, water slide hike, hiking to a hidden waterfall, 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.
Who should join?
This trip is designed for:
✅ Physicians, PAs, NPs, paramedics, and medical professionals looking to expand their wilderness medicine expertise
✅ Adventurers eager to hone their clinical skills in extreme environments
✅ Medical students and trainees looking for an unforgettable, hands-on educational experience
What’s included?
✔️ Expert wilderness medicine instruction
✔️ All meals, lodging, and guided activities
✔️ Transportation within Costa Rica, including airport transfers
✔️ Whitewater rafting and rainforest treks
Not included: International airfare, personal travel insurance, and optional excursions.
Incredible food in the heart of the rainforest
One of the most unforgettable parts of this adventure is the incredible cuisine at Ríos Lodge. Despite being an entirely off-grid eco-resort, the dining experience is nothing short of world-class. Guests consistently rave about the fresh, locally sourced meals, which provide the perfect balance of nutrition and indulgence after long days of rafting, trekking, and hands-on learning.
All meals are included during your stay at the lodge, featuring a mix of traditional Costa Rican flavors and international cuisine prepared by expert chefs. You’ll enjoy dishes crafted from fresh tropical fruits, locally sourced vegetables, and sustainably caught seafood, all served in a breathtaking open-air dining space surrounded by lush jungle.
What to Expect:
- Farm-to-table ingredients that highlight the best of Costa Rica’s vibrant culinary culture
- Hearty breakfasts with tropical fruits, fresh coffee, eggs, and homemade breads
- Satisfying lunches and dinners featuring local specialties like gallo pinto, fresh fish, plantains, and creative fusion dishes
- Accommodations for dietary needs – whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or have specific allergies, the chefs ensure that every meal is delicious and nourishing
Dining at Ríos Lodge isn’t just about the food—it’s about the experience. Whether you’re sipping morning coffee while watching toucans in the trees or enjoying a candlelit dinner under the stars, every meal enhances the magic of this off-grid wilderness retreat.
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 | 5 Night/ 6 Day | 6 Night/ 7 Day |
| EcoHostel- Bunk with shared bathroom | $1,600.00 | $1,736.00 |
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. Two nights of lodging in San Jose are included.
Price does not include alcoholic beverages at the lodge, or flights to and from San Jose, Costa Rica. You may choose to depart Rios Lodge on November 6th 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 described above. 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).
Reserve your spot today:
Space is limited for this one-of-a-kind Wilderness Medicine adventure. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn, explore, and challenge yourself in one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations. After submitting this registration form we will be in touch with you shortly. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.
Pura Vida!
