Alpha One - The Corcovado Trek

 

Alpha One project managers Emma and Oscar give us the low down on the trek - they’ll be joined by medic Ben for phase one.

This mammoth 300km trek begins in the far south of Costa Rica on the edge of Parque National La Amistad, a UNESCO heritage site with montane forest, cloud forest and paramo. Kicking off with lofty 1,000m peaks, jaw-dropping sunrises and waterfalls, the group pause briefly to sooth aching limbs in hot springs before crossing the agricultural plains of the Coto Brus valley, resting overnight in small communities. Stepping up the challenge in week two, the trek seesaws up and down the coastal ridge Fila Costeña mountain range before dropping down to sea level and skirting the calm coastline of the Golfo Dulce to beautiful Peninsula de Osa. By week three, the group has waved goodbye to sea views to head deep into the best preserved tropical primary rainforest in Central America – Parque National Corcovado. Using special permissions, 10B will be stopping at ranger stations deep in the park to find out more about conservation and catch a glimpse of the menagerie of wildlife that roam within: tapir, giant anteater, tree-hugging sloths, jaguar, puma, harpy eagle, scarlet macaw and the odd crocodile. Emerging from the jungle, the final days trace the Pacific coastline along breathtaking beaches fringed by mangroves, with nights camping under the stars.

The Corcovado Trek is a rare chance to visit these remote environments as the trek only runs during the ‘dry’ months of January to April and is well off the tourist trail. It’s hot, humid and challenging, but that won’t slow the group down – the enterprising Alpha One team will be honing their navigation and camp craft skills as well as work towards self sufficiency and developing their leadership skills en route. Could this be the best trek of 10B? The PMs certainly think so: Tico trek leader Oscar is back for his third Raleigh expedition, teaming up with Singapore-based solicitor Emma - a lovely yorkshire lassie who keeps our live-wire latino on the straight and narrow. Join them below on their route reccee:

Tomorrow: we head to western Costa Rica to find out about the Guanacaste Trek with Alpha Two