Alpha Three - The Coast to Coast Trek

Adri, Mike and Joey talk us through the challenges of the Coast-to-Coast Trek

Before we even mention the scenery, the dizzy heights of the Continental Divide, the national parks or the magnificent beaches on this incredible journey, can we return to the fact that this trek crosses an entire continent? In nineteen days, equipped with only leg power, brave words and gritty determination. Here at Fieldbase we tip our coffee cups in their general direction. A noble effort indeed!

In fact, Mountain Leader Mike was chomping at the bit to get started, along with his PM team – Adri, a super-smiley Tica who oozes energy and positivity, and our very own emergency room medic, novice trekker and all-round entertainer Joey, who’s been hard at training since arriving in Costa Rica. This is a relatively new route for Raleigh but Alpha Three are more than ready for the challenge.

Kicking off with the calypso flavours of the Caribbean Coast close to Puerto Limon, the team head north on the beach before turning inland through the swampy Caribbean lowlands, crossing banana and pineapple plantations. About now, they’ll be crossing into Parque National Barbilla where they’ll trek through dense jungle, before starting to climb up into the clouds and onto the Cordillera de Talamanca, via Parque National Tapanti. In week two, after topping out to enjoy the views at around 3,000m, Alpha Three then descend through the (literally) breathtaking cloud forests of Los Santos, now known as Parque National Los Quetzales. Actually, the quetzal is only one of many type of bird in this biodiversity hotspot: trogon, hummingbird, great tinamou fill the branches of massive oak trees, while jaguar and tapir sculk beneath.

Skirting the edge of 3491m Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death), Alpha Three are likely to experience an eerie mix of swirling mists interspersed with momentary magical vistas across the Central Divide as they begin the glorious descent back to the ocean during week three. By now, Alpha Three will have their eyes on the prize – the balmy waters of Palo Seco, a rainforest-backed tropical beach. Here, while iguanas loll on the finish line, the Coast-to-Coasters will celebrate with a well-deserved dip in the Pacific Ocean. Alpha Three, we salute you!

Get a sneak preview of what's in store below...

Tomorrow: we head to Parque National La Cangreja and Alpha Four's jungle camp