On the course, you will journey through Central America’s tropical rainforest as you trek through spectacular valleys, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers that lead you from a series of trail campsites to a mountain eco-lodge. Discover unique flora and fauna, impressive bird habitat, and rugged trails as you navigate your way from the central mountains to the sea.
Discover the “Pura Vida” way of life from locals while lending a helping hand on community development or conservation projects, like rainforest reforestation, trail maintenance, and more.
Arriving physically fit will enhance your experience and ability to do well on the course and ultimately allow you to take full advantage of the expedition.
Backpacking
Expedition Skills
Group Dynamics
The coastal and river environments of Costa Rica provide a perfect backdrop for expanding wilderness travel skills. This small tropical nation is fast becoming a renowned destination for whitewater rafting, surfing, rainforest trekking, and eco-adventures in general. About the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has a variety of climates including tropical dry forest, rainforest, and cloud forest.
These regions are the ancestral lands of the Chorotega, Malécu, Rama, Bostos, Nicarao/Nahoa, Huetar, Tjer-di/Teribe Broram, Brunka, Bribri, Buglé and Ngäbé nations.
The solo experience is a standard element of Outward Bound courses. With sufficient food and equipment, you will set up camp at a site on your own. The solo will last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day, depending on the length of your course. Your solo site is chosen to offer as much solitude as possible, yet be within hearing distance of other group members. If your instructors plan an overnight solo, you will set up camp at a site on your own with sufficient equipment and food. You will not travel during this time alone, and your instructors will check on you occasionally. The solitude and break from the fast pace of your expedition allows for rest and personal reflection, which is necessary to make the most of your experience.
Journey through Central America’s tropical rainforest as you trek through spectacular valleys, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers that lead you from a series of trail campsites to a mountain eco-lodge. Discover unique flora and fauna, impressive bird habitat, and rugged trails as you navigate your way from the central mountains to the sea. Spend your evenings camping under the stars and, if homestay is part of the course, living on host family farms and learning to cook using local ingredients – all the while learning more about yourself, your passions and capabilities.
As part of our commitment to students participating in course-related foreign travel, Outward Bound has invested in global medical and security assistance through a group membership with On Call International.
Member services and related benefits that are included with your enrollment:
Not included under this membership:
As a member of our Outward Bound group you have access to pre-trip medical, security, and personal safety advice and services. Examples include up to date advice on: recommended vaccinations, food and water safety, and security risks.
While on course outside the US, should health issues arise, or in the unlikely event of serious injury, illness or a security crisis during your course, On Call International provides expertise and resources to help us select the best options to manage the situation. For example, if you lose your medication, need to see a doctor, get pick-pocketed and lose your passport, or have an incident resulting in illness or injury, you and your Outward Bound instructors would work with On Call International to determine the best course of action. The On Call International network of medical and professional service teams operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, all over the world.
Please note that Outward Bound’s International Travel Program and related services and benefits, only applies to Outward Bound (“school sponsored”) courses and activities, travel related to a sponsored course or activity, and travel (directly) between the international course or activity location and the US. This program will not apply to any international travel you might choose that is unrelated to the Outward Bound sponsored course or activity. If you plan to extend your plans beyond your Outward Bound experience, we recommend you purchase separate travel insurance for any international travel planned outside of your Outward Bound course and sponsored activities.
We are pleased to be able to provide this level of service and benefits to our students and their families participating in International Outward Bound courses. If, after reviewing this letter and the summary, you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your course advisor, or refer to the website of On Call International, and enter the Outward Bound group ID 100109CPPD19.
** Please be aware that most trip cancellation policies will provide fee-based services that will be redundant to those included with your On Call membership.
On Call International (On Call) is one of the world’s leading medical and security assistance companies. Your complimentary membership is included when you enroll in an Outward Bound course with international components. The plan entitles you to a host of pre-trip and international travel assistance resources.
A 24/7 Assistance Center for immediate access to worldwide medical, security, travel and emergency assistance.
Along with a robust list of pre-trip services, On Call provides medical evacuation and repatriation coordination; political and natural disaster evacuation coordination; including coordination of payment of overseas medical bills (where Guarantee of Payments are accepted) as benefits through HDI Global Specialty SE, UK Branch.
Transportation of a family member to join a hospitalized student (if they are hospitalized more than 3 days), accommodation while visiting a hospitalized student, return of dependent children, and return of a traveling companion are also services coordinated through On Call International.
By dialing the 24-hr Assistance Center or by sending an email to [email protected], members have access to pre-trip medical, security, personal safety and travel advice and services. Examples include up to date advice on: recommended vaccinations, food and water safety, and security risks.
Outward Bound students and their families should visit the On Call International online portal to familiarize themselves with all the services that On Call offers, both pre-trip and while abroad.
Please go to mysearchlightportal.com and at the prompt for the Group ID website login, enter Outward Bound’s Group ID number: 100109CPPD19
If you have a medical or security related question or emergency during your course, the Outward Bound staff overseeing the course activities will coordinate contact with On Call International on your behalf.
Any contact related to initial coordination of services will be made by the Outward Bound staff overseeing the course activities. In the unlikely event that you are separated from the course and are alone and in need of assistance, you will have contact numbers for local staff and services as well as the 24-hour On Call International Global Response Center contact information 1-603-952-2669.
No, you will not receive an individual On Call International insurance card. The Outward Bound staff overseeing your course will provide you with a briefing of expectations in the event of an emergency.
The insurance plan covers medical expenses, including hospital room and board, inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, emergency outpatient care, labs and x-rays, inpatient and outpatient mental health, physician office visits and prescription drugs if in connection with a covered injury or illness. See policy summary below for a full list of benefits and limits.
The insurance plan also covers all costs related to services provided by or coordinated by On Call International as listed in the summary below.
The insurance plan provides benefits (through HDI Global Security SE, UK Branch) for the reasonable and customary charges incurred by a participant for a covered accident or sickness up to a $500,000 maximum per person per occurrence. Coverage will be provided for each benefit or service as listed in the summary below.
|
BENEFIT TABLE |
Covered / Not Covered |
Limits Per Insured Person |
|
Medical Evacuation and/or Repatriation |
Covered |
$500,000 |
|
Repatriation of Remains or Burial |
Covered |
$100,000 |
|
Security Evacuation |
Covered |
$100,000 |
|
Emergency Reunion |
Covered |
$20,000 when hospitalized for more than 3 days |
|
Emergency Assistance |
Included |
Included |
|
Medical Expenses and Hospitalisation |
Covered |
$500,000 |
|
Deductible: All Cause / Co-Insurance |
Covered |
0 / 100% |
|
Emergency Pain relieving Dental Treatment |
Covered |
100% of customary charges up to $3,000 for accidental injury and $500 for pain relief |
|
Prescribed Medicines by a doctor or specialist |
Covered |
Maximum of 60 days per subscription |
|
Prescription Drugs |
Covered |
100% of covered expense up to max limit |
|
Maternity |
Covered |
Serious Complications up to 26 weeks of pregnancy |
|
Outpatient treatment by a doctor or specialist |
Covered |
100 % of Customary Charges |
|
Treatment by physiotherapists and chiropractors as prescribed by an authorized physician |
Covered |
100% of customary charges if in connection with covered injury/illness |
|
Pre-existing condition Clause |
Covered |
Up to a maximum of $50,000 per lifetime |
|
Ambulance transportation |
Covered |
100% of customary charges if in connection with covered injury/illness |
|
Mental Health Disorder |
Covered |
Treated as any medical condition |
|
Personal Accident Accidental death, loss of sight, loss of limb(s), permanent total disablement |
Covered |
$25,000, no aggregate |
|
Personal Liability Physical injury and property damage |
Covered |
$100,000 |
|
Emergency Bail Bond |
Covered |
$1,500 |
|
Catastrophe Coverage |
Covered |
100% of customary costs up to $1,000 |
|
Search and Rescue |
Covered |
100% of customary costs up to $10,000 |
|
Loss of Personal Belongings |
Covered |
Up to $1,000, Max $100 per article |
|
Loss of checked in Luggage |
Covered |
$250 |
|
Luggage Delay |
Covered |
$200 |
|
Lost Documents, Equipment or Money |
Covered |
$200 |
|
Trip Interruption |
Covered |
$10,000 per person per occurrence |
|
Travel Delay |
Covered |
$100 a day; Max 5 days |
|
Extensions: |
|
|
|
Bereavement Reunion |
Covered |
$5,000 |
|
Return Home due to Felonious Assault |
Covered |
$10,000 |
|
Emergency Reunion due to Felonious Assault |
Covered |
$5,000 |
|
Pre-Trip Cancellation |
Covered |
$10,000 |
|
Chaperone Replacement |
Not Covered |
$2,500 |
|
Return of Dependent Children |
Covered |
$5,000 |
|
Hazardous Activities |
Covered |
For all Outward Bound sponsored activities |
|
Adventure Activities and Sports |
Covered |
For all Outward Bound sponsored activities |
|
Winter Sports |
Covered |
For all Outward Bound sponsored activities |
On Call International
Call collect from anywhere in the world:
+1 603-952-2669
Call toll free from US or Canada
1-844-884-1210
No, you will not receive a separate insurance ID card. On Call International will simply confirm eligibility through Outward Bound after a claim is received.
When outside of the US, you, or Outward Bound on your behalf, may be asked to pay for medical care first and then need to seek reimbursement. If Outward Bound has paid on your behalf, they will submit bills directly to the Claims Administrator. If you have paid for covered services directly, you must submit the claim directly to On Call International. An On Call claim form must be completed in order to receive reimbursement for medical expenses. Please note, All Inpatient Hospital treatments or care, Surgery or Surgical Procedure, computerized tomography (CAT Scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Emergency Medical Evacuations and Repatriations, Repatriation of Remains and Burial, Emergency Reunions and Trip Interruption must be pre-authorized by On Call International and these are not reimburseable benefits.
If the treatment you received was a result of an accident, you might receive a letter asking you for information about the accident, e.g., if it was the result of a car accident, from playing sports, etc. Your claim cannot be processed without this information, so please respond to the letter promptly.