Exped Panama Coast to Coast

You have already been made aware that this is a serious undertaking in the remotest possible terrain. For the packraft and the road run stages, we have vehicles in support (cars and dugouts with engines, respectively). In the jungle, we have no such support. Whilst helicopter evacuation could be possible for the most serious of matters, it is not always a-given that a helicopter can fly (night, weather, wind, lack of landing spot). You need to be fully aware therefore that an evacuation from the jungle stage for any matter, large or small, is an extremely serious undertaking. If such an undertaking is deemed to be required, it may be that YOU become part of the safety system. We will always reserve the right to call upon members of the Event, alongside crew, to assist in any evacuation activity whatsoever required to remedy the situation as quickly and decisively as possible. This may involve diverting off the route, assisting with casualty-bearing and load-carrying, or other duties.  

You should also know that, if a helicopter cannot access a casualty’s location, the evacuation time at certain parts of the jungle course could be upwards of 24 hours and more; and could involve uncomfortable and strenuous manual evacuation techniques over very rough ground. In short, it’s very serious. The objective risk of sustaining serious injury, bites by poisonous wildlife or other such scenarios cannot be understated. Despite best efforts for evacuation, consequences could prove fatal. You need to understand that we cannot remove all risk from such an undertaking nor would we state such. You are entering an area where the remoteness of the undertaking and the slowness of possible evacuation could result in death. 

Mitigation of such scenarios is our number one priority. Your ability to reduce the risk posed by trauma is key: Taking your time, using trekking poles, descending rough ground in a carefully controlled manner whilst under load is all part of the mitigation against injury. Your use of snake gaiters, good campcraft and common-sense approach plus vigilance to your surroundings will mitigate against the threat from wildlife. You must take your time, undertake the jungle phase very much with a clear understanding of the environment you are in and come to the table with a team mentality on this one. That way, we will stay safe and will mitigate and reduce the risks outlined above. 

If this happens and you do not go into the jungle (or if you need to withdraw from the event before the jungle phase due to injury or other factors) we do have a very good contingency lined up, this involves spending time at the spectacular Mount Tortumas Lodge high up in the cloud forest for 3 days, you will then move with crew around to Bocas Del Toro province to prepare to meet the jungle team emerging from the trekking phase. There is a further 1 night’s accommodation and then we will all be reunited at the Rio Changuinola for the river packrafting stage. We wish to be clear that if this does happen, this is a non-inclusive part of the itinerary, and a charge will be levied for the accommodation in the sum of $350 for the 4 night period and you will be sharing a room with the crew or other participants. Meals will be paid for on top of that and all of the accommodation locations provide good, cost-effective meal solutions. Of course, you will have your jungle rations and stove available to you also if you wish to eat those supplies.  

We have lined up a simply incredible crossing of the central American Isthmus. A major part of that crossing is the self-contained jungle phase, where you will be traversing the continental divide of the Americas on foot over a 5-day trekking stage in the middle of this event. This is ‘bookended’ by 2 days of road running and 2 days of packrafting. We have tried to ensure our literature and information through the website and other channels outline the context of this crossing and to make you fully aware of what you are signing up for here. Be under no illusions whatsoever that this is raw adventure.  

The ascent/descent is fierce and we are enter a UNESCO World Heritage tract of primary jungle and cloud forest – which is also a National Park. There are no roads and our only access in and out is via a network of animal droving routes and local tribal paths that connect informal villages inside the national park. Once we are embarked on this jungle phase, there is really only one option to get you out: You walk forwards, or someone carries you forward if you cannot walk. Clearly the latter is a major undertaking, and we want to avoid that at all costs. 

Whilst our evacuation plan will involve helicopter if available, the winds and general climactic conditions that cover this high mountain zone, plus the fact there are very limited places to land, mean it is not a-given that you will be evacuated quickly. ANY evacuation operation is a major undertaking – whether it be for a snake bite or for a sprained ankle. So that means we require you to be very, very ready indeed for total self-sufficiency and with a base fitness that will allow you to cover that ground (including 20 000 ft + of ascent over the 5 days) at a decent trekking pace. We will NOT be running in the jungle phase – it is too steep; packs will be too heavy and the terrain will simply not allow it. 

Based on the above facts, we cannot afford for you to get into a situation where your pace puts yourself or the rest of the group in jeopardy. At this point, it is therefore important for us to be very clear on the cut-off regime. If we deem that you do not have the requisite pace, kit admin or personal endurance by the end of the road run phase (days 1 and 2), we will not permit you to commence the jungle trek and you will be bussed round to the ‘other side’ of the Divide to re-join the group at the packraft put-in for the final 2 days of the adventure. If we do decide this is something we have to impose, please understand that this policy is for your own (and for everyone else’s) safety and is non-negotiable. 

So, it is important for us to clarify what we mean by pace. We DO NOT mean you need to be a fast runner. Indeed we are not even talking about speed really. You need to be consistent at your own pace. 4kmh consistently for 2 days from sea level to 2000m over 100km is fine. You can walk the whole run phase if you want to. That is fine.  

It is not about speed. It is about consistency. If we think you will struggle to keep pace on the jungle trek, we will not start you on the jungle phase. Our opportunity to see you in action is in that road phase, so this is where we will draw the line if we feel you cannot make it at a decent pace in the jungle phase. The line has to be drawn before the jungle, as we cannot draw it once we are in there.   

And that is simply because once you are in there, you are only coming out on foot and only ever going forwards, not backwards. We are totally self-sufficient as a group, as explained above. We cannot in any way afford to get that dynamic wrong. 

The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.

As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

On the road sections you are able to move at your own pace. In the jungle we will form an ‘envelope’ which will have our crew out front, who you will not go past. Then at the back, we will have our medics and other event crew who will provide support as required if they come upon casualties or incidents to deal with. We have you well covered, and you will be able to ‘set your own pace’ within this envelope. What you won’t be able to do is to overtake the guys in front.  

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.

We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.

Yes your packraft and all associated equipment is included.

The kit list for this is comprehensive and detailed. We will run kit check seminars before the event where you can dial in and ask questions, your kit will be checked remotely via video call by our jungle guide and we are available for any questions you might have on kit on events@ratrace.com.

View the Panama Kit list