1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:03,960 My name is Levison Wood. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,000 Woo! 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,280 In 2014, I walked the Nile. 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,400 And in 2015, I walked the Himalayas. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,880 Now, I'm about to trek between two continents 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,160 on what could be my toughest journey yet. 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,720 You don't get that if you rub sticks together! 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:21,800 LAUGHTER 9 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,520 My plan is to walk from the point where Europeans first made landfall 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:34,240 in Mexico, all the way to Colombia, along the length of Central America. 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:39,040 My route will take me through eight countries, across volcanic plains, 12 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,000 drug smuggling routes and cloud forests, 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,640 but before I can cross into South America, 14 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,360 I'll have to make it through 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,800 one of the last great wildernesses on earth - 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,320 the lawless jungle of the Darien Gap. 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,560 'I'll take four million steps, over remote... 18 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:02,160 '..unpredictable...' 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,120 I've never seen anything quite like this before. 20 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:06,680 '..and beautiful landscapes.' 21 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,720 You can see everything. This is absolutely incredible. 22 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,640 'I'll see Central America... 23 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,800 '..through the eyes of the people that live here.' 24 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,920 Bullet holes. Dangerous business being a pastor around these parts, 25 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,120 isn't it? 26 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,880 'So far, I've trekked 900 miles across exotic coastlines, 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,560 'jungles and gangland territories.' 28 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,080 It's really not safe around here. 29 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,240 '..to reach country number five...' 30 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,280 Hola chicos! 31 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:36,960 'Nicaragua. 32 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,160 'Now I'm about to navigate volcanic plains...' 33 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,720 It's not called the mouth of hell for no reason. 34 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,800 '..meet migrants on a perilous journey to the US.' 35 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,640 There's a lot of people dead, a lot of people dying. 36 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,200 'And set out for the highest point on my trek.' 37 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:52,560 This is brutal. 38 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,120 'I'm walking the Americas with my friend and guide, Alberto.' 39 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:10,520 Hola. 40 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,200 'We're approaching Nicaragua's volcanic heartland.' 41 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,600 Wow, it's sweltering down here. 42 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,760 All of this part of western Nicaragua 43 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,080 is one long string of volcanoes. 44 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,920 There's, I think, 21 in Nicaragua in a big long line and this is all part 45 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:28,320 of the Pacific Ring of Fire. 46 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,080 So far this has been my favourite country. 47 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,680 The people are really nice and it's so different to what I expected. 48 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,120 Very, very, very beautiful and peaceful. 49 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,080 Can you hear the howler monkeys, Alberto? 50 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,280 MONKEYS HOWL 51 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:51,600 Yeah. 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:55,320 Amazing. 53 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,360 Over the next 300 miles, 54 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,800 we'll walk across volcanic plains 55 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,080 towards the largest lake in Central America, Lake Nicaragua, 56 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,080 before crossing into country number six, Costa Rica. 57 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,960 Here, we must navigate cloud forests and deadly highways 58 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,120 before attempting to climb to the highest mountain on our journey, 59 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,320 the mighty Cerro Chirripo. 60 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,080 The majority of Nicaragua's six million people live in this region. 61 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,080 And we are entering one of its major cities, Masaya. 62 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,360 It seems as if the whole town is out on the streets. 63 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,520 What's the party for today? 64 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,320 The Saint Jeronimo festival attracts cowboys and girls 65 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,320 from across the country. Today, 1,000 horses will parade 66 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,480 late into the night along the six-mile route 67 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,040 through the centre of Masaya. 68 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,760 We arrived, I think, on the best day of the year to this town. 69 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:27,880 You're right there. 70 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,920 That was close. 71 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:37,080 This is just crazy. 72 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,480 It's times like this that you regret wearing flip-flops! 73 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,160 As darkness falls, we reach the front of the parade route 74 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,800 where it seems every horse must dance for the crowds. 75 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,280 Literally, there are thousands of pissed cowboys on horses, 76 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:06,360 all drunk, all dancing. 77 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,440 You're the best cowboy here? Yeah. 78 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,520 Where's your horse? 79 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,040 Gone? You've lost your horse? 80 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,720 Ha-ha! 81 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:33,680 He lost his horse. 82 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,600 The streets are a little quieter this morning 83 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,040 but we're not leaving town without visiting Masaya's volcano. 84 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,440 It's one of Nicaragua's most active and is known locally 85 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,200 as the Boca del Infierno, the mouth of hell. 86 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,400 You can actually see the smoke coming out of it. 87 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,840 It's, um, it's incredibly active. 88 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,680 It's about three miles away 89 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,160 and yet, all of this is a big lava field from an eruption... 90 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:18,840 ..a couple of centuries ago. 91 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:27,920 In June 2016, a column of gas and steam exploded from Masaya's crater. 92 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,680 If a major eruption happens, 93 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:37,080 villages like Salgado which surround the volcano would be engulfed 94 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:38,640 in less than 30 seconds. 95 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,080 I've worked quite a lot with natural disasters with the Army, 96 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,000 looking at earthquakes in particular 97 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,320 and I know just how serious it can be 98 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,160 and the force of nature in a place like this is overwhelming. 99 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:59,000 But for people like Maria Morales and her young family, this is home. 100 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,720 Aren't you scared to live here? 101 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,680 But do you think it will erupt again? 102 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,280 Has there been one recently? 103 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:22,280 Two weeks ago? Wow. 104 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,000 Why don't you move away? 105 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,480 Cute little doggie. 106 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:43,600 'At the end of the day, 107 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,120 'the people that live here don't really have a choice.' 108 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:47,320 This is where they've grown up, 109 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,040 this is where their friends and families are 110 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,640 and even though the government has recommended moving, 111 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:52,960 where are they going to go? 112 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,720 You know, you're putting your life in the hands of God, I suppose. 113 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,440 Since the recent eruptions, security here has been stepped up. 114 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,320 If Alberto and I want to see the volcano, 115 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,160 we have to hitch a lift to the rim like the other visitors here. 116 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,320 Just the nature of the beast here, 117 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,440 there's lots of rules and regulations 118 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,600 when it comes to visiting Masaya volcano. 119 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,800 We've got 15 minutes exactly to have a look 120 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,160 and then get back in the car and come back down. 121 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,280 Very excited. It's my first experience with a volcano. 122 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:31,560 Yeah? Yeah. 123 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,240 So, it's completely pitch-black now. 124 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,240 You can see the lightning in the background, 125 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,800 but it's what's up ahead is what excites me. Check this out! 126 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,520 What do you think of that? 127 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,280 It's not called the "mouth of hell" for no reason. 128 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,080 That there 129 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:00,600 is the middle of a volcano. 130 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,200 And I bloody hope it doesn't go off right now. 131 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,600 This churning mass of superheated magma, known as a lava lake, 132 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,320 started developing inside Masaya's crater just eight months ago. 133 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,680 It's an incredibly rare phenomenon 134 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:24,720 and one of only a handful in the world. 135 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,480 What do you think? 136 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,240 Wow, it's my first contact with a volcano and it's amazing. 137 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,640 I think it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, 138 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:35,920 this lava. 139 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,080 Just down there and you can hear the noise. 140 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:41,200 I love it. 141 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,720 That is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. 142 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,800 Looking right down there 143 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:49,760 into the crater of a volcano. 144 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:52,160 Wow! 145 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,800 Nicaraguans call Masaya the burning mountain. 146 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,160 The Spanish thought it possessed by the devil. 147 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:03,960 And in the '70s, 148 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,880 the country's dictator is said to have thrown enemies 149 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,080 out of a helicopter into its crater. 150 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,880 WHISTLE 151 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,880 So, the whistle's been blown and that's it. 152 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:15,880 No more volcano. 153 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,000 Volcano watching time is over. 154 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:20,920 Let's go. 155 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,360 Hola, chicos. 156 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:31,480 Hola. 157 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:36,160 This morning, we're pushing deeper into Nicaragua's agricultural 158 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:41,120 heartland, where the fertile soils produce an abundance of maize, 159 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:42,240 bananas and sugar. 160 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,000 Hola. 161 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,800 MAN SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE 162 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,920 Wow, I'm pretty sure that's not Spanish. 163 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,040 You've almost got it, mate, you've almost got it! 164 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,520 THEY LAUGH 165 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:14,560 Take it easy. 166 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:15,640 Boom! 167 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,200 It's good, I don't need translation for this one because he speaks 168 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,880 English, so you understood everything very well! 169 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,000 Brilliant! You meet some characters, don't you? 170 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,400 Yeah, that was a great one. 171 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,840 'This region is dotted with 21 volcanoes 172 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,880 'and we're approaching the dormant crater lake of Laguna de Apoyo.' 173 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,280 Wow! 174 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,840 Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, 175 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,760 this would have been an active volcano full of lava. 176 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:04,880 It's 200 metres deep and four miles wide and was formed by an eruption 177 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:06,800 over 23,000 years ago. 178 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:12,200 It's a huge lake. It looks like the ocean. 179 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:18,440 Up ahead lies one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central America. 180 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,600 You can just about make out the town of Granada 181 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:24,080 and that's where we're going now. 182 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,120 All right, vamos! 183 00:12:36,010 --> 00:12:40,130 We're entering the oldest inhabited city in Nicaragua - Granada. 184 00:12:50,290 --> 00:12:53,370 Founded in 1524 by the Spanish, 185 00:12:53,370 --> 00:12:56,570 Granada became a hub for rich traders. 186 00:12:56,570 --> 00:12:59,410 They adorned the city with colonial treasures, 187 00:12:59,410 --> 00:13:01,570 christening it "The Great Pearl". 188 00:13:03,210 --> 00:13:05,370 It's so pretty. The whole town is like 189 00:13:05,370 --> 00:13:07,970 it's straight out of a film set, almost. 190 00:13:10,610 --> 00:13:13,570 But Granada's also home to something just as impressive 191 00:13:13,570 --> 00:13:17,090 as its architecture - Lake Nicaragua, 192 00:13:17,090 --> 00:13:19,130 the largest lake in central America. 193 00:13:21,450 --> 00:13:24,010 This was once part of the Pacific Ocean, 194 00:13:24,010 --> 00:13:27,930 before a volcanic eruption reshaped it to form an inland basin. 195 00:13:30,370 --> 00:13:32,570 A river still connects it to the sea, 196 00:13:32,570 --> 00:13:35,370 and it's home to some pretty unusual inhabitants. 197 00:13:37,810 --> 00:13:41,370 This is the only place in the world that you can actually find 198 00:13:41,370 --> 00:13:44,570 freshwater sharks. So, believe it or not, out there 199 00:13:44,570 --> 00:13:48,730 you've got both crocodiles and sharks in the same water. 200 00:13:51,010 --> 00:13:54,370 I've been invited by local fisherman Alex Canales 201 00:13:54,370 --> 00:13:56,890 to visit the island where his family have survived 202 00:13:56,890 --> 00:13:59,490 for more than 150 years. 203 00:13:59,490 --> 00:14:02,650 What about the sharks that are here? Are they dangerous? 204 00:14:05,490 --> 00:14:07,890 Has there ever been any shark attacks here? 205 00:14:20,650 --> 00:14:23,610 The lake's 400 islands have traditionally been home 206 00:14:23,610 --> 00:14:25,930 to fishing communities. 207 00:14:25,930 --> 00:14:29,970 But today, they're being bought up by rich Nicaraguans and foreigners. 208 00:14:31,130 --> 00:14:33,810 How much does one of these islands cost to buy? 209 00:14:38,050 --> 00:14:40,530 And how much does it cost to build a house here? 210 00:14:48,370 --> 00:14:52,010 So, for, you know, $100,000, 211 00:14:52,010 --> 00:14:55,170 you can have yourself a really nice modern house 212 00:14:55,170 --> 00:14:57,810 on your own private island... 213 00:14:57,810 --> 00:15:01,450 in Nicaragua, in the tropical lake, 214 00:15:01,450 --> 00:15:03,890 surrounded by crocodiles and sharks. 215 00:15:03,890 --> 00:15:05,410 How about that? 216 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:12,690 LAUGHTER 217 00:15:15,370 --> 00:15:16,450 Wow. 218 00:15:16,450 --> 00:15:17,730 LAUGHTER 219 00:15:20,410 --> 00:15:21,970 Greedy things, aren't they? 220 00:15:27,290 --> 00:15:30,730 After 30 minutes, Alex's family home comes into view. 221 00:15:33,210 --> 00:15:37,810 This 15m by 20m island has been their home for five generations. 222 00:15:49,450 --> 00:15:51,970 So, this is your mum? Your mother? 223 00:15:53,930 --> 00:15:56,130 And how many people live on this island? 224 00:15:58,570 --> 00:16:00,770 And how many grandchildren do you have? 225 00:16:03,450 --> 00:16:04,730 40 grandchildren?! 226 00:16:08,010 --> 00:16:10,970 You've got 14 children? Wow. 227 00:16:10,970 --> 00:16:13,490 HE LAUGHS 228 00:16:13,490 --> 00:16:15,010 You've been busy, haven't you? 229 00:16:15,010 --> 00:16:17,730 LAUGHTER She lives on an island. 230 00:16:17,730 --> 00:16:20,050 You live on a... Do you ever leave the island? 231 00:16:25,770 --> 00:16:28,250 Once a month? 232 00:16:28,250 --> 00:16:31,890 Wow, so you spend your whole life on this... 233 00:16:31,890 --> 00:16:34,010 15 metres. 234 00:16:34,010 --> 00:16:35,690 Wow. 235 00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:41,770 That's a nice way to come back from school. 236 00:16:41,770 --> 00:16:43,690 I used to take a bus. 237 00:16:43,690 --> 00:16:45,050 They take a boat. 238 00:16:46,930 --> 00:16:49,130 You know, I guess if you live on an island, 239 00:16:49,130 --> 00:16:51,170 that's the only way to get back from school, isn't it? 240 00:16:51,170 --> 00:16:53,010 Get on the boat and paddle. 241 00:16:53,890 --> 00:16:56,010 Hola, chicos. Hola. 242 00:17:00,170 --> 00:17:04,090 Each day, the family catch their dinner from the edge of the island, 243 00:17:04,090 --> 00:17:06,250 using nets that they make themselves. 244 00:17:08,810 --> 00:17:13,570 Alex and his cousins, Louis and Axel, want to show me how it's done. 245 00:17:13,570 --> 00:17:15,810 Oh, wow. There we go. That was easy. 246 00:17:15,810 --> 00:17:17,530 Actually, it's a lot simpler than I thought. 247 00:17:17,530 --> 00:17:20,050 I'm going to give it a go now. 248 00:17:20,050 --> 00:17:22,130 So I've got that, yeah. 249 00:17:32,890 --> 00:17:34,650 This is when I'll lose a tooth. 250 00:17:37,730 --> 00:17:38,970 OK. 251 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:44,450 LAUGHTER 252 00:17:44,450 --> 00:17:46,170 They're laughing at me. 253 00:17:50,450 --> 00:17:52,410 Ahh! Nothing. 254 00:17:56,650 --> 00:18:00,330 I think this one will give you a demonstration. Come on, then. 255 00:18:00,330 --> 00:18:02,130 This is going to be embarrassing. 256 00:18:04,850 --> 00:18:07,850 OK, so a seven years old kid is going to teach you. 257 00:18:16,330 --> 00:18:18,250 That's more like it. 258 00:18:22,010 --> 00:18:25,170 It's definitely not my proudest moment. 259 00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:27,010 But before we leave the island, 260 00:18:27,010 --> 00:18:29,890 Alex wants me to meet his 90-year-old grandfather. 261 00:18:33,250 --> 00:18:35,930 Levison Wood. 262 00:18:35,930 --> 00:18:40,490 Simon has lived and worked on these waters his whole life. 263 00:18:40,490 --> 00:18:44,450 I'm hoping he can tell me more about Lake Nicaragua's bull sharks. 264 00:18:44,450 --> 00:18:46,930 What was the biggest shark you've ever seen? 265 00:18:48,690 --> 00:18:50,210 Wow. 266 00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:53,730 And have you ever heard of anyone being eaten 267 00:18:53,730 --> 00:18:55,570 by a shark in Lake Nicaragua? 268 00:19:33,170 --> 00:19:36,170 Wow. I hope you don't do that with me. 269 00:19:38,530 --> 00:19:40,690 Muchas gracias, senor. Muchas gracias. 270 00:19:44,090 --> 00:19:46,930 OK. Well, let's try not to fall into the water, then. 271 00:19:52,770 --> 00:19:55,170 Muchas gracias! 272 00:20:00,050 --> 00:20:01,690 Adios! 273 00:20:05,090 --> 00:20:09,730 It must be awe-inspiring to be able to wake up in the morning... 274 00:20:09,730 --> 00:20:11,770 and look up at that. 275 00:20:24,930 --> 00:20:29,090 So the boys have just dropped us off on this empty beach. 276 00:20:29,090 --> 00:20:32,570 And this is where we're going to make camp for the night. 277 00:20:32,570 --> 00:20:35,450 We're right on the shores of Lake Nicaragua 278 00:20:35,450 --> 00:20:38,090 with nothing but palm trees 279 00:20:38,090 --> 00:20:40,490 and a smoking volcano for company. 280 00:20:51,010 --> 00:20:54,330 I can't resist trying to get a couple of coconuts for our tea. 281 00:20:57,650 --> 00:20:59,490 Ahh! LAUGHTER 282 00:21:02,770 --> 00:21:05,770 Yeah! Four coconuts. Coconuts! 283 00:21:11,050 --> 00:21:13,810 There we go. 284 00:21:13,810 --> 00:21:15,130 Oooh! 285 00:21:22,090 --> 00:21:24,290 Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out. 286 00:21:28,370 --> 00:21:31,770 It seems a few locals witnessed my attempt at climbing, 287 00:21:31,770 --> 00:21:34,610 and want to show me how it's done. 288 00:21:34,610 --> 00:21:36,450 Bloody hell. I've never... 289 00:21:36,450 --> 00:21:38,610 I think I've seen this on TV before. Wow. 290 00:21:46,130 --> 00:21:48,210 LAUGHTER 291 00:21:56,450 --> 00:21:58,690 HE LAUGHS 292 00:21:58,690 --> 00:22:00,970 That's pretty impressive. 293 00:22:22,490 --> 00:22:24,650 Ah! LAUGHTER 294 00:22:26,250 --> 00:22:28,530 Arrgh! Sand everywhere! 295 00:22:32,450 --> 00:22:34,930 There's no way I'm trying that. HE LAUGHS 296 00:22:41,810 --> 00:22:44,290 On the menu tonight are a couple of fish 297 00:22:44,290 --> 00:22:46,410 that Alex caught for us earlier 298 00:22:46,410 --> 00:22:48,130 and two cans of beans. 299 00:22:54,770 --> 00:22:57,210 Yeah, it's not bad. Not bad at all. 300 00:22:59,690 --> 00:23:01,850 Are you sure this is a fish? 301 00:23:01,850 --> 00:23:03,890 You're such a princess. 302 00:23:03,890 --> 00:23:05,490 I have to do everything. 303 00:23:05,490 --> 00:23:07,730 You are like a Neanderthal. 304 00:23:09,130 --> 00:23:10,850 ALBERTO LAUGHS 305 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,800 We are now gonna walk along the edge of this beautiful beach 306 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:29,600 on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. 307 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,640 I'm eight weeks into my journey 308 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,680 to walk the length of Central America... 309 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,320 ..and I've still got 850 miles to go. 310 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,200 As far as walks go, 311 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,400 today's is gonna be a good one, I think. 312 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,080 We have 30 miles to country number six - Costa Rica... 313 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,000 ..a tiny nation that's home to 5% of the world's species. 314 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,040 We'll step off the tourist trail 315 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,440 across evergreen forests and 316 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,960 fertile plains before attempting to reach the highest mountain 317 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,760 in our journey - the mighty Cerro Chirripo. 318 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,680 Before we enter Costa Rica, 319 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,120 we pass the Nicaraguan army guarding the border. 320 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,520 So Costa Rica is allegedly one of 321 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,120 the happiest countries in the world. 322 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,600 It's got a pretty decent economy 323 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,240 for Central America, and it's very much at peace - 324 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,120 doesn't even have an army. 325 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,840 But the part of Costa Rica that most people don't see 326 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,160 is the fact that it is also home to 327 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,840 one of the biggest migrant crises in the whole region. 328 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,280 This is Penas Blancas, 329 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:56,000 home to almost 2,000 people trying to reach the United States. 330 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,240 100 migrants arrive every day, 331 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,560 many by a surprisingly torturous route. 332 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,640 But after Nicaragua closed its borders eight months ago, 333 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:08,920 they've got nowhere else to go. 334 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,240 Hey, guys, how you doing? 335 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:14,720 Very good, thanks. 336 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:16,920 So what's your name? My name is Nicky. Nicky? 337 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:18,960 Nicky. Good to meet you, Nicky. 338 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:20,880 And how is the situation here? 339 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,640 It's very bad. So where are you from? 340 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:27,200 You're from the Congo? OK. Yeah. Wow. 341 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,560 Why did you leave Congo in the first place? 342 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:43,840 Yeah. 343 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:47,240 Yeah. 344 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,200 How many kilometres have you travelled so far? 345 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:58,280 Yeah? 346 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,640 And how did you get from Colombia into Panama? 347 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,440 Because it's very difficult there, isn't it? It's just jungle. 348 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:24,560 Really? HE GROANS 349 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,080 What - just in the jungle? 350 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:28,640 Wow. 351 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:32,440 Yeah. 352 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,600 Wow. 353 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:37,800 Is it worth it to get the United States? 354 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:45,400 Wow. 355 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:46,840 Can you show us around the camp? 356 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,680 'Nicky's one of nearly 25,000 African, 357 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,600 'Asian and Caribbean migrants 358 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,560 'who've tried to reach the United States 359 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,360 'through Central America this year.' 360 00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:05,880 With our own migrant crisis in Europe, 361 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,400 it's a story that's barely hit the news in the UK. 362 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,280 Despite building makeshift shelters, 363 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,720 the Costa Rican government is struggling to cope with the numbers. 364 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:30,960 15 dollars? Wow. 365 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,320 And you've got...? How much money do you have left? 366 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,000 Nothing? Nothing at all? No. 367 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:47,800 Yeah. 368 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,680 So now you're stuck here? 369 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,200 Yeah. 370 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,920 It costs $1,000 to cross the border illegally. 371 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:56,840 Few can afford it, 372 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,000 Like Nicky's friend, Marie Josette. 373 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,160 And are you travelling on your own, or are you travelling with friends? 374 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:08,640 NICKY TRANSLATES No. 375 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:13,840 He's gone? 376 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:16,800 Wow. 377 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,760 And where are you trying to get to? Where do you want to get to? 378 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:23,720 NICKY TRANSLATES 379 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,000 NICKY: Everybody here's going. 380 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,640 Wow. Very difficult. 381 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,440 Well, I wish you the very best of luck, 382 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,080 and thank you for telling me your story. 383 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:00,960 Families here are pushed to breaking point. 384 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,240 LEVISON: Is this your daughter? 385 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,840 No? Whose is the girl? 386 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:12,320 Hello. How are you? 387 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:15,120 How old is she? 388 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:19,720 Three years old. 389 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:21,320 And what is your name? Francisca. 390 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:22,920 BOTH: Francisca. 391 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:24,360 And your name? Wow. 392 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:27,360 But you're looking after her? 393 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,160 You're giving her some food and helping her? 394 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:36,360 LAUGHTER 395 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:40,560 It's you. 396 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:41,400 SHE LAUGHS 397 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:50,880 Bye-bye. Bye. 398 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:51,680 LEVISON LAUGHS 399 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:00,600 I can't imagine... 400 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,480 ..how difficult it should be for these people. 401 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,400 When you see on TV, 402 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,640 it's nothing with the reality. 403 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:12,520 On TV, you cannot see... 404 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,880 You cannot feel the smell, 405 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,560 you cannot see everything. 406 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,640 You cannot hear every story of people here. 407 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,400 And it's really, really, really tough. 408 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,080 And it's really shocking. 409 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:29,680 Wow. 410 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,880 Although Costa Rica offers asylum, 411 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:42,800 the migrants here are in search of the American dream. 412 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,320 But even if they make it 1,700 miles to the US, 413 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,760 there's no guarantee they'll be allowed in. 414 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,360 Well, good luck. Good luck. 415 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,000 Thank you so much. Thank you. 416 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:02,040 Well, I've been to more refugee and 417 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,280 displaced persons camps in the world 418 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,840 than I care to remember, and I have to say that 419 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,400 the whole place is just a complete mess. 420 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:13,680 I can only imagine what it's like in there if it rains. 421 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:14,960 But... Oh, just awful. 422 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,400 There's no easy answer to any of this, 423 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,320 but when you see these conditions, 424 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,920 you can't help but be utterly humbled and shocked. 425 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,080 Nearly 3.5 million years ago, 426 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,560 Costa Rica emerged from the ocean, joining North and South America. 427 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:50,320 Plants and animals flourished in this jungle paradise 428 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,280 that's now home to 5% of the world's species. 429 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:57,280 Here in Costa Rica, 430 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,640 everything seems to have taken on a far more wilder appearance. 431 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:04,280 The trees are bigger, 432 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:06,320 there's a lot more jungle around, 433 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:08,080 and there's a hell of a lot 434 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:09,360 more monkeys in the trees. 435 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:10,520 GUTTURAL CHATTER 436 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,520 Can you do a howler monkey noise, Alberto? 437 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,120 ALBERTO: Show me. 438 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:27,320 HE MAKES GUTTURAL SOUND 439 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:28,280 GUTTURAL CHATTER 440 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:32,200 CHATTER CONTINUES 441 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:36,560 The monkey whisperer - that's what they call me. 442 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:37,600 CHATTER CONTINUES 443 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,400 Howler monkeys are the loudest animals in the Costa Rican jungle. 444 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:43,800 CHATTER CONTINUES 445 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,280 'They vocalise to protect their territory, 446 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:47,920 'and this male's clearly not happy 447 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:49,920 'that I've strayed onto his turf.' 448 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:50,960 CHATTER CONTINUES 449 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:54,720 I agree with everything he's saying. Yeah. 450 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,120 Over the next few days, 451 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,200 we head off the beaten track 452 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,720 and buy horses to help carry our bags. 453 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:09,480 It's a good idea in theory. 454 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,040 It's gonna be a lot of fun. 455 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:13,200 A good experience. 456 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:14,720 My first horse in my life. 457 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,720 LEVISON: I'm gonna call him Pegasus. 458 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,440 What's yours called, Alberto? 459 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:25,320 Mine's Pancho. Why? 460 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,680 It's a male, it has big balls, 461 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:28,800 it's Mexican. 462 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:33,360 Once we hit the road, 463 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,240 I realise pretty quickly that, whilst I might have got to grips 464 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,360 with the local howler monkeys, 465 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,520 horses are a very different challenge. 466 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:43,760 HORSE WHINNIES Whoa! 467 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,320 Phew, that was close. 468 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,160 Bloody hell. 469 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,160 These horses are so fidgety, it's unbelievable. 470 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:57,320 BLEEP. 471 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:58,280 LEVISON LAUGHS 472 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:01,240 Can you help me, please? 473 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,720 'We normally cover 25 miles a day...' 474 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,080 Come on, Pegasus. Hurry up. 475 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:10,360 '..but at the moment, we're barely covering five.' 476 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:15,040 Trust me on this one - horses are not a good idea for an expedition. 477 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:17,360 HORSE WHINNIES 478 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:21,960 THEY LAUGH 479 00:34:24,240 --> 00:34:25,240 I'm done. 480 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,800 Thankfully, a local farmer agrees to buy our horses, 481 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,640 leaving Alberto and I free to push into Costa Rica's highlands. 482 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:40,200 But the weather has turned against us. 483 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,120 LEVISON LAUGHS 484 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:49,400 What do you think, Alberto? 485 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:50,560 A beautiful picture(!) 486 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,440 So, basically, that's what it should look like. 487 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:00,560 But the reality, as you can see, is a lot different. 488 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,680 The rainy season really has 489 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:07,760 started good and proper now. 490 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,320 And we've got a long way to go. 491 00:35:22,050 --> 00:35:23,970 'We're up in Costa Rica's Central Valley, 492 00:35:23,970 --> 00:35:29,170 'heading for the highest point in our journey, Cerro Chirripo.' 493 00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:33,010 This is probably the first time on the entire expedition 494 00:35:33,010 --> 00:35:34,450 that I've actually felt cold. 495 00:35:36,170 --> 00:35:40,050 'To climb Mount Chirripo, we need the help of an expert guide. 496 00:35:41,410 --> 00:35:46,370 'Marie Jimenez is 24, and she's been trekking here since she was three.' 497 00:35:46,370 --> 00:35:47,690 So, how do you call this road? 498 00:35:47,690 --> 00:35:51,170 The part that we're going to end is Dos Amigos. 499 00:35:51,170 --> 00:35:54,690 It's called like that, because in the past, 500 00:35:54,690 --> 00:35:59,650 some people found two guys hugging each other, dead. 501 00:35:59,650 --> 00:36:00,770 Because it was so cold? 502 00:36:03,010 --> 00:36:04,010 I know what they mean! 503 00:36:05,730 --> 00:36:07,170 HE SNIFFLES 504 00:36:07,170 --> 00:36:08,690 Me and you Alberto, Dos Amigos! 505 00:36:08,690 --> 00:36:09,650 THEY LAUGH 506 00:36:11,330 --> 00:36:12,490 Hugging. 507 00:36:12,490 --> 00:36:13,570 Hugging, like this? 508 00:36:16,090 --> 00:36:18,050 Now I'm warm! Why don't you get off me? 509 00:36:18,050 --> 00:36:19,010 ALBERTO LAUGHS 510 00:36:20,490 --> 00:36:24,810 'After a few miles, we enter the world of Costa Rica's Cloud Forest.' 511 00:36:28,570 --> 00:36:31,490 It's like being on a completely alien planet. 512 00:36:31,490 --> 00:36:34,130 I feel like I'm breathing in clouds right now. 513 00:36:37,850 --> 00:36:39,850 Right, into the mist. Into the mist. 514 00:36:43,210 --> 00:36:46,250 'Costa Rica's home to 10,000 plant species. 515 00:36:47,690 --> 00:36:49,890 'Many thrive in these humid woodlands, 516 00:36:49,890 --> 00:36:51,810 'but walking them won't be so easy. 517 00:36:55,010 --> 00:36:59,730 'Over 30 miles, we must climb to 3,800 metres, 518 00:36:59,730 --> 00:37:03,250 'across highways and dirt tracks, to reach the top of Chirripo.' 519 00:37:05,890 --> 00:37:12,170 Physically, after all these months walking everyday, and now climbing, 520 00:37:12,170 --> 00:37:15,850 I start feeling very exhausted. 521 00:37:15,850 --> 00:37:17,050 And... 522 00:37:17,050 --> 00:37:20,290 I cannot worry what is coming next. 523 00:37:20,290 --> 00:37:24,570 It's this huge mountain, Chirripo. 524 00:37:24,570 --> 00:37:29,850 I must say that it's going to be the biggest challenge physically, 525 00:37:29,850 --> 00:37:32,370 for me, of my life. 526 00:37:37,450 --> 00:37:41,050 'A day later, we're on a main highway, in thick fog.' 527 00:37:41,050 --> 00:37:42,650 CARS WHOOSH PAST 528 00:37:43,890 --> 00:37:45,890 Marie, what's this road? 529 00:37:45,890 --> 00:37:47,650 It's Cerro de la Muerte. 530 00:37:47,650 --> 00:37:49,290 What does that mean? 531 00:37:49,290 --> 00:37:50,370 The Road of Death. 532 00:37:50,370 --> 00:37:51,970 CAR HORN TOOTS 533 00:37:51,970 --> 00:37:56,450 There is a lot of car crash around here, and in some parts, 534 00:37:56,450 --> 00:38:00,850 you can have a very steep, um, I don't know how to call it... 535 00:38:00,850 --> 00:38:02,930 Cliffs? Cliffs, yeah. 536 00:38:02,930 --> 00:38:06,370 I know what they're like. Look down there - it's just a sheer drop. 537 00:38:09,810 --> 00:38:12,290 'I've had my brushes with mountain roads in the past. 538 00:38:13,570 --> 00:38:16,330 'It's a year since I crashed off a cliff in the Himalayas. 539 00:38:18,090 --> 00:38:20,970 'The best place for us right now is out of this fog.' 540 00:38:22,810 --> 00:38:24,970 Pictures of lorries all over the walls. 541 00:38:26,490 --> 00:38:28,410 It's all these accidents. 542 00:38:28,410 --> 00:38:29,370 Oh, is it? 543 00:38:31,010 --> 00:38:32,530 Oh, wow. 544 00:38:32,530 --> 00:38:34,730 This bus. Wow, look at these ones. 545 00:38:34,730 --> 00:38:36,810 Do you think they're all from here? 546 00:38:36,810 --> 00:38:37,930 Yeah, all from here. 547 00:38:40,890 --> 00:38:43,370 Here's one that looks like a really bad accident. 548 00:38:44,690 --> 00:38:48,570 There's a shudder down my spine, just thinking about that. 549 00:38:48,570 --> 00:38:51,690 It scares or worries me - a lot. 550 00:38:53,530 --> 00:38:57,610 'While we've been on this terrifying road for just half a day, 551 00:38:57,610 --> 00:39:01,170 'others have spent a lifetime working here.' 552 00:39:01,170 --> 00:39:04,130 Jair? Hi. Jair. 553 00:39:04,130 --> 00:39:06,210 We heard this is a very dangerous road. 554 00:39:07,970 --> 00:39:09,170 Why is it so dangerous? 555 00:39:20,690 --> 00:39:22,850 Have you ever seen any accidents here? 556 00:39:33,130 --> 00:39:35,810 Have you got any advice for us when we're walking? 557 00:39:41,210 --> 00:39:43,970 'Jair's hardly filled me with confidence. 558 00:39:43,970 --> 00:39:46,490 'Especially as we have eight more miles to walk, 559 00:39:46,490 --> 00:39:47,890 'on the so-called Road of Death.' 560 00:39:51,170 --> 00:39:52,770 HORN BLARES 561 00:39:52,770 --> 00:39:56,850 Wherever we can, I'm just going to try and get off the main road, 562 00:39:56,850 --> 00:39:58,050 and onto the little tracks, 563 00:39:58,050 --> 00:40:01,370 where there's less danger of getting smashed into by a lorry. 564 00:40:09,930 --> 00:40:12,250 'Finally, we make it off the highway.' 565 00:40:12,250 --> 00:40:15,050 Vamos! 566 00:40:15,050 --> 00:40:19,410 'We now face a 2,000-metre climb, up rugged dirt tracks, 567 00:40:19,410 --> 00:40:26,250 'to reach a mountain refuge, before pushing on for the summit tomorrow.' 568 00:40:26,250 --> 00:40:29,890 We've been walking for about 45 minutes, 569 00:40:29,890 --> 00:40:31,810 and I'm already drenched in sweat. 570 00:40:34,210 --> 00:40:36,450 We've got VERY, very lucky with the weather. 571 00:40:36,450 --> 00:40:40,210 It's not raining, for the first time in a fortnight, which is good. 572 00:40:40,210 --> 00:40:42,410 Let's hope it stays like this for the top! 573 00:40:54,010 --> 00:40:56,010 I never hear my heart so loud. 574 00:40:56,010 --> 00:40:57,730 I can hear it very well. 575 00:41:00,730 --> 00:41:03,570 It's pumping...like never before. 576 00:41:06,450 --> 00:41:08,210 'But as the air becomes thinner... 577 00:41:09,290 --> 00:41:11,450 '..Chirripo itself seems to come to life.' 578 00:41:14,250 --> 00:41:17,850 'Indigenous Costa Ricans considered this mountain so sacred, 579 00:41:17,850 --> 00:41:20,810 'that only tribal chiefs and shamans were allowed to climb it.' 580 00:41:24,170 --> 00:41:26,370 Marie, why do you love these mountains so much? 581 00:41:26,370 --> 00:41:27,490 SHE SIGHS 582 00:41:27,490 --> 00:41:31,370 You know, it's a lot of nature around, 583 00:41:31,370 --> 00:41:33,970 a lot of animals to see every day. 584 00:41:33,970 --> 00:41:35,730 It's a monkey. 585 00:41:35,730 --> 00:41:36,930 Spider monkeys, OK. 586 00:41:38,090 --> 00:41:39,650 Look at this. 587 00:41:39,650 --> 00:41:41,970 It has some...esporas inside? 588 00:41:41,970 --> 00:41:43,250 Spores, yeah. 589 00:41:43,250 --> 00:41:44,250 Yeah. 590 00:41:54,810 --> 00:41:57,450 'Eight miles on, and we make it above the tree line.' 591 00:41:59,810 --> 00:42:04,850 'This is the Paramo, a high altitude region of grass and shrubland, 592 00:42:04,850 --> 00:42:06,290 'renowned by scientists 593 00:42:06,290 --> 00:42:08,810 'as one of the fastest-evolving places on earth.' 594 00:42:15,650 --> 00:42:20,330 I was not expecting to find so many flowers and colour up here. 595 00:42:22,810 --> 00:42:26,450 'But with no trees for shade, we're now exposed to the elements.' 596 00:42:29,410 --> 00:42:30,730 This is BRUTAL. 597 00:42:32,770 --> 00:42:36,850 The sun is beating down, and it's totally relentless. 598 00:42:36,850 --> 00:42:40,530 And now, we're on the steepest part of the mountain. 599 00:42:40,530 --> 00:42:43,450 HE GASPS 600 00:42:46,970 --> 00:42:49,010 '11 hours after we left base camp, 601 00:42:49,010 --> 00:42:51,410 'a welcome sight finally comes into view.' 602 00:42:54,170 --> 00:42:59,770 So, just down there, we've got first sight of the mountain refuge. 603 00:42:59,770 --> 00:43:02,370 There it is, Alberto! The refuge. 604 00:43:02,370 --> 00:43:05,530 I'm so happy to see it, you can't imagine. 605 00:43:05,530 --> 00:43:07,850 It's not very far away. 606 00:43:07,850 --> 00:43:10,170 We can climb up there tonight! 607 00:43:10,170 --> 00:43:11,450 There's no way I'm trying that! 608 00:43:15,290 --> 00:43:19,410 'We have a 400-metre climb left to the top of Chirripo. 609 00:43:19,410 --> 00:43:23,610 'But with 35% less oxygen than at sea level, the going will be slow. 610 00:43:24,930 --> 00:43:27,770 'We have to set off at dawn to be at the summit by sunrise.' 611 00:43:32,010 --> 00:43:34,490 So, it's three o'clock in the morning, 612 00:43:34,490 --> 00:43:39,650 and we're just setting off now to go and climb up Mount Chirripo. 613 00:43:39,650 --> 00:43:41,650 It's only about three miles to the top, 614 00:43:41,650 --> 00:43:44,530 but it could take anywhere between two and three hours, 615 00:43:44,530 --> 00:43:47,490 it's completely pitch-black, 616 00:43:47,490 --> 00:43:49,410 so we'll have to be careful, watching our step. 617 00:43:49,410 --> 00:43:51,570 We might just get a good view 618 00:43:51,570 --> 00:43:55,450 over both the Pacific and the Caribbean. 619 00:43:55,450 --> 00:43:57,170 Let's go. 620 00:44:05,130 --> 00:44:06,090 Everything is so slippery. 621 00:44:07,290 --> 00:44:08,450 It's very easy here to... 622 00:44:09,490 --> 00:44:10,450 ..break your ankle. 623 00:44:15,250 --> 00:44:17,650 With every step we get, the higher we go, 624 00:44:17,650 --> 00:44:20,130 the air gets thinner, and the tougher it gets. 625 00:44:20,130 --> 00:44:23,250 HE EXHALES SHARPLY 626 00:44:23,250 --> 00:44:25,250 I can feel the effects of altitude. 627 00:44:25,250 --> 00:44:26,370 LABOURED BREATHING 628 00:44:31,090 --> 00:44:33,690 We're almost there. 629 00:44:33,690 --> 00:44:34,890 This is the final stretch. 630 00:44:38,450 --> 00:44:41,130 'We've been hiking for two hours. 631 00:44:41,130 --> 00:44:45,330 'Now, all that stands between us and the summit is a 200-metre scramble.' 632 00:44:55,330 --> 00:44:56,330 Come on, Alberto. 633 00:44:58,610 --> 00:44:59,650 I see the flag. 634 00:44:59,650 --> 00:45:01,210 Ten metres. 635 00:45:01,210 --> 00:45:04,130 Ah! Let's do it. 636 00:45:06,130 --> 00:45:08,970 Come on. Come on, let's do this together. 637 00:45:08,970 --> 00:45:10,370 Give me your hand. 638 00:45:11,650 --> 00:45:12,530 Ah! 639 00:45:16,450 --> 00:45:18,370 ALL: Whoo! 640 00:45:19,930 --> 00:45:20,890 We made it! 641 00:45:22,410 --> 00:45:27,530 This is the highest point in Costa Rica, Mount Chirripo. 642 00:45:31,170 --> 00:45:33,330 What an amazing view. 643 00:45:33,330 --> 00:45:34,810 That is spectacular. 644 00:45:37,210 --> 00:45:38,650 Whoo! 645 00:45:40,970 --> 00:45:42,770 Marie, thank you very much everything. 646 00:45:42,770 --> 00:45:44,210 You're very welcome. 647 00:45:44,210 --> 00:45:47,370 How does it feel to climb your first mountain, Alberto? 648 00:45:47,370 --> 00:45:49,490 Unbelievable. 649 00:45:49,490 --> 00:45:51,850 Have you ever been this high before? 650 00:45:51,850 --> 00:45:53,610 Just in an aeroplane. 651 00:45:53,610 --> 00:45:55,330 HE CHUCKLES 652 00:45:55,330 --> 00:45:59,410 We can't quite see it, but somewhere down there beneath the clouds... 653 00:46:00,570 --> 00:46:02,890 ..we're heading that way, down into Panama. 654 00:46:09,050 --> 00:46:10,090 'Next time... 655 00:46:10,090 --> 00:46:12,450 RUMBLING 656 00:46:12,450 --> 00:46:13,450 Come on! 657 00:46:14,570 --> 00:46:18,850 '..on the final leg of my journey, I cross the Panama Canal.' 658 00:46:18,850 --> 00:46:22,570 One of the marvels of the modern world. 659 00:46:22,570 --> 00:46:23,890 'I meet the Embera tribe... 660 00:46:26,610 --> 00:46:29,370 '..before entering the formidable Darien Gap...' 661 00:46:29,370 --> 00:46:32,730 This is going to be the hardest part of the entire expedition. 662 00:46:32,730 --> 00:46:36,810 ..as I try to reach South America, and the end of my journey. 663 00:46:59,330 --> 00:47:02,450 Subtitles by Ericsson