Costa Rica's mountainous
topography and copious rainfall are together
responsible for one of the best white
water river selections in the world.
About
half a dozen rambunctious rivers are regularly
run by experienced rafting outfitters, and
those river trips not only provide plenty
of excitement, they also pass some gorgeous
scenery. Not only do white water enthusiasts
flock Costa Rica, including several Olympic
kayaking teams, but every year tens of thousands
of visitors experience the thrill of rafting
for the first time there.
Costa
Rica is the perfect place for a first white
water rafting experience, since it has several
rivers that offer a combination of reasonable
rapids and beautiful floats. There are even
rivers that are great for family excursions
and bird watching, since they lack big rapids
and flow through forests full of birds and
other animals. In fact almost all river
trips offer chances to see a bit of the
country's wildlife, such as iguanas, blue
morpho butterflies, parrots, otters, king
fishers and herons.
A
wide selection of outfitters run trips down
the country's most accessible rivers using
trained river guides and modern equipment;
life vests and helmets are provided for
all rafters, ensuring safe but exciting
excursions. One-day river trips include
transportation to and from the river, breakfast
and a picnic lunch on the riverbank. Overnight
trips often include lodging in riverside
cabins and all meals.
Costa
Rica offers some of the world's finest whitewater
rafting and kayaking rivers. These rivers
plunge through spectacularly beautiful,
largely unexplored tropical wilderness.
Whether an expert or beginner, nature lover
or thrill seeker, rafting enthusiast or
active kayaker, there is an unforgettable
experience awaiting you. Aguas Bravas -
Rafting from the Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna
area.
If
you are looking for an action-packed one-day
or multi-day trip to complement your vacation,
the rivers of this beautiful land are waiting
for you. The wild and scenic Pacuare River
offers some of the finest rapids in Latin
America. Suitable even for first time rafters,
this thrill-ride of churning water and breathtaking
scenery will be the highlight of your trip.
Costa Rica's mountainous topography and
copious rainfall are both responsible for
one of the best white water rafting river
choices in the world. Experienced rafting
outfitters regularly run about half a dozen
of rambunctious rivers, and those river
trips not only provide plenty of excitement,
but also allow enjoying gorgeous scenery.
Not only do white water enthusiasts flock
Costa Rica, including several Olympic kayaking
teams, but every year tens of thousands
of visitors experience here the thrill of
rafting for the first time.
Costa Rica is the perfect place for a first
white water rafting experience, since it
has several rivers that offer a combination
of reasonable rapids and beautiful floats.
There are even rivers that are great for
family excursions and bird watching, since
they lack big rapids and flow through forests
full of birds and other animals. In fact
almost all river trips offer chances to
see a bit of the country’s wildlife,
such as iguanas, blue morpho butterflies,
parrots, otters, king fishers, and herons.
The river routes available to rafters range
from the turbulent waters of the lower Reventazon,
where you hardly have enough time to catch
your breath between rapids, to the meandering
curves of the Corobici, where you spend
more time watching wildlife than paddling.
The most popular rafting trips offer a good
combination of challenging rapids and calmer
stretches where you can sit back and enjoy
the passing scenery. If you've done a bit
of rafting up north, you'll find the comfortably
cool water of Costa Rica's rivers a nice
switch from the chilly water of the northern
rivers. All rafting trips can also be done
in kayaks, but kayakers must be experienced.
A wide selection of outfitters run trips
down the country's most accessible rivers
using trained river guides and modern equipment
-- all rafters are provided life vests and
helmets -- ensuring safe but exciting excursions.
One-day river trips include transportation
to and from the river, breakfast and a picnic
lunch on the riverbank. Overnight trips
often include lodging riverside cabins and
all meals.
Costa
Rica is a land dominated by mountains and
has an abundance of water: annual rainfalls
totals, reach as high as 350 inches in parts
of the country and the Central Valley is
considered to be "dry" area because
it receives "only" seventy to
ninety inches of rain per year! The significance
of this, is not so much that big whitewater
is available, but that even small watersheds
gather enough runoff to be able to paddle.
More important, the flows for any particular
month of the year are more reliable than
those in North America. The reason for this
reliability is the fact than the variability
of precipitation is quite low throughout
the humid tropic of Costa Rica. That's why
rafting is so great in Costa Rica, not mentioning
great biodiversity and lush rainforest!
The
rugged terrain combined with the drainage
network and the great volume of runoff provide
more opportunities for whitewater paddling
than any other area of comparable dimensions.
Surely no other land contains as much whitewater
per square miles as Costa Rica.
It's
recommended, if you consider going to Costa
Rica on your own, to hire a guide for at
least your first trip on our rivers. It
is simpler safer, cheaper, and far easier
to take a rafting or kayaking tour with
a licensed Costa Rican outfitter. They have
the top-of-the-line boats, kayak and equipment
and, more importantly, the experience and
expertise to provide a great river trip.
For a reasonable price they will provide
equipment, guides, shuttles, and superb
food.
White
water rafting, from an ecotourism point
of view, offers low-impact on the environment,
access to the most remote and pristine rainforest,
chance to see birds, animals and flora from
a very unique point of view.
The following is an overview of
white water rafting rivers:
Reventazon:
The Tucurrique section (Class III), the
Pascua section (Class IV-V), Pacuare: (Class
III-IV), Sarapiqui: (Class II-III), Saavegre:
(Class II-III), Naranjo: (Class III-IV),
El General: (class III-IV), Corobici: (Class
I-II).
Reventazon River: The Tucurrique
section (Class III) is easy enough for first-timers.
The Pascua section (Class IV-V) is very
wild, and requires previous rafting experience.
Can be run year round
Pacuare River: The country's
longest and most spectacular river trip
(Class III-IV) can be run from mid May thru
mid March. Two-day trip recommended.
Sarapiqui River: Beautiful
river (Class II-III), good trip for beginners.
Can be run out of San Jose or the Arenal
area, from mid May thru mid March.
Savegre
River: Another beautiful river
(Class II-III) excellent for first timers.
River trips leave from Manuel Antonio and
Quepos, May thru January.
Naranjo
River: A wild river (Class III-IV)
near Quepos that requires some rafting experience.
Run from June thru November.
El
General River: A popular three-day
kayaking or rafting trip (class III-IV)
best during the height of the rainy season,
September to November.
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