Costa Rica’s mountainous topography and copious rainfall are responsible for one of the best river rafting options in the world. Experienced rafting teams regularly traverse around half a dozen boisterous rivers, and those river trips not only provide a lot of excitement, but also allow you to enjoy beautiful scenery. Not only do rafting enthusiasts flock to Costa Rica, including several Olympic kayak teams, but each year tens of thousands of visitors experience the thrill of rafting here for the first time.
Costa Rica is the perfect place for a first whitewater rafting trip experience, as it has several rivers that offer a combination of reasonable rapids and beautiful floats. There are even rivers that are ideal for family outings and bird watching, since they lack large rapids and flow through forests full of birds and other animals. In fact, almost every river trip offers the opportunity to see some of the country’s wildlife, such as iguanas, blue morpho butterflies, parrots, otters, kingfishers, and herons.
The river routes available to rafters range from the turbulent waters of the lower Reventazón, where you hardly have time to catch your breath between rapids, to the meandering curves of the Corobici, where you spend more time spotting wildlife than paddling. Costa Rica’s most popular whitewater rafting trip offers a good mix of challenging rapids and calm stretches where you can sit back and enjoy the passing scenery. If you’ve done a bit of rafting up north, you’ll find that the comfortable cold water of Costa Rica’s rivers is a nice change from the cold water of the northern rivers. All whitewater rafting trips can also be done in kayaks, but kayakers must be experienced.
A wide selection of outfitters organize trips down the country’s most accessible rivers using trained river guides and modern equipment (all rafters are provided with life jackets and helmets), ensuring safe yet exciting excursions. The one-day Costa Rica whitewater rafting trip includes transportation to and from the river, breakfast, and a picnic lunch on the riverbank. Overnight trips often include accommodation in riverside cabins and all meals.
The following are some of the most convenient rivers for Costa Rica whitewater rafting trip:
Reventazon: The Tucurrique section (Class III) is fairly easy for novices. The Pascua section (Class IV-V) is very wild and requires previous rafting experience. It can be run all year round.
Pacuare: The longest and most spectacular river trip in the country (Class III-IV) can be done from mid-May to mid-March. Recommended two-day trip.
Sarapiquí: Beautiful river (Class II-III), good trip for beginners. You can leave from San José or the Arenal area, from mid-May to mid-March.
Savegre: Another beautiful river (Class II-III) excellent for beginners. River trips leave from Manuel Antonio and Quepos, from May to January.
Naranjo: A wild river (Class III-IV) near Quepos that requires some rafting experience. It works from June to November.
El General: A popular three-day kayaking or rafting trip (class III-IV) best during the height of the rainy season, September through November.
