WHITEWATER RAFTING VACATIONS

With so many mountains and rivers, Costa Rica white water rafting vacations offer something for everybody, from gentle float trips to heart pumping whitewater.

Sections of rivers are classed I, II, III, IV, V, or VI.

As a general rule of thumb Class II and III are great for first time rafters and only experts and extreme rafters can take on Class V or VI rapids.

These classifications are not to be taken lightly. A Class V river is very violent and can be dangerous to life. Class VI is the most extreme. It’s nearly impossible to navigate, very, very dangerous and typically taken on only by teams of experts.

Most folks who travel Costa Rica, of course, want to have a bit of fun but are not all that keen about experiencing life-threatening events on their rafting trips. After all, we're talking about rafting vacations---not death defying feats.

With that in mind, here are some great rivers to consider for your Costa Rica vacation.

Central Valley Rivers, Convenient and Spectacular Rafting

They're called the Pacuare, Reventazon, and the Sarapiqui.

Want to see where these Costa Rica rafting rivers are? Click here for Costa Rica maps.

The Pacuare River (Rio Pacuare)

It's probably the premier rafting river in Costa Rica.

And one of the top white water rafting rivers in the world.

Really? Yep. National Geographic rates it as one of the 10 best rafting rivers on the planet.

The section between the little communities of Bajo Pacuare and San Martin is Class V and VI water and experts from around the world tackle this world-famous part of the river. You probably won’t find a major outfitter running this section.

However, don’t worry.

There’s plenty of river left for rafting vacations. You’ll find 32 miles of Class III-IV whitewater weaving through deep gorges and dense virgin forest.

Imagine a half-day rafting adventure over 50 different rapids (not many rivers in the world enjoy this many!), some of which are jaw dropping through virgin wilderness.

And, of course, like every place in Costa Rica, there’ll be lots of other things to do here. You can explore canopies, tour a Cabecar Indian village, go horseback riding, and even get a welcome massage at the end of the day.

There are a number of eco-lodges along the river and you can even stay overnight in a luxurious tent camp, eat a gourmet meal, fish in the river or raft to a magnificent waterfall for a quick dip.

exp 03/11

The Beautiful Reventazon

Volcanoes? Yep.

From Irazu, you can see the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at the same time.

And Turrialba is one of the few volcanoes in the world where you can walk into it.

Learn more about these volcanoes and why one of them is forever linked to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, click here for Costa Rica volcanoes.

Pouring through steep cliffs, the river courses towards the Caribbean through a spectacular valley of sugar and coffee plantations and lush jungles. Monkeys, sloths, giant morpho butterflies, lots of birds, and perhaps even a glimpse of a jaguar await.

Reventazon is a very popular rafting river in Costa Rica.

The 12 mile section between Tucurrique and Angostura is probably the most popular in all of the country and contains the famous El Gordo rapids.

For you experts, there’s the Peralta section with some of the heaviest water in all of Central America—nine miles of it. But you'll need to plan to be here during the low water season between December and May.

For you mere mortals, don’t miss the Pascua section, Class IV water that'll propel you through rapids named Six Frankenstein and El Horrendito (you don’t need to speak Spanish to get these words).

Your knuckles will be white but you won’t be able to get the smile off your face.

Like the Pacuare, there are wonderful eco-lodges and lots and lots of other activities to do in this area. And, because the rivers are quite close to one another some outfitters will take you on one river one day and another the next.

Is this great or what!

When’s the best time to raft the Pascuare or Reventazon rivers?

The rainy season (except for the Peralta section of the Reventazon)! May to December.

Don’t let this hold you back. Rafting vacations along these rivers are year-round (it’s just that the best water is during the rainy season). And remember, if you can arrange a trip during the rainy season you’ll likely find great transportation and accommodation bargains. Plus you'll usually have great sun most of the day even during the wet season.

The Saripiqui River: Through the Rainforest

It runs by the wonderful Braulio Carillo National Park, one of the few remaining tropical rainforests in the world. Its clear waters start at the Barva Volcano and flow about 45 miles through preserves until reaching the San Juan River.

Most rafting vacations are between May and December and some sections of this river are suitable for anybody.

Between the little communities of San Miguel and La Virgen, experienced rafters from age 14 and up can enjoy Class IV-V rapids.

When you get to the lowlands, you'll have some spectacular bird-watching.

Want The Most Difficult Costa Rica Rapids?

Rafting vacations along the Rio Chirripo are for you. One of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders, Mount Chirripo is the second highest mountain in all of Costa Rica.

The Rio Chirripo is a difficult Class V river, rafted from late August to early November—-the height of the rainy season.

How difficult is this river? Well, every year the very best kayakers in the world come here to test their abilities.

And every year hard-core runners race to the top of this extraordinary mountain, one of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders. Click here to learn more about Mount Chirripo.

Planning To See Monteverde?

Take a little time and raft down the exquisite Penas Blanco River.

In a country of pristine rivers, this may be the best. Deep gorges, 120 foot waterfalls, volcanic hot springs.

Come on now. You need to visit Monteverde anyway, another of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders.

And, if you don’t know about the Children’s Eternal Cloud Forest Preserve, it’s an incredible true story. Now 55,000 acres, it all began in 1987 with a little Swedish schoolboy.

A little boy.

It's really inspiring. Read all about it here, click to visit Monteverde.

Rafting At Manuel Antonio Park

Try the Savegre. This beautiful river is perfect for first-time rafting vacationers.

Need a bit more juice? Raft the Naranjo, a wild river near Quepos (class III-IV).

Best time? June to November.

Many folks find that the highlight of their trip to Costa Rica was whitewater rafting.

What about you?

Have A Great White Water Rafting Story?

Do you have a great rafting story? Scary? Funny?

Or just plain fun? Share it!

New! Costa Rica Vacations SiteSearch!

Custom Search