Whitewater Rafting in Costa Rica rainforest

After the beach, the Cloud Forest and the Volcano, let's go rafting!

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.

Half days tours in La Fortuna, near Volcano Arenal

• Peñas Blancas river: sorry, the state power company is now building a dam on the river Penas Blancas & this river is no longer recommended for rafting.
  

One day tour to Sarapiquí River. From: San José or La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano).

Rates includes comfortable transportation, guides, top quality equipment, meals, & taxes.

• Sarapiqui river, Class I & II. Chilamate & Puerto Viejo Section. Bird watching rafting.
  No restrictions. Binoculars and a camera are all that you need as our local guide points out more than 25 species of birds while cruising down the crystal clear waters of the Sarapiqui river.
  PRICE FROM SAN JOSE: $75 per person, breakfast + lunch & tax included. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in Arenal at the end of the day instead of back to San Jose. Price vary with location of your hotel, send us an email for a quote.
  FROM LA FORTUNA (Arenal Volcano): $70 pp. Add $10 for your group (not per person) if Staying at Tabacon Resort, $30 for Arenal Lodge & Lost Iguana Resort, and $40 for the Observatory Lodge & the hotels in Castillo. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in San Jose at the end of the day instead of back to Arenal. Price vary with location of your hotel, send us an email for a quote.
  From Sarapiqui: $50 pp without transportation or lunch, you drive yourself: 2 hours east from Arenal Volcano or 2.5 hours north from San Jose. Meet at La Virgen, see top right on the map to Arenal).

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• Sarapiqui river, Class III. La Virgen & Chilamate Section.
  Beginners and Advanced, Ages: 12 to 60 years old. A delightful full day, more than 20 rapids in a spectacular setting in the tropical rain forest. Sarapiqui is the rafters dream; natural whitewater, challenging rapids and crystal clear pools. Enjoy the natural splendor and abundant wildlife. Great bird watching.
  PRICE FROM SAN JOSE: $ 75 per person, breakfast + lunch & tax included. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in Arenal at the end of the day instead of back to San Jose. Price vary with location of your hotel, send us an email for a quote.
  FROM LA FORTUNA (Arenal Volcano): $70 pp. Add $10 for your group (not per person) if Staying at Tabacon Resort, $30 for Arenal Lodge & Lost Iguana Resort, and $40 for the Observatory Lodge & the hotels in Castillo. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in San Jose at the end of the day instead of back to Arenal. Price vary with location of your hotel, send us an email for a quote.
  From Sarapiqui: $50 without transportation or lunch, you drive yourself: 2 hours east from Arenal Volcano or 2.5 hours north from San Jose. Meet at La Virgen, see top right on the map to Arenal).

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• Sarapiqui river, Class IV & V. San Miguel & La Virgen Section.
  Advanced, experience required. Ages: 14 to 50 year old. Our most exciting trip! Only for those in good physical condition, prior experience a must. Many technical rapid, holes and hydraulics. Minimum of 4 persons required.
  PRICE FROM SAN JOSE: $ 95 breakfast + lunch included. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in Arenal at the end of the day instead of back to San Jose. Price vary with location of your hotel, ask for a quote.
  PRICE FROM LA FORTUNA: $ 95 lunch & tax included. Add $10 for your group (not per person) if Staying at Tabacon Resort, $30 for Arenal Lodge & Lost Iguana Resort, and $40 for the Observatory Lodge & the hotels in Castillo. Add $10 pp and we can bring you to your hotel in San Jose at the end of the day instead of back to Arenal. Price vary with location of your hotel, send us an email for a quote.
  From Sarapiqui: $70 pp tax included without transportation or lunch, you drive yourself: 2 hours east from Arenal Volcano or 2.5 hours north from San Jose. Meet at La Virgen, see top right on the map to Arenal).

One day tour to Toro River. From San José or La Fortuna (Volcano Arenal).

• Toro river, Class III. Recreo Verde (Marsella) & Pital Section.
  Sorry, we suspended this tour because recent water quality test failed to meet our standards.

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  Rates includes comfortable transportation, guides, top quality equipment, meals, & taxes.

Costa Rica is the birthplace of eco-tourism and Aguas Bravas is a company with a unique vision of Costa Rican adventure tourism.

We are interested in offering not just new options for exploring non-traditional areas of Costa Rica, but a new alternative, combining sport activities with a broad knowledge of local flora, fauna and the culture of these regions. We promise that this will enrich your visit to Costa Rica.

We are the first rafting tour company to establish an operation on this region of the Sarapiquí river. Aguas Bravas has been pioneer in ecotourism of the Fortuna area (near the Arenal Volcano), with local bilingual guides who offer extensive knowledge of the region and its diversity, as well as being qualified in rescue techniques and CPR.

Aguas Bravas' motto is "Safety Always Comes First". We place special emphasis on accident prevention. In 15 years of operating whitewater rafting tours in Costa Rica, we have never needed to issue a claim against our accident insurance policy. Aguas Bravas is covered by of the Costa Rican National Insurance Institute (INS) (Policy number 57868).

As safety measures, Aguas Bravas adventure tours ensures that:

• Our clients, prior departure, are informed on all of the instructions and procedures to perform in case of any emergency situation on the river.
• The fact that we have local guides allows us to keep constant vigilance of the river to ensure the optimal conditions for your trip.
• Each group is escorted by a safety kayak to insure the rescue of anybody that may fall from one of the boats during the trip.
• We use high-quality rafting, kayak equipment from well-known name brands, such as: Northwest River Supplies and APEX.
• Sorry but we have a strict trip cancellation policy in the event that the river conditions present a potential danger to participants, safety first!

For reservations or more info, write to: rafting@monteverdeinfo.com No need for a separate email if you make a hotel or transportation reservation with this fine web site: just mention the day you would like to experience this exciting tour along with your Hotel or transport request.