Week Of Costa Rica Rivers With Anna
Don’t rely on luck for the success of your trip.
Rivers, Yoga And Confidence With Anna
Saturday January 21- 28, 2023
Price: $2,795 per person
Are you looking for a kayaking trip that provides a powerful context for building confidence, developing skill and expanding your paddling community?
Join me for a paddling trip that’s much more than a paddling trip. Daily yoga classes, mindset coaching, skills refinement, lush jungle rivers, delicious food and lots of fun!
I’m stoked to coach you on living more powerfully, confidently and healthfully on and off the water. And, I’m also super excited to return to Costa Rica after a few year hiatus! It’s one of my favorite places and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you!
River Running: Kayak or Rafters Welcome. Watercraft of your choice is included in the price.
Yoga: Daily Yoga instruction in some of the most incredible and remote places in the world, joined by Toucans, monkeys and other wildlife. 🙂
Confidence and World Class Instruction: You’ll receive instruction and tips from top ACA Certified Kayak, SUP and river instructors. Beginners are welcome on this trip and can participate in all river activities.
Week of Costa Rica Rivers Trip
Saturday January 21 – 28, 2023 Week of Yoga with Anna Levesque
Meet Your Instructors
Anna Levesque
Anna Levesque is the leading expert on paddling instruction for women and yoga for paddling, including SUP Yoga. Named one of the most inspirational paddlers alive by Canoe and Kayak Magazine, Anna’s twenty-plus years of experience as an accomplished international competitor, instructor, coach and author has landed her in mainstream publications such as TIME, SHAPE and SELF.
Walter Centeno
Walter is one of the co-founders and owners of Amazing Vacations Costa Rica. He’s the guy who is in charge but he’s always pitching in and doing things to help others.
Arnaldo Cespedes
Arnaldo is one of the top kayakers in Costa Rica and has competed in the Pan American games and World Freestyle Championships in North Carolina and Costa Rica. He is also the reigning kayak champion in Costa Rica for both the Chorro and Casique river races.
Trip Includes
- All meals from dinner Day 1 through breakfast Day 8
- 7 nights accommodation, including 1 night at Jungle Camp on the Pacuare
- 6 days of whitewater kayaking or rafting
- Raft support for the last day on the Pacuare (in case you get tired or want to experience the river without having to kayak on Class IV rapids)
- Daily Yoga Classes
- Mindset Group Coaching with Anna
- Optional Latin Dance Classes
- Airport Transfers + All Ground Transportation
- Exceptional and highly trained local guides
- Kayaks, including newer models (21+ boats to choose from)
- Guided Kayaking on the Pejibaye, Sarapiqui and Pacuare Rivers
- One of the most memorable vacations of your life
What's Not Included?
- Airfare
- Tips and Gratuites
- Alcohol
- Paddles, PDF, helmet, sprayskirt – please bring your own or you can pay $75 to rent a paddle for the week
- Yoga mat – please bring your own for the week. A mat is going to be key for practicing. Please don’t skip bringing a mat and try to use a towel – its not effective! To get the most value out of your trip please bring a mat.
Common Questions
What level kayaker do I need to be to participate on this trip?
To get the most out of this trip you want to be comfortable on Class III whitewater with a solid combat roll at least 80% of the time. If you’re comfortable on rivers like the Ocoee, the Pigeon, the Middle White Salmon, Shoshone, Lower New, Southfork of the American, or Ottawa you’re good to go. If I didn’t mention your local river and you’re wondering please contact Anna to discuss. She’s happy to hop on a call with you.
Do I have to bring my own paddling gear?
Kayaks are provided by Amazing Vacations. They have a great fleet to choose from. You can rent a paddle for $75 or bring your own. They offer Werner Sherpa Straight shaft paddles. You’ll need to bring your own PFD, spray skirt, water shoes and helmet, as well as any other gear you like to have with you that includes specialized outfitting. We also recommend that you bring a water bottle.
What are the sleeping arrangements like?
We are staying at hotels for the entire trip. The price is based on double occupancy. You’ll have your own bed and will be sharing a room. If you come with a friend, you’ll have the option of picking your roommate. Single supplements aren’t available for this trip.
I’d be traveling solo. How are the group dynamics?
We love and welcome solo travelers! We host a mix of groups and solo travelers. In our experience, you may come as a solo traveler, but you leave with a whole group of new friends and river sisters!
What is the group size?
We accommodate a maximum group size of 10 paddlers for this trip.
Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?
We do our best! Costa Rica can be tricky, but please let us know asap and we’ll be able to talk to the restaurants and cooks.
I’d really love to join this trip, but it feels selfish to take money and a week for myself. Especially when I have responsibilities at home and/or at work.
I hear you, I really do. Let me ask you this… Is feeling uninspired, stressed and tired helping you get optimal results in your life? Is it selfish to take care of yourself so you can thrive in your roles at work and at home? Investing in your passion is investing in your wellbeing, both mental and physical. That isn’t selfish, it’s intelligent. Taking care of yourself contributes to a lot more people than just you.
Itinerary
What to expect on the coming days.
Day 1
Arriving in Tropical Paradise
You’ll fly into (SJO) San Jose, Costa Rica.
We work with a small bed and breakfast called “Your House” in San Jose that is about 5 minutes from the airport. Because we have multiple people coming in during a 4-5 hour period of time, we want to make it comfortable for everyone.
We have arranged to have our friends at “Your House” pick you up and take you to their location so you can relax in a hammock, have a drink or snack, and wait comfortably for the others. There is a nice area out back and couches and lounge areas for you to wait for the rest of the group.
From there we’ll transfer to the B&B in Turrialba (you’ll get more detailed information).
Day 2
Yoga, Outfitting, Paddling and Latin Dancing!
Yoga class with Anna starts off our day so that we are awake, stretched and balanced for paddling!
After breakfast, it’s time to meet the kayak you’ll be paddling all week! (You will have told us about boat preference before you arrive and please ask us for our boat list). We start out on the Rio Pejibaye, a fun jungle river with clear water and spectacular scenery. Warm up your paddling skills under our guidance – play and creek your way down!
This river is an excellent introduction to Costa Rican whitewater and there are a few difference sections we can run depending on levels (both river and paddler skill). After a delicious dinner we are treated to an awesome Latin dance class lead by our favorite local dance instructor, Elberth, who will teach you how to shake your booty!
Day 3
Yoga, Sarapiqui and Bird Watching
Morning yoga with Anna moves, balances and aligns our bodies and minds to start the day off right.
Day 4
Yoga, Sarapiqui and Cafe con Leche a la Leña
Anna’s morning yoga amidst the beautiful flowers and humming birds on the grounds of the hotel eases us into our second day on the Sarapiqui.
Today we’ll put in at Superman or La Virgen section (depending on skill level). We’ll guide you through fun and challenging rapids and point out the scenery that sometimes includes monkey, iguana, toucan and macaw sightings! After the river we’ll enjoy lunch at our favorite local restaurant right on the river.
We then head back to Turrialba with a stop at a local coffee stop that serves up cafe con leche heated over a wood fire. Once we get back to the B&B we’ll enjoy dinner and relax.
Day 5
Yoga, Upper Upper Pacuare and Chocolate
Treat your body to a good stretch with Anna to rejuvenate your paddling muscles. After breakfast we’ll travel to the remote and absolutely beautiful mountains of the Pacuare headwaters.
This rarely paddled section of river starts with Class II and III rapids and progresses in difficulty as we continue downstream where we’ll encounter a few Class IV challenges. This section provides quality whitewater with amazing scenery (I think we say that everyday!).
If some paddlers don’t feel up to the more difficult rapids they can stay on the top roadside section and do multiple runs. After dinner our friend Alan, an organic cacao farmer, treats us to a taste of his delicious homemade chocolate!
Day 6
Yoga and Lower Pacuare to Pacuare Outdoor Center Eco-Lodge (aka Jungle Camp)
This 24 kilometer (17 miles) class III/IV section is your paddling gem today. This is the most popular run onthe Pacuare, often said to be one of the top five river sections in the world. We will put-in a bit higher than other groups and enjoy an additional 4 kilometers of whitewater as we paddle to our riverside Jungle Lodge. The rapids on this day are fun class II and III.
To spend a night along the shores of the Pacuare river is an experience every person should enjoy at least once in their lives. We’ll light the camp with candles and prepare delicious tropical cuisine. The camp is complete with flush toilets, warm showers, raised platform tents with comfy mattresses and fully landscaped grounds.
Day 7
Yoga and Lower Pacuare Adventure
Day 8
Saying Goodbye
How Amazing Vacations Costa Rica Got Started
Amazing Vacations was started because our guides wanted to offer kayakers the best possible multi-day whitewater paddling experience in Costa Rica.
Can I bring a spouse, partner or family with me for the week?
YES! We have great options to keep spouses, friends and even kids super busy and having as much fun as you are having on the river. Just let us know if you need more info about options.