Here are the most common questions we get about paddling Costa Rica Rivers
Skills:
- Progressive Difficulty: All of our WOR trips are designed to be progressive. You’ll start on a Class II river and gradually move up to Class II+, class III. On the second day of the Lower Pacuare River, you’ll experience Class IV rapids. The last day, you’ll head to the Upper Upper Pacuare, which is mostly Class III/IV with an optional Class IV+ section.
- Easily Walkable Rapids: The Class IV rapids are easily walkable. Your guide will navigate the kayak through the rapid, so you don’t have to scramble over rocks with a kayak on your shoulder.
- Experienced, Safety-Focused Guides: Our guides are 100% safety-focused. They are ACA-certified instructors who have been paddling since they were very young. They know these rivers intimately, will assess your skills, and work with you to help you grow as a paddler while ensuring you have a positive and safe experience.
Click here to watch a video if you want to see what to expect as far as skill level and how the week goes with different paddlers learning new skills while you’re on the week of rivers!
- Roll Practice: You can practice your roll on every river.
- Peel Outs and S Turns: These techniques can be practiced on any river.
- Surfing: The Pejibaye River is great for surfing.
- Flexible Difficulty: The great thing about running rivers is that you can always make an easier river more challenging by practicing advanced techniques and skills.
- Group Splitting: Sometimes we split the group into two, with one guide taking the more advanced paddlers to a different section of the river.
- Advanced Paddlers: If you are a more advanced paddler, let the guides know that you would like to practice some techniques or try more difficult sections.
- They can enjoy a fabulous week, paddling as much or as little as they want.
- We have some non-paddler activities planned. Be sure to check out your itinerary or this blog post for more information.
- Be sure to mention that you are bringing a non-paddler so we can schedule the activities for them.
- If they want to be on the river with you in a ducky (or raft when needed), they will be considered a paddler with pricing. Non-paddler pricing is for activities off the river while everyone else is on the river.
Equipment:
Most people prefer to bring their own helmet, PFD, and skirt as it’s more comfortable to paddle with familiar gear. However, if you don’t bring any gear, we have some available (excluding personal items):
- List of boats, SUPs, and paddles.
- Werner Paddles in both Sherpa and Powerhouse models, ranging from 194 to 200 cm in length. We carry both straight and bent shaft paddles. If you need a paddle longer than 200 cm, you should consider bringing your own.
- Snap Dragon skirts, tunnel sizes S-XL, cockpit size XL.
- NRS Ninja PFDs for kayakers, available in various sizes.
- NRS Big Water PFDs for rafters (Note: People with chests larger than 52″ will not fit these life jackets and cannot participate in whitewater activities).
- Basic NRS Chaos helmets.
Note: Nose plugs and clothing are considered personal items and are not available or provided.
What could have been better? I honestly don't know. Here's a small thing: I borrowed your spray skirt and life jacket, and my companions would have preferred doing the same so they could minimize the gear they had to bring. I checked with you before the trip to make sure I could use your gear. Others didn't do that and wish they had. Flying back with very wet gear was not ideal for them.
Boats:
- Tall People: The Jackson Zen Size L is the best fit for tall individuals. It has comfortably accommodated clients up to 6’7″ with size 13 feet.
- Small People: The Zet Veloc and several Dagger kayaks are well-suited for smaller paddlers. We also have a selection of foam to help customize the kayak for a better fit.
Water Temperature: The rivers are generally warm, ranging from 70-80°F year-round. However, in some months, the temperature can drop to the mid-60s. Clothing Recommendations:
- Warm Days: Most people prefer a rash guard or sun shirt and shorts.
- Cooler Days: A splash jacket or a shorty dry top is recommended.
- Sun Protection: We strongly recommend wearing sunscreen, as the sun is very strong and reflects off the water, causing quick burns.
- Bug Protection: Wear bug spray. Even if the bugs aren’t bothering you, you don’t want to risk getting any diseases.
- Costa Rica enjoys a mild climate without a cold winter, making it ideal for paddling year-round. Many people choose to paddle here during their own winter months when paddling in their home areas is less feasible due to cold weather.
- While Costa Rica is excellent for paddling throughout the year, the beginning of the calendar marks the end of the dry season. Some Pacific rivers may run low during this period, so we recommend paddling these rivers in the fall. Caribbean rivers, however, maintain consistent flows throughout the year due to controlled releases.
- If you have a group of 4 people interested, we organize a Week of Rivers during the summer months.
- Plan to fly into SJO (San Jose International Airport) before noon on the FIRST day of your week, usually a Saturday.
- Plan to fly out of SJO after 12 pm noon on the LAST day of your week, also usually a Saturday.
- If your flight doesn’t arrive or depart within these parameters, we can assist you in arranging a hotel room and catching up with the group.
For more information, here is an interview Arnaldo did talking about the rivers, padding in Costa Rica, and what you can expect. It is long, but if you jump to around minute 11 or 13 you’ll get some good information. Watch the whole video to learn more about our guide Arnaldo.
Rivers:
For detailed descriptions, timing, and rapid names, please visit our page dedicated to the rivers we run. Here’s a brief summary provided by one of our knowledgeable team members:
- Pejibaye (II/II+/III) This river tends to be shallow and rocky, with gentle water flow ideal for practice your skills. Highlights include slalom gates for practice, a surf wave, and great opportunities for learning whitewater SUP. Upper sections include La Juntas and Los Leones.
- Sarapiqui (II+/III)– feels similar to the Pejibaye but also has “Wall Shots”. A wall shot is when the water pillows off of a wall and changes direction of flow suddenly. This does not guarantee that the rocks are undercut. Undercut rocks are hazards that most kayakers will be apprehensive about. It’s known for a 6-foot slide and offers surf spots depending on the section, making it suitable for SUP enthusiasts. Notable sections include La Virgin and San Miguel.
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- UNDERCUTS/POTHOLES – submerged hazards that don’t usually affect passage overhead but can trap a capsized paddler under the edge of a riverbank or rock ledge, or entrap a victim against a rock or in debris settled into a pothole.
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- Lower Pacuare (III/IV) – pushy water with lots of wall shots; certain rapids can have large holes.
- Day 1 (II/III) – If you can handle the Sarapiqui you can probably handle day 1. It is possible to paddle day 1 and then hop in a raft for day 2, or sometimes a tandem duckie with a guide for day 2.
- Day 2 (III/IV) – This section is busy. Rapids are back to back with short pools in between. Over 30 named rapids in 15 miles. At present all the class IV rapids are walkable. Taking a swim on day 2 of the Pacuare can be a long and exhausting day for all parties involved. The guides will assess your skill throughout the week and recommend a watercraft for you for the Pacuare (raft, duckie, hardshell). Safety is our top priority and the guides have that in mind for you and the rest of the group.
- More Videos: Pacuare, Rafting, Pack Raft, Highlights, Double Drop, Semaforo, Dos Montanas, Huacas, Lower Huacas, and Playboating
- Upper Upper Pacuare (III/IV with optional IV+) – pushy water with wall shots, more exposed rocks than Lower Pacuare.
- Donde la voy (IV+) is easily walked; Don’t sweat it
- Savegre (II/III) – less exposed rocks, lots of fun wave trains
- Guabo (III) – more creek-like; exposed rocks, some boofs, ends in the ocean which is SUPER NEAT!
- Boof: A river running move performed over a rock, waterfall, drop or hole to keep the bow of the paddlers’ boat above the surface of the water and to keep the kayak flat or close to flat. The boof is a really fun and important move for remaining stable and making moves, especially on steep creeks.
The Lower Pacuare is our hardest river. Technically you could argue that the Upper Upper is harder, but it’s easier to walk those hard rapids. For detailed descriptions, timing, and rapid names, please visit our page dedicated to the rivers we run. Here’s a brief summary provided by one of our knowledgeable team members:
- Pejibaye (Class II/II+/III) – This river tends to be shallow and rocky, with gentle water flow ideal for practice your skills. Highlights include slalom gates for practice, a surf wave, and great opportunities for learning whitewater SUP. Upper sections include La Juntas and Los Leones.
- Sarapiqui (Class II+/III) –
UNDERCUTS/POTHOLES – submerged hazards that don’t usually affect passage overhead but can trap a capsized paddler under the edge of a riverbank or rock ledge, or entrap a victim against a rock or in debris settled into a pothole.
- Lower Pacuare (III/IV) – pushy water with lots of wall shots; certain rapids can have large holes.
- Day 1 (II/III) – If you can handle the Sarapiqui you can probably handle day 1.
- Day 2 (III/IV) – This section is busy. Rapids are back to back with short pools in between. Over 30 named rapids in 15 miles. The guides will assess your skill throughout the week and recommend a watercraft for you for the Pacuare (raft, duckie, hardshell). Safety is our top priority and the guides have that in mind for you and the rest of the group.
- More Videos: Pacuare, Rafting, Pack Raft, Highlights, Double Drop, Semaforo, Dos Montanas, Huacas, Lower Huacas, and Playboating.
Others:
- We will run a trip even if you are the only person on the week! This gives you great one on one time with the guides!
- However, if we have less than four people, dinners will not be included. This helps cover the fixed costs that are not shared by a larger group, and it just doesn’t make sense to have someone come cook for 3 or less.
- While dinners will be on your own, the guides can help you find local places to eat. Lunches and Breakfasts will still be provided.
- Our Team loves to be involved with the El Cacique del Reventazon. It is a Class 4+, 5 river and the racing is a lot of fun for competitors and spectators alike.
- The race is on a Saturday and Sunday in the fall.
- Send us an email if you are interested in joining this fun event!
- Here is some more information and you can also check out the YouTube channel for videos of past years races.
For more Costa Rica river questions see our FAQ page for info on wearing pads, rocks in the river, and repairs for your equipment. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, let us know in the comments and we will get you the answer!
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