A Guide to the Best White Water Rafting in Costa Rica
Much of our travel revolves around relaxation. This past fall, we stepped out of our travel bubble and integrated a few jungle expeditions into our trip to Costa Rica. Looking for adventure, we found the Balsa river's class 3 and 4 rapids in La Fortuna. We chose Costa Rica Descents as our outfitter/ guides and, with a team of friends, immersed ourselves in the world of white water rafting.
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Booking the trip
After a quick internet search and reviewing several online blogs, we settled upon Costa Rica Descents as our outfitter due to their use of a safety chase team. They launch a safety team in a raft and kayaks before putting the rafters in the water. All of the Guides are internationally certified in wilderness survival, swift water rescue, and CPR. We booked right through their website and communicated via email. I was impressed by the communication management of this company. They would answer emails within an hour, even the night before our excursion, to confirm the next morning's pickup time. I could handle everything right from my smartphone, equipped with a special case acquired for the rafting trip. (check out the case here)
Objective 1 Assemble the team
Photo credit Costa Rica Descents
Our contact told us at Descents that our first objective would be to assemble the guides, safety team, and rafters for transport to the launch site. We were picked up around 9 am at our lodge by Descents in a 4x4 Toyota SUV. After a short ride through Arenal, we arrived at Costa Rica Descent's base camp. The instructors, guides, and safety team loaded the last of the supplies onto their custom all-terrain bus for the day's adventure. Our group introduced ourselves to the crew and boarded the bus with our gear bags. We then went from town to town, picking up other rafters and a few straggling crew members on our way to the Balsa river. The trip to the launch site took about 45 minutes, and about halfway, we stopped at a roadside general store to purchase beer snacks and souvenirs.
The store has sun shirts, water shoes, sunglasses, and just about anything you might need for your white water expedition. If you forgot something or booked at the last minute, you could still gather the essential personal gear you need. If you are interested in our choices for shoes, glasses, sun shirts, and shorts, check the links below. Everything you need can be acquired through Amazon.com
About the Balsa River
map credit: Autopista Urbana Norte
The Balsa river comes from Costa Rica's cloud forest and is formed by three smaller tributaries. The river and the canyon it flows through gets named after a small village nearby. Two hydroelectric dams influence the river flow, allowing for good rafting year-round. The Rio Balsa produces flat water through class five rapids and is considered to have a section of continuous rapids over 8 miles long. Between runs of rapids, you will enjoy being surrounded by the canyon, countryside, and beautiful vegetation.
Objective 2 Basic Training
Alaina and I had never rafted before. Our friends and the rest of our boat crew had previous experience. Our Guide/ Instructor was well-experienced and broke down the basics of white water rafting, survival, and rescue within 20 minutes of our arrival at the river. Our boat crew was issued helmets, paddles, PFDs, and our semi-rigid inflatable boat. Our training covered sitting and bracing, ducking and flattening, a low-profile technique that places your body low between the boat's gunwales. You have to be mindful of how much space you occupy when you dive down flat between the sides of the boat so that your teammate across from you can also flatten out on the hull of the raft. Survival consisted of body positioning if you go overboard as well as the direction of float. We covered throw rope bags and practiced pulling teammates back into the boat. After our 20-minute training, we had enough knowledge to get in the river and gain experience.
Objective 3 Get Soaked
Alaina and I sat on the raft in the middle row, thinking we would take less splash and soak. We were wrong. There is no safe seat from the river water that roars through and over your boat. Second, I am horrible at identifying water temperatures. The Balsa in mid-September is cold enough to shock a crew used to the summer bath water temps of the Gulf of Mexico. But warm enough to be safe and acclimate quickly. I would compare the water temp to that of Virginia Beach's stretch of the Atlantic in early summer. For comfort and function we recommend wearing quick dry shorts with lycra or compression lining. And a rash guard or sun shirt top. You can not go wrong with a well-fitted pair of water shoes for footwear.
Again if you are interested in our choices for shoes, glasses, sun shirts, and shorts, check the links below. Everything you need can be acquired through Amazon.com
Objective 4 Thrill Ride
Much of the trip's early part deals with class 3 and 4 rapids. Costa Rica Descents throws you right into the deep end, but you are fresh and excited to handle the trip's most challenging and technical parts. There is plenty of time to float alongside the boat and cool off when the water flattens. You miss the cold water flowing over and around you inside your raft when you have reached calm water. The tropical temperatures are beginning to warm, and you are ready for much-needed relief.
At the midpoint of the trip, the entire excursion beaches the rafts and enjoys lunch provided by Costa Rican Descents. At this time you can crack the tops of the beers bought on the way to the river and reward yourself for a job well done. You can enjoy the platters of fruits and granola with your beverage of choice. Once you have had a chance to refuel, celebrate and trade stories with the other boat crews, it is time to get back in the river for the final float to our exit point.
After lunch, once back in the water, the river is flat with 1 or 2 sections of class I and II rapids; think swift current. We had opportunities to float alongside the boat, rest and float in the boat, and jump into a few deep holes from shore. It felt good to rest, relax and enjoy the tropical scenery after the challenging sections of water before our break.
The Feast
Once you reach the exit point, the boat teams all work with the instructors to get the boats out of the water and back on top of the bus. When all of the gear is stored, the bus begins the trip back to base camp for a feast of local dishes. One of the highlights is sampling local coffee brewed in the traditional Costa Rican Chorreador. Imagine what looks like a suspended sock with ground coffee. So if you would like to dive a raft nose first into class 4 rapids, drink beer, eat fruit on a tropical river sandbar, and then feast on a fantastic dinner with your guide team, book Costa Rica Descents here on Trip Advisor.
This fantastic adventure quenched the thirst for action and controlled danger or chaos. We have decided we would love to continue learning and gaining more experience in white water rafting. This excursion filled a hole I have been feeling since leaving the Fire Service and felt good.
Let us know if you, too have rafted the Balsa river. Message us details of where we should raft next. Do you own an outfitter? Would you like us to come and spend a day with your crew and write up a review for travelers looking for adventures or link to your products and services in a future article? Email us at sunhatsntravelmaps@gmail.com
Another bottle of Sunscreen was emptied, and many memories were stored.
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