Costa Rica

2012 Dates: March 24 - April 1, 2012

Kayakers and Rafters - Leave the wet suits and dry-tops at home, and join the Wet Planet Team for a whitewater paddling adventure in Costa Rica!

Hot News: Make reservations for a Costa Rica trip before December 31st, and you receive a complimentary massage during our visit to the hot springs while in Costa Rica!

This trip will be spent paddling and traveling throughout Costa Rica. Traveling in a circular route through the country, we will paddle five different remote, jungle river stretches (class III-IV). Off the river, we will explore tropical rainforests, lounge at the beach on the Caribbean Coast, visit indigenous markets, and enjoy the Costa Rican culture. The final night of the trip will be spent resting river weary bones in the famous Tabacon hot springs, while watching lava flow out of the active Volcano Arenal. During the trip, we take care of all of your transportation, lodging, and meal considerations.

Costa Rica is home turf for Wet Planet founders Todd Collins and Jaco Klinkenberg, who both previously lived in Costa Rica guiding custom whitewater and adventure travel trips. You will benefit from their knowledge of the area and the culture, as they give you access to the country and its rivers in a way that only someone who speaks the language and has lived in the culture can.

To see images from our Costa Rica trips, visit our Photo Gallery!

Check out this year's Costa Rica Itinerary (itinerary subject to change due to conditions beyond our control):

• Day 1 - Arrival and pick-up at San Jose International Airport during the morning. We then drive to the mountain town of Turrialba. This very scenic drive will take us off the standard tourist track and through rural Costa Rica. After check-in at the hotel, we’ll eat in a traditional Costa Rican restaurant while admiring the scenic view over the Turrialba valley.

• Day 2 - After breakfast, we start the trip with a bang. Depending upon water levels we will either raft the class III+ Top Pacuare, or begin an overnight trip on the Pacuare River – rated one of the best rafting trips in the world! The scenic drive to the launch point leads through native villages, coffee fields, and typically spectacular Costa Rican jungle scenery.

• Day 3 - Depending on our second day run, we will either finish the second day on the Pacuare or run the full class III/IV section of the Pacuare River in one day. With waterfalls, side hikes, endless birds, flowers, butterflies, and incredible whitewater, this is one of the premiere one-day rafting trips in the world.

• Day 4 - After an early departure, we are on our way to the next rafting adventure: big water class IV rafting on the Pascua section of the Reventazon River. The take-out for this river trip will set us heading in the right direction for the tropical Caribbean side of the country. After descending from the mountains toward the coast, we’ll drive to the funky beach town of Puerto Viejo.

• Day 5 - Costa Rica has it all! This day you'll be on your own schedule and either spend it relaxing at the Caribbean beach, exploring the area by bike, or exploring the town of Puerto Viejo by foot.

• Day 6 - Back on the river! After a delicious breakfast and an early departure, we will raft the big-water class III Florida section of the Reventazon River. Then we’ll head to the Sarapiqui River, where we will be camping out on platforms in the jungle! A great location for some early evening or morning birding.

• Day 7 - Depending on water levels, we’ll either raft the Sarapiqui River or head to the Class III/IV Toro River. After a great day on the river, we’ll continue our journey to Volcano Arenal. In the evening we’ll sit in the exotic hot springs at our luxurious hotel and, weather depending, watch lava flow down the sides of an active volcano – this is paradise!

• Day 8 -This day will get your adrenaline going again. We’ll take a Canopy Tour to see the jungle from a different perspective, flying through canyons and over jungle on an amazing series of zip-lines.

• Day 9 - We’ll begin the day with a hike to Fortuna Waterfall and then visit our favorite local art gallery. In the afternoon we’ll drive to the provincial capital Alajuela, near the airport. On the way we’ll stop in the artistic town of Sarchi, famous for its local and eclectic crafts, hand-made goods and artists' markets. We’ll finish our Costa Rica adventure with dinner at our hotel in Alajuela.

• Day 10 - Breakfast, good byes, and you're on your own. Our trip is over, and we are parting ways. You can either fly out of Costa Rica this morning, or head off for your own adventure in this amazing country.

For more information on our Costa Rica trips or to make reservations: contact us now, or download a printable version of our Costa Rica Info Sheet and Packing List.