oh whitewater, keep on rolling

If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, one of the excursions that is definitely worth taking time for is a whitewater rafting trip down the Pacuare River.  Our family has been twice and both times used Rios Tropicales for this adventure.  Rios Tropicales is an excellent group that has been leading rafting tours for the past 20+ years!  The rapid levels on the Pacuare are 3's and 4's from December to April but get bigger during the rainy season in the fall. 

When taking a whitewater rafting trip, you want to wear comfortable, durable shoes that can get soaked!  I have a pair of Keens that I love - you can throw them in the washer and dryer when you get home. 

If you're interested in taking a camera with you on the trip, you should invest in one that is waterproof, because everything will get wet.  Sony has recently come out with a very good waterproof camera, but it is pretty expensive.  Most rafting companies send a photographer on the trip, and he/she takes photos of each raft crossing all of the major rapids.  Then they compile CD's of photos each individual raft and sell them for around $40.  The shots are excellent and well-worth the money.

The most important thing to remember when tackling the whitewater is . . . have fun and enjoy the ride!  Oh, and always obey your guide's instructions; you don't want the photos to show you falling out of the raft!