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| Section |
Powerhouse |
|
Location |
East
of San Jose, east-central Costa Rica |
|
Driving Time |
San
Jose—3.5 hours |
|
Difficulty |
Class
III-IV |
|
Trip Length |
6
miles (9.5 km) |
|
Trip Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft; one day |
|
Season |
All
year |
The
Rio Reventazon, Costa Rica’s frequently rafted river, is located
east of the capital city of San Jose. Reventazon’s tropical jungle
climate and water storage reservoirs generally permit rafting
throughout the year. Professional rafting outfitters commonly offer
tourists and residents a choice of four one-day trips as well as a
number of multiday options.
Rafting
on the Powerhouse section, the river’s uppermost trip, begins at
the spillway below the Cache Dam and hydroelectric station. After a
very brief period for warm-up paddling, the Reventazon’s gentle
waters become continuous whitewater. The second and third miles of
the trip are virtually on continuous rapid. Powerhouse’s best
rafting is during the fall rainy season, normally September and
October.
|
| Section |
Tucurrique |
| Location |
East
of San Jose, east-central Costa Rica |
| Driving
Time |
San
Jose—3.5 hours |
| Difficulty |
Class
II-III |
| Trip
Length |
12
miles (19 km) |
| Trip
Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft; one day |
| Season |
All
year |
The
Rio Reventazon between Tucurrique and Angostura is Costa Rica’s
favorite one-day whitewater trip. Tucurrique’s popularity is a
result of scheduled water releases from El Congo Dam, beautiful
forest and farmland scenery, and proximity to San Jose. First-time
and experienced rafters from all over the world enjoy Tucurrique’s
exciting, yet not difficult, Class II-III whitewater and its
beautiful scenery.
|
| Section |
Peralta
or Guayabo |
| Location |
East
of San Jose, east-central Costa Rica |
| Driving
Time |
San
Jose—3.5 hours |
| Difficulty |
Class IV-V |
| Trip
Length |
9
miles (14.5 km) |
| Trip
Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft; one day |
| Season |
All
year |
The
Peralta or Guayabo section is Costa Rica’s most difficult
whitewater stretch. Its continuous and powerful whitewaters, which
include more than thirty Class IV-V rapids, require precise raft
maneuvering by physically fit paddle rafters. Peralta’s six most
respected rapids—The S’s, Meatgrinder, El Horrendo, Ceja, Piedra
de Fuego, and Land of 1000 Holes—and its unrunnable Class VI
Jungle Run will long be cherished memories by those fortunate enough
to experience this spectacular whitewater adventure. Outfitters
rightfully calling the Peralta section comparable to the West
Virginia’s upper Gauley, require guests to have had previous Class
IV whitewater rafting experience.
|
| Section |
Pascua |
| Location |
East
of San Jose, east-central Costa Rica |
| Driving
Time |
San
Jose—3.5 hours |
| Difficulty |
Class
III-IV+ |
| Trip
Length |
12-15
miles (19-24 km) |
| Trip
Options |
Paddle
raft; one day |
| Season |
All
year |
Pascua, Reventazon’s
final section, is becoming one of the most popular sections of
whitewater in Costa Rica because of its big, continuous Class IV
whitewaters that include Green Pillow and Meurte Verde (Green
Death). Throughout this section, the river continues its rampaging
drop to the Caribbean, maintaining the same character that it
developed in the last four miles (7 kms) of the Peralta run.
Pascua
can either be run with the Peralta or as a separate, less demanding
one-day trip.
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