Best White-Water Rafting or Kayaking

There's a reason why half a dozen Olympic kayaking teams spend the winter on the wild rivers of Costa Rica: steep hills and heavy rainfall make the country a mecca for white-water sports, and there's a level of ease or difficulty to match anyone's expertise (or lack thereof). Have fun, but be brutally frank with yourself about your abilities and fears before setting out on any rafting or kayaking excursion. Base yourself in these places to find white-water outfitters.

La Fortuna, Northern Plains.

Trips on the Toro, Balsa, San Carlos, and Sarapiquí rivers are offered out of La Fortuna.

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Northern Plains.

Outfitters based here can take you on similar excursions to those offered from La Fortuna.

Quepos, Central Pacific.

Head here for action on the Savegre and Naranjo rivers.

San José.

You might not guess it, but San José is a major rafting center; the Reventazón and Pacuare rivers are close enough that you can be back in time for dinner. The Pacuare, El General and Corobicí rivers lend themselves to overnight or multiday trips.

Turrialba, Central Valley.

Many outfitters congregate in Turrialba, arguably the country's white-water capital, and close to the action.

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