128Canopy Blog

Around the same time that Scuba Diving pioneer Bill Beard was paving the road for his underwater-marine industry, a handful of contemporary North Americans and Costa Ricans were also contributing to the tourism scene with their own projects.

Following in the steps of water-based adventures, California native Michael Kaye was setting the grounds for one of Costa Rica’s most popular activities: White Water Rafting.  Mr. Kaye immediately saw the potential of Costa Rica’s rivers and excellent topography and opened the first White Water Rafting Company in Costa Rica.  Costa Rica Expeditions opened its doors in 1978 and is still considered one of Costa Rica’s top white water rafting and tour operators.

Many other White Water Rafting companies soon followed in Michael Kaye’s footsteps taking advantage of Costa Rica’s convenient river system and rainforest environment that was guaranteed to be an immediate success among North American and European tourists.

The most popular rivers for rafting are the Pacuare and Reventazon Rivers that offer great Class II-IV rafting which makes it incredibly convenient for all ages and difficulty levels.  Currently, a couple of other rivers such as the Sarapiqui and Tenorio Rivers have gradually gained popularity among white water rafters.

The Pacuare River is today considered one of the top 5 rivers in the world for white water rafting and has hosted a number of National and International White Water Tournaments over the past years.

Costa Rica Expedition’s success has also spilled over to the Eco-Tourism industry.  Kaye’s company currently owns hotels in Monteverde, Tortuguero and Corcovado which are very popular destinations for nature-inclined tourists.  Kaye’s hard work and vision has been recognized by distinguished international companies and organizations such as Conde Naste and Travel + Leisure.

Anyone who has been to Costa Rica or is planning a trip in the near future has most likely come across hundreds of tours options and activities to carry out in the country.

One of the favorite nature tours and yet one of the least widely known is the Canoe Trip in Costa Rica’s Northern Region, specifically in La Fortuna.  The region of La Fortuna, near the Arenal Volcano, offers a variety in wildlife and rich vegetation which most of time go unnoticed by local and foreign tourists.

When in the Arenal area, the impressive volcano steals the show with its perfect conical shape and revitalizing hot springs.  But for those who prefer to wander off the beaten path and come face to face with nature, there is no better option than to do so by peacefully drifting down river in a canoe.

The tour allows tourist to access areas that are only possible by canoe in a tranquil and non intrusive manner.  The smoothness of the trip makes it possible to see shy and withdrawn species in their natural habitat.  Monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and countless bird species are just a few of the animals tourists will undoubtedly encounter.

The rivers around the Arenal Volcano will take you through dense rainforest while exposing century old trees and exotic plant species.  Specialized tour operators in the area offer the Canoe or Raft trip which normally include a bilingual naturalist guide, canoe or raft and all necessary equipment as well as transportation to and from hotels in the Arenal area.

Canoe and Rafting trips are half day trips and are under $50 per person.

Within the Guanacaste Conservation Area lie several protected areas and parks. The Rincon de la Vieja National Park sits on the northern border of the province of Guanacaste with Alajuela thus giving the park an immense biological diverse attraction.

The park is home to the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and the dormant Santa Maria. The Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is the largest of the 5 volcanoes which make up the Guanacaste Mountain Range and therefore the most popular.

The parks location allows for it to extend towards the Pacific coast and the Atlantic coast at the height of the volcano. The Rincon de la Vieja Volcano’s pacific slopes are dry and with very little vegetation while the Atlantic slopes are lush with lively vegetation.

Explorers to the park will also be delighted in the abundant beautiful scenery. A number of refreshing and beautiful waterfalls, relaxing hot springs, boiling mud pits and freshwater lagoons are throughout the park. Visitors will also find several picnic areas for a fun day of adventure with the entire family or friends.

As for wildlife, the park’s 14,000 hectares is packed with an impressive diversity of wildlife. Species such as the spider monkey, the blue crowned motmot, the emerald toucanet, jaguars, cougars and tapirs abound in this protected area.

As for the flora of the region, the area abounds in Costa Rica’s national flower: the Guaria Morada Orchid. Other species of vegetation are the laurel and the Guanacaste Tree.

The Rincon de la Vieja Volcano although active, is currently going through a “calm” phase. The last serious explosion was in 1983 followed by small phreatic eruptions since then. This type of eruption is caused when water and heated volcanic rocks interact and produce a violent explosion of steam and pulverized rock. However, no magma is involved.

The park offers several easy hiking paths at the base of the volcano near the entrance to the park. If you plan to climb to the summit, make sure you carry enough drinking water, take extra care with mud pits and lagoons and carry a light jacket as the temperature can go down towards the top.