Costa Rica Guide
The Zona Norte
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Whitewater thrills and spills
The wild Río Pacuare near Turrialba may lure adrenaline junkies to Costa Rica, but the churning rivers around La Virgen have plenty of thrilling whitewater action on offer. A number of companies in and around La Virgen offer white-water rafting and kayaking tours, each charging around $45 for three-hour trips, most of which include lunch, transportation and equipment. The Class I– II run that puts in around the community of Chilamate is essentially a scenic float along the jungle-lined river, suitable for wildlife-watchers, seniors and small children. Moving up a grade, Class II– III runs, which start in the Río Sarapiquí around La Virgen, require good physical fitness but no prior rafting experience. If you want to tackle the ferocious Class III– IV runs on the Upper Sarapiquí, you must be over 16 and have plenty of experience wielding a paddle.
The Sarapiquí Outdoor Centre ( 
761-1123), 1.5km west of La Virgen, is an established rafting and kayaking company with riverside camping facilities ($5 per night) in their backyard. Perhaps the largest rafting company in the country, Aguas Bravas ( 292-2072, 
www.aguas-bravas.co.cr ) have an office in the village of Roble located 12km east of La Virgen; pick-ups from San José and La Fortuna are offered. Adventuras del Sarapiquí ( 766-6768, www.sarapiqui.com ), with an office 9km east of La Virgen, conduct rafting, canoeing and tubing trips, and also offer private half-day and six-day kayaking courses ($60–350). They also run mountain-biking and hiking trips and have a zip-line canopy tour that shoots strapped-in victims across two rivers. Hacienda Pozo Azul Adventures ( 761-1360, www.haciendapozoazul.com ), 2km west of La Virgen, is a one-stop-shop for outdoor adventure sports, with whitewater-rafting trips as well as rappelling, hiking, horseback-riding and zip-line canopy tours. Avid kayakers tend to bunk down at Rancho Leona, which offers custom trips along with a four-hour kayaking tour ($75); the price includes lunch and a night in the hostel.