Costa Rica Diary: Thrills

By Guest Writer: Gurkhahere

Today was going to be the most exciting day of my trip. I had reserved for a rafting and a canopy tour a few days ago. I was especially excited because I had convinced another volunteer who had never rafted before to go rafting. Although she had just been to a canopy tour a couple of weeks before, she agreed to go on the combine tour because I had put enough excitement in my words while explaining how much fun rafting can be, especially on the Pacuare river, recognized by some, including the National Geographic, as one of the best whitewater rivers in the world.

The bus came to pick us up around nine. In the bus were a bunch of Frenchmen, Chileans and one American. We drove through Cartago, one of the other bigger cities in Costa Rica. The driver showed us a volcanic mountain along the spectacular two hour drive. Two rafts, two guides and a photographer were waiting for us when we got there. It was a beautiful river surrounded by green mountains. The air was fresh. The day was beautiful. The sun was out and it almost seemed like it was waiting to watch us paddle the river. It was a perfect setting for a great run down the river.

After quick safety instructions, we were all ready to experience the thrill. My friend was nervous, especially because the water was very cold and guide had said that if someone fell off the raft, it was up to them to make it to the shore. Of course, he knew better but thought it was funny to scare others. I was really excited, as this was one of the things that I had really wanted to do while I was down there. I had run a few whitewater rivers in the US but this was going to be different. This was a whole new continent, a whole new group of people whom I will very likely never meet again. But that didn’t bother me. All I was focused on at that point was to experience the Class III thrill and make it to the shore without scratching a bone.

The five-kilometer run was very quick. The first half kilometer was not very exciting as we hit many rocks but the remainder of the trip was filled with the guide yelling “paddle forward,” “right back”, “left back,” and “duck” along with a couple of profanities. By being on the front of the raft, I was one of the two leaders which made me feel extra responsible but I was confident that no one was going to die. As long as no lives were spared I was okay with someone falling into the river. That would just add to the excitement- I thought. I nearly became the victim when I was almost thrown out of the boat while maneuvering, or more appropriately – trying to maneuver, through a rapid. The raft bounced off the river. The guide had yelled “duck” which meant “hold on to the paddle and grab the freaking rope.” I did. But I only managed to hold the paddle underneath my arm. It was too late before I could find my rope. The next thing I know is I have half my body out of the boat and parallel to the river. First thing that occurred to me was to somehow avoid any rock that was going to be on my way as I fell off the boat. But then, I also quickly remembered that my foot was tangled to a “grip” on the floor of the boat. I pulled my leg to make sure that my grip was tight. As we were coming down the rapid, the boat hit a huge splash of water coming towards the boat in the opposite direction. The splash couldn’t have timed itself any better. I was soon back up in the boat, this time better prepared and even more excited to tackle another rapid.

The only disappointment, which didn’t matter at that point, was that the river we ran was the Orosi and not the Pacuare, as had been told to us the previous night. When I told that driver that we were told that we’d run the Pacuare, he simply replied “I don’t know why they said that.” There you go- another Pura Vida attitude.

The zip line (canopy tour) was no less fun. The canopy tour was to north of San Pedro. So we drove all the way back to San Pedro and to I don’t know where. All I know is they took us to a protected area for the canopy tour. Running the zip lines and walking on tight ropes was exciting. However, the most fun run was the couple hundred meters long “Superman” (See the picture to the right). I was screaming and flapping my “wings,” although I do realize that the superman we see on TV doesn’t flap his wings. Whatever… Nobody ever told me that a superman in a zip line can’t flap his wings.

Unfortunately, that night was also my last night in Costa Rica. I spent the night with three other people eating sushi and drinking beer in the same park where I had started my first night.

To be continued….

Note: All the pictures are from the writer. The previous postings of this Costa Rica Diary  can be read here: Part 1,Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.