www.CostaRicaTicas.com

You paid big bucks to get down here.

You paid big bucks to get from San Jose to whitewater, including the super-scenic Rio Pacuare.

The river guides have no interest in keeping your regular camera in a waterproof bag, so they don't provide them and they do not stop on calm, flat areas of the river for you to photo the waterfalls falling into the river in front of you.

But they do try to sell you a CD collection of snaps of your raft, snapped by the company's kayakers perched on ledges overlooking your deep whitewater rapids for just $40 US, deliverable to your hotel later that day.

But you find yourself on one of the most scenic rivers on the planet. While the guides need to make a living, you need pictures.

Bring a disposable / recyclable camera with you, and post the photos online.

To my knowledge nobody has actually done this for the Pacuare yet.

Ringo

I have an underwater camera that i brought three years ago, I will have to find the photos and scan them in to post.

It is a very scenic river...........great rafting trip!

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

I've done the disposable camera thing on one of my raft trips. The problem is that a) you still have to scan them in order to post them on the web b) the most dramatic shots happen while you're busy doing other things (namely trying to help keep the boat from crashing into a rock and flipping over) c) the period immediately before the rapids are not times to be monkeying around digging out and/or stowing your camera d) the period after the rapids (after the traditional paddle clap) does not really allow you enough time or the best viewpoint for taking pictures of the rapids and e) even during the more sedate times it is not that convenient to dig out your camera (which you don't want loose or dangling while you're bouncing around in the rapids) in the middle of a crowded raft and you're bulked out in a life jacket.

The best that you can probably do is lean back over the edge of the raft to take some shots of your crew mates or if one of your buddies is in a different raft of him or scenery on the banks. The other possibility is when you stop for lunch you can more easily take some shots of the river or MAYBE another raft clearing the last set of rapids. Add to this that even if the raft guide were accomodating enough to have everyone backpaddle while you took your shot, it is not really in their interest to facilitate that too much since they probably make a good amount of money on the photos they sell. Bottom line, you should take the camera and you will get some decent shots but don't expect to get the type of shots that can really compare to the ones you have to buy.

Incidentally, I have a big 10X13 blow-up photo taken by the raft company photographer of me and my brother (since deceased) in the midst of the rapids framed and hanging on my bedroom wall and it is one of my most prized possessions. Another aside, I have also used the water-proof disposable camera on scuba trips (in Brazil and Thailand) and they take surprisingly good photos even at depth. They're rated for no more than 10meters and the depth of adequate sunlight probably goes not much more than that, but I've taken them down as far as 30m and was still able to develop the pictures afterwards.

We did a trip in March 04 that included 10 of us. We paid $10 each for a CD that included photos of all 3 rafts at various points throughout the river.

I thought it was a great deal with the reservation host at the Best Western SJ setting the entire rafting trip up for us for $70 each.

If you can't negotiate you don't belong in San Jose.

Are the rivers in SJO suppose to be dangerous? I wouldn't want to do anything too risky. Some rapid would be ok. Especially since i'm not insured. Also how much you think an average raft trip will cost.

thanks

Lespuff, I went on the same trip as RingoG. It's about $95 I believe. It's a heck of a trip. But frankly, I didn't find the rapids all that interesting nor dangerous. I've been rafting in Switzerland and it was INTENSE. I was never really concerned for my safety in CR but you sure need to be careful.

Depending on the river and the time of the year Costa Rica has class 3, 4 & 5 rapids.

Yes there have been some accidents with fatalities but that is extremely rare. Given the amount of people who go white water rafting the statistical accident rate is most likely less than the vehicle accident rate getting from your hotel to the river.

Lespuff, just tell the tour operator what class you are comfortable with and they will most likely have a tour that suits your needs.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

isn't $95 dollars kind of pricey especially for the green season also.

thanks in advance.

the $85 or $95 depending on which river you go on included round trip transportation from San Jose and lunch.

Hey..this was a great trip. We went around 20 miles on the river. Bring water proof sun screen unless you are naturally dark! I pealed twice on my shoulders and once on my arms and legs.

The trip was great fun and came with breakfast and lunch. I paid $90 and booked it through the Hotel Presidente. Trip lasted three to four hours on the water. Left hotel around 7am retruned about 5pm.

I took a disposable camera but you won't get the good action photos unless you buy the cd. Hey, you don't do this everyday. Buy the cd and print off you own photos. If you go with a friend, but one cd and share it or make a copy. I even have one shot as my screen saver.

The rafting company also offers a class 4-5 trip for experienced rafters!!!! I'll join that one on my next trip!