I’m not exactly an outdoorswoman. I’ve never gone camping, didn’t spend weekends growing up going to lakes or summer camps, and I’m almost guaranteed to jump at the sight of a snake. I have gone fishing, but only for an assignment.
That was in the interior of Alaska in 2019. I enjoyed it enough to continue pushing myself outside my travel comfort zone, which is how I ended up white water rafting on the Rio Reventazón in Costa Rica last year.
The Reventazón River is known for a 10-mile stretch of white water rapids suitable for first-time rafters. It’s accessible through Puerto Limon, a popular cruise port on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. I was there on a cruise stop, but you could also visit on a day trip from San Jose.
I walked away from my first white water river rafting experience soaked and smiling, but in hindsight, there are a few things I wish I would have known.
You will get soaked.
I didn’t expect to stay dry, but I also didn’t expect to walk away completely drenched from head to toe. You may want to wear a bathing suit under your clothes. You could opt for just the bathing suit, but the water is cold and rocky. I opted for a t-shirt and quick-dry hiking pants.
Ease into it.
One reason I chose the Reventazón River for my first rafting trip is that it has a reputation for being a good entry-level rafting experience.
River rapids are ranked along a class spectrum. Class I rapids are the calmest– think of a relaxing float down the river. Class II rapids are a little more aggressive, throwing up waves that are one to three feet tall. Class III rapids throw up four to five-foot waves that crash over the bow of the raft. Class IV and V rapids are more aggressive and require more technical skills to maneuver around.
The Reventazón River rafting trips cover Class I, II, and III rapids, which are recommended for beginners like myself. I learned that Class 2 rapids are my comfort zone and that Class 3 rapids are just outside of it.
Wear shoes.
While it may sound tempting to go barefoot instead of soaking your shoes, don’t do it. Rocks at the bottom of the river can be sharp and your shoes offer a layer of protection for your feet should you go overboard.
Choose shoes over flip flops, which offer much less protection against the elements. I wore a pair of trail running sneakers I picked up at REI a couple of years ago. My lightweight Salomon trail runners served me well and dried in just a few hours in the sunshine. Another woman on the trip had water shoes, something I’ll invest in should I find myself rafting more often.
You don’t have to be a champion swimmer.
I don’t consider myself a strong swimmer, which is one reason I’ve shied away from activities like rafting. With entry-level rapids, that may not a problem. Many operators don’t require swimming ability on beginner trips, and rivers can be shallow. Rapids form when running water moves swiftly over a shallow river bed.
Grand Canyon Whitewater, which operates rafting trips in the Grand Canyon, puts it like this “It is not necessary to know how to swim, but you do need to be able to assist in self-rescue in the event of a capsized raft or being thrown from the raft.”
River rafting companies are required to provide you with a life jacket, helmet, and safety briefing. Swimming ability is typically required for Class IV and V rapids, which offer a greater likelihood of falling into the water.
Bring a towel and change of clothes.
As we said, you’re going to get wet when you go rafting, so bring a towel. If you’re on a cruise excursion like I was, consider packing a dry change of clothes and dry pair of shoes for the ride to and from the ship. The drive between Puerto Limon and the river took about 45 minutes.
