So Saturday, we woke up at 5:30… too early, if you ask me, but we had to be in downtown San Jose at 6:25 (still too early). My friend Jeff, who lives two blocks away, and I caught the bus and headed into downtown. We met up with the other four study abroad kids who were also going on our white water rafting adventure. A man named Carlos from Tico Tours (the company that books events like this) met us, and we meandered through San Jose picking up other rafters from different hostels and universities.
Well on our way Carlos debriefed us on safety procedures and what to expect (we were, after all about to face class III and IV rapids *class V are for professionals only and VI are deadly* yeah, I’m super hardcore like that). He also told us that the river we were rafting was one of the top 10 rivers in the WORLD to white water raft (I swear, this country is amazing).
After being sufficiently debriefed, we arrived and were divided up into rafting groups. We donned our safety gear (life jackets and helmets), and got ready to start down the river. In my raft, it was three people from Veritas University, and three ISA kids (Melissa, Olivia, and I), as well as our guide, Mauricio.
Our ride down the river was 30 kilometers (18 miles) and lasted three and a half hours. There were parts where we were allowed to get out and float in the river including between two canyon walls. We saw toucans fly overhead, and other birds nesting on the riverbanks. We stopped and had lunch and it started sprinkling, but cleared up, as we were getting back in the rafts.
The guides thought it funny to pull people off the rafts as they passed in the raft, so a couple girls on my raft got pulled in, our guide pulled some people in, but no worries, it was all in good fun. Our guide kept splashing me and one other girl so during a calm part of the river, we ganged up and pushed him off the back of the raft. It was a good time.
All in all it was a successful trip (no major injuries, just a couple minor bruises), and I wish I would’ve taken a waterproof disposable camera because it was phenomenal.
Anyways, here’s some pictures…
Olivia and I in the bus on the way.
Rafting. I'm in the back right corner.
I'm under there...somewhere.
I'm in the back right again.
Actually, it is just a briefing. Debriefings happen after the fact.