Naranjo River Whitewater Rafting (lower section)
Highlights
- Class II and III rapids
- High intensity for the first two-thirds of the trip
- Walk through a spice farm on the way to the river
Facts
- Location : 35-minute drive from Quepos
- Price : $89 per person with snack
- Hours : 8 a.m.; 11 a.m.
Don't worry about the vultures you may see perched on the side of the river, they're still full from the last group of rafters to brave the Naranjo River. Seriously though, whitewater rafting the Naranjo River is an invigorating ride down class II and III rapids great for families, friends and inexperienced rafters.
read more closeAfter a 35-minute ride from Quepos you'll arrive beside one of the area's spice farms. Guides will lead you down to the river stopping along the way to show you some of the different plants that grow on the farm including cinnamon, vanilla and allspice.
Before you get in the water, you'll get a few rafting tips from the guides and learn what to do before you fall out of the raft. Once in the raft, you'll start your adventure downriver through the class II and III rapids with big, rolling waves and fast moving water. The first part of the journey is action packed taking you through series after series of rapids with names like Piñata, Caesar, horse's kick and Robin Hood.
Roughly two-thirds of the way through the river you'll stop for a snack of pineapple and watermelon before continuing on your journey. The last third of the trip will take you past the scenic vista of secondary rainforest, pastures, palm and spice farms while guides scout the shores for waterfowl like tiger herons and king fishers (plus the occasional vulture).
The best time to visit the lower section of the Naranjo River is during the wet season (May-Nov.) when the river is high and fast with tours lasting around an hour and a half. In the dry season (Dec.-April), the upper section of the Naranjo River opens for rafting; an intense journey on class IV and V rapids
Departure & Return
- Departure point : Tour departs from all major hotels in Quepos and Manuel Antonio
- Departure time : Hotel pickup is between 20 and 50 minutes before tour start time depending on hotel location.
- Return details : Tour returns to original departure point between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.