The Reventazón (reh vehn tah SOHN) gathers its waters from the rugged core of the Cordillera de Talamanca. Some of the upper tributaries drain the wettest parts of the country. By the time they have gathered enough volume to float a boat but have lost enough gradient so as not to destroy one, the river still is at an elevation of almost 4800 feet (1450 m). Whitewater can be found on the ReventazÛn all the way to Siquirres, at an elevation of 150 feet (45 m). The entire reach of runnable whitewater is 60 miles (100 km) long, rivaling the length of the General. Unlike the General, there are many points of access along the way, enabling paddlers to choose from a wide variety of day trips. The put-in points described here are the ones most commonly used, but numerous other options exist.

Within the Reventazón system are the Grande de OrosÌ, the Pejibaye, the Reventazón itself, and many small tributaries that have not yet been paddled. After its junction with the Navarro, the Orosà is known as the ReventazÛn, an appropriate name meaning "bursting waves". The river lives up to its name along much of its length.

The Reventazón watershed drains a part of the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central which gathers very high annual rainfall totals and occasionally receives very heavy afternoon and evening rainfall. As a result, even the main stem of the ReventazÛn is subject to sudden dramatic increases in discharge. A raft trip on the Reventazón experienced a 2-meter (6 ft) rise in water level while paddling the Tucurrique section in August of 1987. The higher flows made for a more enjoyable cruise down this section of the river but would have required abandoning the lower Peralta section. Contingency plans for such possibilities should be arranged during the rainy season.

Several dams have been planned for the whitewater segments of the ReventazÛn. The first of these has already been started at Angostura. When completed, it will inundate part of the most popular section of whitewater in Central America.  

Degree of Difficulty: Class IV, V  Gradient: 108 feet per mile (20 m/km) Length: 6.4 miles (10.3 km) Put-in Elevation: 3085 feet (720 m) Take-out Elevation: 2395 feet (640 m) Drainage Area: 165 square miles (424 km2) Average Discharge: 600 cfs (17 cms) when running Season: Wet season only - dam overflow releases

Stretching a brief 6.4 miles (10.3 km) from the base of CachÌ Dam to the point where the penstocks return the dam's impounded waters to their natural channel, the Cañon del Reventazón is nonetheless isolated, scenic, and difficult to paddle. The Cañon has always been hard to run because of the difficulty of the run and the challenge of catching it with water, but it is nearly impossible now because ICE will not grant paddlers permission to enter the dam area. The gorge is dry most of the year, since the river's flow is diverted to the powerhouse at El Congo, where nearly a fifth of the nation's electricity is produced. When flows of the OrosÌ exceed storage capacity in the lake and the penstocks' capacity, water is released into the dry gorge. Discharge values can be obtained at the dam; a minimum of 10 cubic meters per second (350 cfs) is required and the section has been paddled with a discharge as high as 17 cms.

The trip begins at the dam spillway, with an impressive view of the canyon below. In the first mile, the river's gradient is moderate and it is possible to enjoy the scenery, as the river winds through narrow canyons which open up into lush fields of coffee and sugar cane above. The channel changes character dramatically in the second and third miles, with a much steeper gradient and considerable debris from dam construction producing tight, congested rapids. With most of the streamflow diverted through the penstocks to the lower powerhouse, the Reventazón does not flood frequently enough or high enough to clear out this debris. Great care should be exercised here to avoid steel rebar, railroad ties, and angular rock fragments produced during the construction of the dam.

At the entrance to the first main rapid, it is necessary to paddle through a two-foot (.6 m) wide slot between a boulder and a piece of rebar that points upstream. Beyond an eddy, the rapid really gets serious, with the river dropping over a set of three consecutive eight-foot drops. The line to take here is to begin on the left, move to the center eddy, then work to the right all the way down; the final drop is taken against the right wall. One cannot help but worry here about the possibility of more rebar lurking below the frothing water of these drops. The rest of the run features a continuous gradient, with many difficult rapids. A great deal of maneuvering is necessary to avoid pourover rocks and powerful hydraulics. Most of the rapids can be boat scouted but be prepared for a lot of cross-river traverses to avoid danger spots.  

Degree of Difficulty: Class III, IV Gradient: 52 feet per mile, 1.2 @ 110 feet/mi (10 m/km; 2@21) Length: 12.6 miles (20 km) Put-in Elevation: 2427 feet (730 m) Take-out Elevation: 1770 feet (540 m) Drainage Area: 339 square miles (857 km2) at put-in 520                          square miles (1337 km2) at take-out Average Discharge: 1800 cfs (51 cms) at put-in                                 3700 cfs (104 cms) at take-out Season: All year

From the put-in at the powerhouse to the small bridge outside Tucurrique, a distance of a little over 3 miles (5 km), the Reventazón drops relentlessly at a rate of 85 feet per mile (16 m/km), with the first mile dropping more than 110 feet (35 m). With an average discharge of 1800 cfs (51 cms) in the channel, such a gradient would ordinarily produce Class V-VI water, but the Reventazón is a manageable Class III-IV run because the gradient is so steady; there are only very short pools in this upper section between the drops. In fact, the daytime discharge of the penstocks is 2200 cfs (62 cms); the average discharge listed above includes the nighttime periods when little or no water is being released. This is big water, at least in comparison to the Orosà or the Pacuare.

Should evacuation become necessary, there are several options. A trail follows along river left from the powerhouse to Tucurrique. Points of egress are also available at Puente Pavas and Puente Murcia, both on the left bank of the river.

The first two drops on the river are the most difficult, because both are in blind curves and must be paddled without any warm-up. The first rapid, The Screaming Lady, begins immediately after the put-in, where the river swings right to left through tall, dense grasses that block the view downstream. There are two large pour-over rocks in the middle of the channel that must be avoided. Around the next corner the river splits around an island, with the majority of the river flowing down the right side. The river bends from left to right, then drops over a very steep boulder drop at the end of the island. Because recent floods have rearranged the river channel, it is best to scout this rapid from the island if you are not following someone who is familiar with it. This rapid is the only single drop on this section of the river that deserves a Class IV+ rating. Beyond the big drop, the river plunges over a delightful series of rapids. None of them is difficult but it is hard to find such a continuous run of whitewater anywhere else.

Beginning rafters and intermediate paddlers may wish to put in at Tucurrique in order to miss the difficult rapids in the first three to four miles (5-7 km). What remains is beautiful scenery, varied wildlife, and Class III whitewater. Beyond Tucurrique, the river's gradient eases up considerably. The pools grow longer, the canyon opens up, and several large tributaries swell the river's flow.

The next named rapid is Puerta del Cielo (Heaven's Gate). After that comes the Murcia Bridge, followed by Devil's Elbow. Below the bridge at Pavas farm is a rapid known as Puenta Pavas which has a concrete ledge hole and strainer on the right. Run the left channel, or portage left at low water. The last eight miles (13 km) of the river are quite scenic, with intermittent views of the Turrialba volcano and expansive agricultural operations. After the Pejibaye River enters from the right, be on the lookout for Island Rapid, followed by Los Gordos. The last rapid before the take-out is called the Holy Hole; many have been baptized in it. Although it is not a difficult drop, the Holy Hole is a very dangerous rapid to swim because of a notoriously undercut rock.

The bridge at Angostura provides a convenient take-out. Outfitters have set up a restaurant, bar and changing rooms here and vendors sell a variety of river wear. Some of the top slalom racers in the world train on the Reventazón through the winter months. Watch for them on the course beneath the bridge.

An ideal ending to a day on the Reventazón is to take a short drive from the take-out to one of the two nearby mountainside restaurants, Pochotel or Turrialtico. Each offers fine food, cold drinks, and an outstanding view of the Reventazón Valley, the town of Turrialba, and the CATIE research center. Rooms may be rented for the night for a very reasonable fee. In addition, they usually allow paddlers to camp on their front lawn. An exciting, demanding day on the river earns you a cold drink on the veranda with a commanding view of the Reventazón Valley, flocks of egrets flying in formation, and the dominating mass of Turrialba volcano on the skyline.

In many ways, the main Reventazón is similar to the Ocoee River of Tennessee; it is dam controlled, has moderately difficult whitewater, and its water quality leaves something to be desired. The generation schedule of the power plant at El Congo assures a steady flow of water during the day, when electrical demand is high. This dependability of flow, coupled with its proximity to the Central Valley, makes it the most heavily used whitewater river in the country, although it is unlikely that you will see another group of paddlers on the river, except on weekends.

The water quality of the Reventazón is not up to the high standards of some of the other nearby rivers such as the OrosÌ or Pacuare due to the fact that the Reventazón and its tributaries deliver a heavy load of pollutants from the Cartago urban area. Some of the pollutants settle out in CachÌ Lake but the river sometimes has a noticeable odor at the put-in. Fortunately, the steep gradient of the river ensures rapid oxygenation of the waters and the flow is diluted by the merging waters of the Pejibaye, Atirro, and Tuis rivers so that the Reventazón is noticeably cleaner below Tucurrique.

An even more substantial threat to the whitewater of the Reventazón is a series of dams that have been planned by ICE, the national utility. Construction has begun on the first of the dams at Angostura. This dam will back up the river from Angostura nearly all the way back to Tucurrique, destroying most of this popular whitewater run. A second dam further downstream at Guayabo will divert the flow of the Reventazón into the Pacuare watershed in order to augment the flow, and thus the generating capacity, of the Dos Montañas dam. Between inundation and de-watering of extensive sections of the river, almost all of the high quality whitewater of the Reventazón and Pacuare are threatened. Contact the RÌos Tropicales Foundation for information about how you can help prevent such a disaster.  

Degree of Difficulty: Class IV-V Gradient: 69 feet per mile, 2 miles @ 85 ft/mi (13 m/km;3.2@16) Length: 9 miles (14.5 km) Put-in Elevation: 1770 feet (540 m) Take-out Elevation: 1150 feet (350 m) Drainage Area: 520 square miles 1337 km2) Average Discharge: 3700 cfs (104 cms) Season: all year (often too high during rainy season)

Legendary for its big water and big drops, this section contains some of the heaviest whitewater in Central America. It has been compared to the classic big-water run of the East, the upper Gauley of West Virginia, and there are indeed many similarities. The Peralta section of the Reventazón would have to be considered a notch above the Gauley in difficulty due to its higher gradient and continuous action, however. This is not a section of river that lends itself to unguided first attempts; there are mandatory lines to be made in each of the big drops and few of them are apparent from a fast-moving boat. The rapids below the Turrialba River change dramatically from season to season. In addition, this area was subjected to numerous landslides during the 1991 earthquake. Those rapids are still adjusting to the large influx of boulder debris. A major flood in December 1993 rearranged the rapids yet again.

The ReventazÛn flows through an intimate canyon through the first three miles of this section, with few access points along the way. A nice view of this upper section can be obtained from the front porch of Pochotel or Turrialtico. The first half-mile of the run provides an easy warm-up for the rigors ahead, as the river drops through three mild class III rapids. The serious action ahead is heralded by The Play Wave. The surfing is great, but be sure to save plenty of energy for the big rapids that begin just around the corner. The next mile is known as The Meatgrinder section, for this is where the ravioli hits the fan. It contains six major rapids, each separated by a pool large enough for a brief recovery but little else.

The first of the difficult rapids begins as a fairly simple set of waves and holes, but it ends in a huge hole that stretches half way across the river. Watch out for the undercut wall and funky eddy line at the bottom of the rapid. The rapid has not been named, but the hole is known as Mexico in commemoration of a spectacular flip by guide Jose Sousa and his crew of Mexican rafters. Next up is Fundraulic, which is marked by a sharp left turn with a large triangular rock midstream. The large hole at the bottom is typically skirted by paddling hard right along a squirrelly surge line, but the left side is a good bailout option if your ferry fails. Jungle Run, the largest and most dangerous rapid on the Reventazón, follows. Fortunately, it is easily recognized. The canyon is heavily congested with bouldery debris here. The right side of Jungle Run is a Class V+ drop over two large ledges, each with a powerful hydraulic. Those who run it must jump the first ledge and maintain enough momentum to clear the second powerful hole as well. The left side is a congested boulder garden which provides many opportunities for pinning a boat. A debris slide triggered by the April 1991 earthquake delivered a huge mass of boulders and trees to the stream channel here. The boulders are still moving and trees continue to be trapped in the boulder garden, so it is wise to scout the left side of Jungle Run to see if it runnable. The river bends hard from left to right through a congested group of rocks. After the Jungle Run come Royal Flush and Colador. Both are powerful rapids but significantly less threatening than Jungle Run.

The Turrialba River enters from the left at mile 2.6 (4.2 km). Unfortunately, the Turrialba delivers a fairly high load of pollutants from the city of the same name that is just upstream. This ends the CATIE section, named for the research institution which controls the land along the left bank of the river throughout this section. The CATIE center has gained an international reputation for their research in tropical agronomy and forestry and the CATIE run has earned an international reputation in the paddling community for the incredible rapids and reliable flows which characterize this short section of the ReventazÛn. Those wishing to end their runs at this point must take out on river left and walk up the Turrialba River about half of a mile (.8 km) by way of Bajo Chino to a dirt road that leads to Turrialba and Angostura.

As the Turrialba enters, the canyon opens up but the gradient decreases only slightly and the rapids change somewhat in character. In this lower section, the drops tend to be longer, wider, and contain more ledges and holes. The first major section of rapids consists of a long series of S-turns with very short pools between the drops. It is known as Piedras de Fuego, "Rocks of Fire". The last drop in Piedras de Fuego has a serious ledge hole on the right side that can be avoided by moving to the left while negotiating the rapid. It was named for a near-calamity. The fourth or fifth of a series of nearly identical drops, it contains a monster hole that stretches across most of the main chute. Even those who have run this section repeatedly watch warily for The Hole in every drop before the monster finally appears. On one of the inaugural runs, a kayaker had the misfortune of swimming the lower half of the rapid. As he dropped over the ledge and spotted the gaping abyss, he quickly planted his feet on the ledge, rose, and dove powerfully into the hole. His dramatic dive succeeded in plunging him into the deep outwash and his companions immediately dubbed the drop The Swan Dive. To avoid such drama, stay in your boat and avoid the hole at any cost.

The second of the named rapids in this lower stretch is El Horrendo (some call it Lava Central), and it is well worthy of the name. The river focuses all of its considerable energy on the center of the channel, as the river drops 20 to 25 feet (6-7 m) over a distance of 75 yards (70 m). Enormous waves converge and crash unpredictably while violent surging currents thrust boats in all directions. recent floods have completely rearranged the rapid and it continues to change on a seasonal basis. As with many other rapids on the Peralta run, it is advisable to follow a local boater who has paddled the river recently down this rapid. The next named rapid, La Ceja, is similar to Lava Central in size and character but it is longer, wider, and somewhat less disorienting. After a fairly long straight approach, the river bends to the right. The main channel begins far right and angles slightly to the left. One of the more memorable rapids on this section is Cyclops, aka Devil's Bellybutton. This rapid has a huge wave/hole at the bottom right which is surfed by those who enjoy being thrashed violently. The Peralta run ends with a bang, not a whimper: the last rapid is known as the Land of A Thousand Holes. This is another unstable rapid with the positions of obstacles changing rapidly, so scout it on the left, follow someone who knows the lines, or go for it and plan to hit some big holes.

The take-out for this section is on the left beneath the suspended foot bridge near the end of Land of A Thousand Holes.

That's right - not shortly after the rapid, but in the rapid, so have your act together if the water is high. The train is no longer available for shuttles on this section of river. This is unfortunate, because the scenery within the CATIE canyon is superb, featuring hundreds of oropendolas, plus toucans and many blue morpho butterflies. It is still possible to run this section, but a long shuttle by road is now required. The old road into Peralta has been improved considerably, and is now the preferred route for access to the Peralta section and for extended trips down the lower Reventazon.

A government-maintained gagging station is found right at the Angostura put-in, providing precise information about water levels. At standard dry season discharges, the river runs approximately 1.5 to 1.65 meters on the staff gage once the daily release from Cachi dam arrives at Angostura (around noon). A level of 1.6 indicates a discharge of 3300 cfs (93 cms). At 2.0 meters, the river is pumping out over 4500 cfs (125 cms) and at 2.5 meters, a full 7000 cfs (200 cms). At levels above 2.0 meters, the holes become humongeous, the river becomes very pushy, and the sneak lines become very difficult to find. Nonetheless, members of the U.S., Canadian, and Italian whitewater teams ran the Peralta section at a level of 3.0 meters during the winter of 1987. Two world champion paddlers ended up swimming and losing their boats when they attempted a route at Land of a Thousand Holes that is a bad idea at low water. Few boaters would have made it that far down the river at such a high water level.   

Degree of Difficulty: Class IV+ Gradient: 55 feet per mile (10.4 m/km) Length: 16 miles (26 km) Put-in Elevation: 1148 feet (350 m) Take-out Elevation: 262 feet (80 m) Drainage Area: 600 square miles (1540 km2) Average Discharge: 4000 cfs (115 cms) Season: All year; caution in rainy season

This section is generally known as the Pascua section of the Reventazón. It is fast becoming the most popular section of whitewater in Costa Rica because of its big, continuous Class IV character with numerous play spots. Throughout this section, the river continues its rampaging drop to the Caribbean, maintaining the same character that it developed in the last four miles (7 km) of the Peralta run.

Private trips may choose to begin this section at Peralta, but commercial trips put in three miles (5 km) further downstream at Linda Vista. The road to Linda Vista is privately owned, so you will have to pay an access fee to use the road, but it reduces the length of the trip significantly and simplifies the shuttle considerably. There are a lot of pourover holes, islands, and multiple channels, so it is preferable to paddle the Pascua section for the first time with someone who knows the river.

The first rapid of significance below Linda Vista comes after a half mile (0.8 km.) of Class II-III warm-up rapids. This drop is named drop is Sacacorchos (Corkscrew). The name pretty much sums it up, as it involves a long "S" turn beginning on river left. Just below lies Campo Minado (Mine Field), another descriptive name for a rapid full of obstacles that should be avoided. Paddlers who have trouble in this first mile should consider hiking back to the put-in, as these two drops are representative of the rapids to be found throughout the remaining section of the Pascua run.

Below Campo Minado you are given a breather until you come to a long pool with a stream entering on river left out of an open valley. Cola del Dragon (Dragon's Tail), a straight shot down the middle of the river channel, marks the beginning of the meat of the Pascua section. This dragon's tail has a stinger, so watch out for the ledge hole at the bottom. From this point you will notice the remains of the tracks of the old Jungle Train on river left; it will accompany you the rest of the way to Siquirres.

Next up is Frankenstein, a rapid with a hole the size of a bus at higher flows. Run left. Immediately afterwards, the river splits around a large island. The island provides a good vantage for scouting the right side, where El Horrendito (Little Horror) is found. Until the December 1993 flood rearranged the lower ReventazÛn, Horrendito was the largest drop in the Pascua section. At higher flows, it may be prudent to consider the Class III+ route down the left side of the island. Just below Horrendito lies Surprise, after which the channels of the ReventazÛn rejoin. The next drop, known as Shark's Fin, is a Class III drop with Class V consequences. Run right.

After several more chunky Class III-IV drops comes The Slide, marked by yellowish rocks on the left. Below The Slide, the river makes a gradual turn to the left and begins to split into several channels. This is Azucar (Sugar), but it is anything but sweet. It is the biggest, most powerful rapid on the lower ReventazÛn and it is considered to be in the lower Class V difficulty range. Scout from the left. Kayaks generally run the left channel. The remainder of the Pascua run contains many fun Class III and IV rapids. The river widens slightly and the pools become longer as you approach the take-out.

The take-out is at the new highway bridge two miles (3.2 km) northwest of Siquirres, or a mile (1.6 km) downstream on river right. The lower take-out is recommended, as there are no parking spots available at the main highway bridge and the trail is littered with glass.

Excessive water levels have been known to develop during river trips, often without rain falling during the trip. River levels should be checked at the Angostura gage before paddling. Levels up to 1.7 meters are considered to be reasonable. Above that level, it is best to consider the flow of the numerous tributaries before making a final decision. All evacuations from this section should be conducted by way of the railroad tracks on river left. There are several small towns along the way between Peralta and Siquirres.

Florida to San Alberto (10 miles). Exciting rapids, beautiful rainforest and lowland tropical forest, and plentiful wildlife, will treat first-time paddlers to a unique and wet experience. Early departure from San Jose -- traveling through the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park. After our safety orientation, at our private put-in, the first rapid will set the pace of more to come. This is the fastest and finest 10 miles of Class III rapids you will ever paddle! Big waves, hydraulics, wildlife, primary rainforest mountain walls and our delicious river buffet will make this one-day adventure unforgettable!