Location: Costa Rica

“Rio El General” runs through a very isolated canyon, winding many miles on its journey from mountain to sea. The remoteness of the canyon and length of the river mean most trips last 3-4 days.

Level of Difficulty: Class III-IV / Intermediate

During the rainy season, the waters of El General create high volume whitewater with impressive waves and powerful currents. Class III-IV rapids on the commercially rafted San Isidro-El Brujo section make this a good adventure for adventurous beginners or experienced rafters.

Scenery: Remote Canyon, Isolated Wilderness

El General river rafting trips offer a chance to explore an isolated rainforest canyon, far from developed Costa Rica.

Season: September – November

Whitewater rafting trips are available during Costa Rica’s rainy season, typically Sept-Nov.

Location: Costa Rica

The Corobici River is convenient to Canas and Guanacaste. It also flows near the Palo Verde park.

Level of Difficulty: Class II / Gentle Float Trip

Families with young children or anyone looking for a relaxing, unique way to experience Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity will enjoy one day float trips on “Rio Corobici’s” calm and gentle Class I-II waters.

Scenery: Tropical River, Abundant Wildlife

River trips on the Corobici are a window into a lush rainforest alive with at least 300 species of birds—a world-class treat for bird-watchers. Other wildlife frequently spotted here are crafty caimans, bright green iguanas, and many species of monkeys.

Season: Year-round

You can relax on the calm waters of the Corobici all year long.

Central America’s Costa Rica may be one of the best places in the world to visit for whitewater enthusiasts. An abundance of precipitation (up to 350 inches a year in the wettest regions) combined with rugged terrain, make Costa Rican rivers challenging, exciting, and abundant. The country’s rainforest wildlife and scenery create an exotic backdrop for Costa Rica river rafting trips.

Corobici River Rafting Trips (Class I-II): The gentle waters of the Corobici River make the perfect float trip for families.

El General River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): The remote El General River canyon offers big waves and chance to experience a 3-4 day river trip in Costa Rica.

Naranjo River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): River trips on the Naranjo run through a steep jungle gorge and sprawling plantations while offering challenging whitewater.

Pacuare River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): Rafting trips on the “Rio Pacuare” take adventurous first-timers and experienced rafters to a protected river with high waterfalls and exciting rapids.

Reventazon River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): Upstream dams allow beginning and intermediate river trips to run all year long on the Reventazon River.

Sarapiqui River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): Sarapiqui whitewater trips combine exciting rapids with a chance to see wildlife ranging from Hummingbirds to Howler Monkeys.

Savegre River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): Cascading waterfalls, a tropical riparian environment, and fun Class III whitewater make river trips on the “Rio Savegre” a great introduction to river rafting. Two day trips include more challenging Class IV rapids.

More About Rafting in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a thriving eco-tourism industry. This small Central American country, bordered by Nicaragua and Panama, is host to an incredible 5% of the world’s biodiversity and makes a significant effort to protect its natural resources with wildlife preserves and national parks. Whitewater rafting trips are one of the country’s many outdoor activities helping visitors enjoy Costa Rica’s rainforests and tropical wildlife.

Location: Northern California near Yosemite National Park

The Tuolumne River is located 30 minutes west of the northern entrance into Yosemite National Park on Highway 140.

Level of Difficulty: Class IV / Intermediate

The Tuolumne River is characterized by large boulders and steep drops, creating long and technical rapids. From put-in at Meral’s Pool to the Ward’s Ferry bridge the Tuolumne drops almost 760 feet in elevation. Eighteen miles in length, the Main Tuolumne has more than a dozen Class IV rapids and numerous Class III’s. The trip begins immediately with a long boulder slalom through Rock Garden and Nemesis, two of the more challenging rapids. The highlight of this trip is at the confluence of the Tuolumne and the Clavey Rivers, creating Clavey Falls (Class V). Other noted rapids on this run are Gray’s Grindstone, Cabin and Hell’s Kitchen.

The Canyon: Steep Grassy Hillsides Dotted with Oaks

Designated “National Wild and Scenic,” the Tuolumne is a true wilderness river. With the perfect blend of remoteness, wildlife, and demanding whitewater, the Tuolumne River provides one of the finest whitewater rafting experiences in the country.

The Season: April – September

The Tuolumne is a dam controlled river which normally flows from April through September and often into October. Higher flows occur in the springtime as the snow rapidly melts causing water to spill over the dam.

Tuolumne River rafting trips can be 1, 2 or 3-day adventures. On multi-day trips, there is plenty of time for trout fishing, and side hikes up pristine canyons to warm swimming holes. Strict guidelines govern the commercial use of the river, allowing only two commercial companies to launch on any given day. This policy ensures that the wilderness value of the Main Tuolumne will not be interrupted.

Location: North Island of New Zealand near Auckland.

The Wairoa River is located just off State Highway 29 and flows between the towns of Matamata and Tauranga. Its canyon drains the Kaimai Ranges and ends in the Bay of Plenty Region on the North Island of New Zealand. Many rafting companies that run trips on the Wairoa are based in Rotorua. The Wairoa River is also one of the closest whitewater rafting runs to Auckland, located only 2 1/4 hours away.

Level of Difficulty: Class V / Advanced

The Wairoa River is one of New Zealand’s more intense whitewater rafting options. Described by one company as a “full on grade five river,” the Wairoa boasts 35 rapids and waterfalls in a short 2 hours of rafting. It is a great way for the thrill seekers out there to get a quick adrenaline fix in an extremely scenic setting. A rafting trip on the Wairoa begins just below a 25-foot class VI waterfall that hollers out a thunderous welcome to the river canyon. The first serious rapid, “Mother Nightmare,” is a long Class IV that ends in an 8-foot drop. The technical whitewater keeps getting more exciting from that point forward, as the river pushes its way through narrow, boulder-choked gorges. Dark, sloping rocks the size of houses line the edges of the gorge, giving an intimate feel to the canyon.

Season: October – May (New Zealand’s Spring – Fall)

The Wairoa is a dam-controlled river, and only runs on specific dates when water that is normally diverted for power is allowed to flow back into its natural channel. Whitewater rafting is thus a special treat on this river, and interested parties should check with local outfitters to find out the release dates for the upcoming year. They usually occur over the span of New Zealand’s spring and summer months, on weekends in October through May.

The rivers that flow over the North Island of New Zealand are extremely varied in character: from secret streams flowing through deep hidden gorges, to big powerful rivers flowing through broad mountain valleys.

Tongariro River Rafting Trips (Class III): An action-packed beginner river with over 60 rapids in one day.

Mokau River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): The Mokau starts at the base of Waiere Falls and flows through the heart of King County, past farmland and bush land.

Rangitaiki River Rafting Trips (Class III-IV): A deep gorge with cascading waterfalls and vibrant, green scenery.

Kaituna River Rafting Trips (Class IV+): Suitable for both beginners and intermediate rafters, the Kaituna has the highest commercially-run waterfall in the world.

Motu River Rafting Trips (Class IV+): A beautiful multi-day wilderness trip on a free-flowing river.

Wairoa River Rafting Trips (Class V): One of the North Island’s most challenging rivers, the Wairoa is the perfect fix for adrenaline junkies.

Mohaka River Rafting Trips (Class III, & IV-V): With several sections ranging from Class III to V, the Mohaka offers trips for all rafting abilities.

More About Rafting in New Zealand

The North Island of New Zealand was born of volcanic upheavals–lava flows and bursting volcanoes. Now, its dramatic landscape reflects those impulsive and powerful beginnings. Whitewater rafting on New Zealand’s North Island grants access to beautiful limestone gorges, ancient beech forests, sandstone canyons, lush vegetation in the deeper gorges, breccia forests, impressive mountain ranges, sacred native worship and burial sites, and exciting rapids. One of New Zealand’s most famous rivers is on the North Island: The Kaituna is renowned for having the tallest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, which thunders past a hidden cave that is an ancient Maori burial site.

Location: Murupara, Northeastern New Zealand

The Rangitaiki’s headwaters lie on the northeastern slopes of the Ahimanawa Range on the North Island of New Zealand, and the river flows 155 miles northeast until it empties into the Bay of Plenty at Thornton. Rafting trips on the Rangitaiki River generally commence in Murupara, 45 minutes drive from Rotorua on State Highway 38 and a 1 hour drive from Taupo.

Level of Difficulty: Class III-IV / Beginner – Intermediate

The Rangitaiki River is rated Class III-IV. Its rapids are generally composed mostly of rolling waves with very few rocks to avoid, making it a suitable rafting trip for families and people looking for a more relaxing and scenic adventure.

The Canyon: Deep, Lush Canyon with Waterfalls

A whitewater rafting trip on the Rangitaiki begins at the base of spectacular Aniwhenua Falls, an impressive waterfall surrounded by sheer rock walls. An appropriate beginning, Aniwhenua Falls sets the tone for the rest of the trip. Flowing through Kaingaroa Forest, the river winds past several other waterfalls, through a unique mixture of native forest and one of the world’s largest planted exotic forests. Sheer vertical walls are lined with native bush, pine forests, and interesting geologic formations.

The Season: Year-round

Whitewater rafting can be enjoyed on the Rangitaiki River all year!

Location: New Zealand’s North Island in King Country

The Mokau river flows through the heart of the King Country, about 45 minutes south of Waitomo Caves on the North Island of New Zealand.

Level of Difficulty: Class III-IV / Intermediate

The Mokau River is rated Class IV, but consists mainly of Class III rapids with just a few Class IV interspersed. It is a great rafting trip for experienced and beginner rafters alike.

The Canyon: Native Bush Land below Waiere Falls

The Mokau is one of the only commercially-rafted rivers in New Zealand that runs primarily through farm land and native bush land. Boats float past rolling hills of waving grass and bare witness to some of New Zealand’s rich farming and Maori culture. The put in for this whitewater rafting trip is at the base of Waiere Falls, a scenic destination in and of itself. The rapids are mainly Class III, with several sharp Class IV drops to get the adrenalin pumping along the way.

Season: November – March

Rafting trips on the Mokau are available in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, from November through March.

Location: New Zealand’s North Island near Taumarunui

The Tongariro River is fed by tributaries that drain Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand’s central North Island. The Tongariro eventually flows into Lake Taupo. Nearby towns include Taumarunui, Whakapapa Village, and Ohakune. There are numerous rafting outfitters around Lake Taupo offering tours on the Tongariro River.

Level of Difficulty: Class III / Beginner

The Tongariro River is rated Class III , with over 60 rapids in just 2 hours of rafting! It is a good choice for families, beginners, and thrill seekers alike. The rapids are non-stop, fun, and exciting but not too dangerous or intense.

The Canyon and Wildlife: Volcanic Canyon with Trout Fishing

Aside from being a popular rafting destination, the Tongariro is most famous for its trout fishing. Rafters will spot numerous Rainbow and Brown trout darting around in the river’s crystal clear waters as they navigate their way downstream. Another likely wildlife sighting is the rare native blue duck, also known as the “Whio.” Because the central plateau of the North Island of New Zealand was formed by huge volcanic upheavals, the Tongariro River cuts through dramatic limestone and volcanic cliffs as it winds its way through the ancient beech forests of Tongariro National Park.

The Season: Year-round

Whitewater rafting on the Tongariro is available year-round, with more starts available during the summer.

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