Rafting and Kayaking

Canoa Aventura. Canoeing trips with ample wildlife viewing on the Río Peñas Blancas are a specialty, as are daylong canoe tours of the Caño Blanco Wildlife Refuge. The three-hour Caño Negro tour takes place on the Río Frío near the Nicaraguan border, where you're sure to see birds, monkeys, caimans, iguanas, and bats. Tours are appropriate for beginners, with a selection of easy floats if you're not feeling too adventurous, and instruction is provided, but the folks here can tailor excursions if you're more experienced. 1 km (½ mile) west of the church, La Fortuna, Alajuela. 2479–8200; www.canoa-aventura.com. From $57.

Flow Trips. Local guides lead rafting excursions on the Sarapiquí River (Classes II, III, and IV), as well as kayaking trips on Lake Arenal and the Peñas Blancas River. 1 km (½ mile) west of La Fortuna, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007. 2479–0075; www.flowtrips.com. From $70.