Hi. We'll be spending 12 days in Costa Rica in the first half of July and I'm struggling with our choice of a rafting trip.
We'd really like to do the 2 day trip on the Pacuare river , but are a little concerned that it may be too much for our 12 year old son.

I was hoping to get some feedback from anyone that has rafted in Costa Rica. Is this trip OK for a 12 year old? If not, any suggestions for an alternate trip? We are an adventurous family, I just don't want to push it too far....

Thanks!!! John

If he gets a thrill from a wild ride he'll love it!

I sent on the Toro river last year and was scared out of my mind. Another woman and I fell in after we'd been in the river maybe 10 minutes and slammed into a rock wall. I went under the raft for what felt like a long time. In reality it wasn't very long. It was my first rafting trip, and they said the river was a level 3-4, but I think it was more 4 than 3. Of course a 12-year-old boy might scare a little less easily than a 39-year-old woman. . . The El Toro is up by Arenal.

I GUESS HIM GETTING THROWN IN THE WATER IS MY REAL CONCERN. I WONDER IF THEY'D LET HIM STAY IN THE CENTER OF THE RAFT DURING THE TOUGHER STRETCHES????

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SUCH A "LIFETIME" LASTING ADVENTURE FOR HIM TO GO ON AN OVERNIGHT RAFTING TRIP AND SLEEP IN THE JUNGLE....OF COURSE I GUESS THERE'S ALSO "LIFETIME" SCARRING ADVENTURES TOO!!!!!

SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE TOUGH CALLS THAT EACH FAMILY HAS TO MAKE ON THEIR OWN.

We did single-day Pacuare tour with 14y/o son and 11 y/o daughter. Same stretch that the overnight runs, just in one day.

No problems -- none -- just a great time!

We went with Rios Tropicales -- very safety conscious outfit.

Thanks MSR3017...makes me feel a whole lot better hearing from someone that took similarly aged kids on the trip...can't wait to go!