I'm doing the Desafio canyoning tour in Arenal in a couple weeks. I'm assuming our feet will get wet...? Desafio said to wear "tennis shoes, Keens or Tevas".

I'm a REALLY light packer, and while I have a pair of old running shoes I could take, they're really bulky to pack. I have a pair of Teva-type beach sandals that have a strap in the back, but I'm hesitant to wear an open-toed shoe (without a good sole) if there's lots of hiking and climbing.

Has anyone done the Desafio tour? How much rock-climbing is there (in other words, if I wear something like Tevas, will I be wishing I had on sneakers?) My main pair of shoes will be a pair of sneakers which I always hike in, but I don't want to get them wet 'cause that's all I'm taking! I thought of buying a cheap pair of Keds or something 'cause they're small and flat. Ideas?

I just did this tour (you will love it) and wore Tevas. There were a few people with old tennis shoes on (my boyfriend did, they didnt dry for the rest of the trip and were a bit of a pain to lug around), most people had on Tevas and they were perfect. The hiking you do is down through a canyon stream.

fogot to add, there is no rock climbing invloved and the hiking is minimal, you do want shoes though that strap on - one girl wore flip flops and had a difficult time keeping them on wading through the water

I didn't go on the same tour, but I had trouble with open toe Salomons in a similar situation. I kept stubbing my toes. I'd try to pick up a pair of closed toe, water sneakers.

Hi Carol,
We did this with Desafio last year and I would recommend buying a really cheap pair of sneakers that you could throw away if they did not dry. I have Tevas but would not have felt secure in those. You definitely do not want something that might slip off.

The Tevas I've got have a strap that velcros around the heel so it won't slip off... I'm hoping that's an ok option. I thought of water-sneakers but we'll never use them again, and they're not cheap (not enough for a one-time use). I'm hoping we'll be okay.

What I was worried about was if there's some rockclimbing, scrambling or serious downclimbing... I've done all that wearing really good sneakers, but would not have wanted Tevas for that, strap or no strap!

I hope we'll be ok... I thought about the cheap canvas "Keds" option... maybe we need to make trips to Payless?

The problem with cheap shoes is comfort. Traction is another issue and Teva-type sandals aren't known for that. I wouldn't do that sort of thing in open toed shoes; even rafting I've found I was constantly barking my toes. I was thrilled when Keen surfaced 4 or 5 years ago with their Newport H2Os - I live in mine. I still have my original pair from 2003, though the tread is worn flat. I had to replace the elastic (company sent replacements gratis!) but besides that they look practically new. I wear them to work 3 or 4 days a week and just throw them in the wash if they get spilled on or (yes, it's happened several times) puked on. They're not cheap, either, though.

Payless makes a Keen knock-off that some of my co-workers like which would be much cheaper. The friend I traveled to Guatemala took only those and flipflops and swears by them (just be sure they're comfortable!).

Happy trails!

We use Soloman Techamphibians.....perfect for every activity in Costa Rica and quick drying.....Jane

With Desafio there is no serious climbing involved, I was happy to have had on my tevas and that was what the guides and other tourists wore. Like I said, it is mostly wading through a stream, there are a few parts where you go downhill but it wasn't terribly steep (but I did watch my step on these parts).

Thanks again ag... 6 days and counting

You are doing the day trip we wanted to do two weeks ago. I think the shoes you chose will work well for you. We each bought a pair but since my boyfriend just had to be in the front of raft on Pacuare two days before, most of the skin on one of his little toes rubbed off. The rafts have a built-in boot for the two in front people so his foot was too messed up for canyoneering once we got to Arenal. Our horseback ride into the rain forest (at the base of Arenal w/a view of the valley) ended up being great so I guess I will forgive him. Our horseback guide spotted our first sloth so I was pretty excited. Get ready for showers but very warm, moist weather. I still have long sleeve shirts in zip locks to put away. I lived in my tank tops.