Message: I meant to post this on the Costa Rica board! Any suggestions as to which river, Pacuare or Sarapiqui, would be best for white water rafting in late December. We're planning to arrive in San Jose on Dec. 21, and wanted to stay at Casa Turire in Turrialba. Unfortunately Casa Turire has no openings around Christmas. Are there any other hotels in the Turrialba area? Would we be better off heading up to the Sarapiqui area for rafting there. We had thought about staying at the Centro Neotropico Sarapiqui, any thoughts? We'd like to take a class III one day trip on either river. Have been told that in late December water levels may be low in the Sarapiqui to really enjoy a class III river trip. Any suggestions/ideas? After white water rafting we hope to head to the Arenal area. Any help would be appreciated!

It might be interesting for you just to stay in or near San Jose and take the 2 day 1 night (or 3 day, 2 night) whitewater on the Pacuare with Rio Tropicales tour group. This would give you one or two nights (your choice) at the Pacuare Lodge. It might be worth checking into. Look at the Rio Tropicales website. They are a very reputable rafting company. I think they pick up at most SJ hotels.

Sorry, I goofed! It is the Adventuras Naturales group that uses the Pacuare Lodge for overnight. They are considered one of the best whitewater outfitters as well. I believe the Rio Tropicales has their own lodge on the Pacuare. Just checked their site again.

Casa Turire is a beautiful place, sorry you can't get in there. I suspect you are going to find a lot of places already booked for Christmas. There really aren't very many options in that class in the Turrialba area. Rancho Naturalista is a nice place but is really birding oriented. Not quite as nice as Casa Turire but the food is very good and it has beautiful views of the valley.
Regarding the rafting, no problem doing the rafting trips from the San Jose area. This is where most people do head out from. I have used Rios Tropicales as well as Costa Rica Expeditions but hear that Aventuras is an excellent group also. Of the three, the Aventuras and Rios Tropicales lodges on the Pacuare river are the nicest.
The Pacuare will probably be more than a class III.
Rios Tropicales web site has a very good description of the different rivers.