Rivers

The Smooth Run – The most easy going of the river tours.

This river tour of approximately 2 hours will take us down the main water artery of the region, with pristine jungle mixed in with banana plantations on both sides of the river. Departing from Ditsowo U Lodge, we will take take either car or bus to Suretka, the main hub for organic banana trade in the Reserve. With 185,000 to 250,000 kilograms per week of organic banana being sold there, it also makes it the largest in the country.

At the beach head we will prepare the kayaks and take off on a serene and comfortable ride down the River Telire. Three minutes into trip we will encounter our first light rapids, followed directly by a bend in the river.

Along the way there will be the possibility to stop along one of the beaches for a refreshing swim and snack. The organic farm of El Morro gives us the opportunity to disembark, take a short hike up to the two-story plantation house for a short rest, some organic banana, and view of the river from above. From there we will take the last leg of the river tour through some slight rapids to reach our final destination and our point.

Duration: approx. 2 hours
Costs: $30 per person, minimum 2 people.

The Border Run – Intermediate Grade

The River Yorkin finds it origin in Panama, and runs its course down into the River Telire where they go on to form the Sixaola River, marking the border between Costa Rica and Panama. Few outsiders know that the Yorkin also forms a border between these two countries.

Departuring from our home base at the Ditsowo U in Bambu, we will walk down to the river crossing known as El Cruze where we take an indigenous canoe to the other side to be met by motorcycles, moto-taxis as they are called here. Along with our equipment, we will mount ourselves on the back of these motorcycles for a 20 minute ride crossing two bodies of water to the community of Yorkin. Along the way we will see some impressive indigenous architecture.

Once in Yorkin, we will go down to the riverbank where we will inflate our kayaks and begin our journey. The River Yorkin is used primarily by the indigenous communities that live along its banks.

Used for the purpose of transporting people, banana and plantain, it also provides spectacular views of lush tropical humid/rain forests dotted with sparse settlements. We will also pass spectacular stone formations resulting from tectonic pressure, seemingly rising up out of nowhere, sculpted by time and the flow of water. This river tour has a pleasant balance between rapids and calm waters, the view and ambiance being

as stupendous as they are exhilarating. All the more fascinating is the fact of having the experience of floating downriver a midst two different countries, with Panama on the left- hand side, and Costa Rica on the right. You will also notice the difference in vegetation. Panama side is private land, while Costa Rica boasts national reserve. The contrast is very clear and almost confrontational as a clear divide is seen between land occupied by man and untouched wilderness.

We will end our trip at the Boca Yorkin, where the Yorkin river blends into the River Telire. There will disembark, deflate our kayaks, pack up and be picked up by an indigenous canoe carved out of one entire tree trunk and take a 15 minute boat ride up the Telire river back to our starting point in at the Ditsowo U in Bambu, where cold refreshments and coffee will be awaiting us.

Duration: 3 hours
Costs: $45 per person, minimum 2 people.

Action Run – For the more daring adventurers.

A tributary to the Telire River, it offers offers more challenges regarding physical capacity and daring. It boasts several class 3 rapids, an easy 4/3+ and a variety of class 2 rapids.

As always, the tours start at Ditsowo U Lodge, our mainstay and headquarters. From here we will take either bus or private transportation (depending on departure time) to Suretka where we will be ferried in a traditional canoe across the Telire river to the opposite bank. From there we will take private transportation to a village called Soki.

The road from Suretka to Soki leads us through the heartland of the Indigenous Reserve. Along the way we will see how people really live. This road take us into and through Amubri and its surrounding villages. With 8,000 inhabitants it has the largest concentration of Bribris living in one place, and as such is considered to be the unofficial capital of the Indigenous Reserve of Talamanca.

Passing through through Amubri we follow the road still deeper into the heartland, with houses becoming more sparse along the way, where the road ends in to the village of Soki, at the elementary school catering to its surrounding mountain villages.

From here we continue on foot with our equipment, crossing a hammock bridge of about 20 meters, traversing the river Soki to the other side, where we take a small jungle hike of about 10 minutes to our beach head. There we will inflate our kayaks and head off to brave the rapids.

This trip will take us through a variety of landscapes, birds, vegetation rapids and passes remote villages where often the women are to be seen washing their clothes and dishes, the men fishing.

About half way through the trip we stop for a breather and refreshment at Toyo Layan, brother to Danilo and Justo Layan (read more about them in Strategic Alliances), who owns the land there.

From there we continue the rest of our journey through parts fast flowing water at narrow river bends, which can be a challenge in itself, with overhanging sugar cane to add to the excitement.

After all this excitement we will reach the Boca Uren, where the Uren culminates in the Telire. Following the Telire it will be smooth sailing follow with three easy rapids to navigate until reaching our final destination and starting point, Ditsowo U.

Duration: approx. 5 hours
Costs: $75 per person, minimum 2 people.