“You guys here to paddle?” Say’s Matt G, poking his head through a semi-chaotic crowd at the terminal pick up.
This was our Costa Rican greeting when arriving at the airport in San Jose. Matt G is an employee and canoer with ESPRIT, the premier paddle tourism company in Central America. Jim Coffey owns and opererates ESPRIT and has been doing trips to Central America for decades. He knows the rivers here just as well as anybody. If you are ever thinking of doing a canoe trip to Central America, contact ESPRIT, they will set it all up.
Matt G styling the first drop of Pozo Azul
Jumping into the the ESPRIT van at the San Jose International Airport, Matt immediately informed us that Pozo Azul was running. This would be the first destination of our Costa Rica canoeing trip. Pozo Azul is an amazing run. Surrounded by jungle, this waterway has multiple waterfalls and plenty of boulder gardens. The finally of the run is a clean, 30 foot drop. Its a classic.
Dooley on the feature drop of Pozo Azul
Unfortunately, while scouting the ‘Mesas’ on Pozol Azul, Matt DeVoe fractured two bones in his foot. This prompted a need to get home early for surgery. With a shortened schedule, we then directed our attention towards three other runs…the San Miguel, Upper Volcane, and Upper Toro. Each river/creek offered its own character ranging from a smokies style, low volume boulder garden run to deep, lush big water canyons.
The typical rapid on Upper Volcane
Thanks to Jim and ESPRIT for putting together such an amazing trip. The rivers in Costa Rica were awesome, and with Jim’s knowledge, you waste no time getting on the water. Here is a quick teaser from the Costa Rica segment in Canoe Movie 2: ‘Uncharted Waters’ that will be available here in its full length, spring 2012.