River Rafting

During the day, we went rafting and swimming in the Sarapiqui River with a great crew. At the mid-way point, the crew pulled over to a shady shore and sliced us a refreshing and delicious snack of fresh pineapple. Throughout the journey, they would offer to stop at safe locations and get out of the boat in order to let my son enjoy a swim in the river. It was a playful and fun way to spend the day. I also appreciated the eye for safety -- one of the crew stayed beside our raft in a separate kayak, ready to jump in and assist should we need any help or fall off of the raft.

In the evening, we went on a guided night hike. This was a major highlight of the trip. We ended up having a guide all to ourselves, and he, too was knowledgeable and professional. He was also somewhat fearless, expertly handling creatures like bullet ants, whose bite is said to be as painful as being shot. We encountered sloths close-up, vipers (perhaps TOO close-up for me, thought my son loved it), tarantulas, and porcupines. Along the way, we crossed hanging bridges, very high up in the rainforest canopy! It was a fascinating and educational evening, and this was absolutely my son's favorite activity in a trip packed with many great activities.