The Reventazón river, nearly 150 km long, gathers its waters from the core of the Cordillera de Talamanca (Talamanca mountain range) and flows into the Caribbean sea, draining some of the wettest areas in the country.

Whitewater Rafting Florida sectionRising in the Meseta Central (central high plains) the Reventazón, the 3rd longest river in the country, flows through the Orosi, Reventazón and Turrialba valleys. After reaching the Caribbean coastal plains it joins the Parismina River and becomes what is called the Reventazón-Parismina basin. In its upper segments, the Reventazón River is the source of approximately 25% of the drinking water of Costa Rica's largest metropolitan area centred around San José city. The river is essential to the country's power generation. Its two reservoirs: Cachí (~100 MW) built in 1966, and Angostura (~172 MW) that went online in 2002, are used for generating a substantial share of Costa Ricas electricity. Almost 80% of the country's energy needs are supplied by hydroelectricity.

For whitewater rafters, the Revantazón is one of Costa Rica's most exciting rivers. By the time Reventazón waters have gathered enough volume to float a boat but have lost enough gradient so as not to smash it, the river is still at an elevation of almost 1450 m. Whitewater can be found on the Reventazón all the way to Siquirres, at an elevation of 45 m.

Whitewater Rafting class II rapidsSeveral tour operators located in San José and Cartago (in the city of Turrialba) offer rafting trips down the popular Pacuare and Reventazón rivers. The drive from San José city briefly takes you through the breathtaking Braulio Carrillo National Park: past rainforests and waterfalls, across the Continental Divide to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

During the green season (rainy season), from June through October, the river is particularly wild as the water levels are high. The drier months from November to April provide the best runs for rafters of all skill levels. The entire reach of runnable whitewater is around 100 km long. There are many points of access along the Reventazón river allowing enthusiastic paddlers to choose from a wide variety of one or two-day trips for some adrenaline filled adventures.

There are two main sections in the Reventazón commonly used for rafting: the Florida section and the Pascua section. The Florida features 15 km of class III rapids with breathtaking views of the Reventazón Valley and its wild life.

Class V RapidsPascua has class IV and V rapids and is recommended for more experienced rafters. It is usually a 4 hour run over 24 km of huge waves going through rapids called "Dirty Mind", "The Abyss", "Indigestion" and "Horrendito" (literally: little horrible.) The trip's stunning landscapes include the fumarole spewing Turrialba volcano that rises 3234 m above the sea level.