The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Costa Rica, but we have an advanced and modern health care system and universal health care for our citizens with a well-organized and centralized government, so as a country, we have been taking considerable precautions for travelers and citizens.
Here at Desafio Adventure Company, we provide our Reservation Policy:
✅ Super Flexible rebooking policies
✅ No hassle cancellation policies
✅ Special payment plans
We are open to modifying travel dates or cancelling if necessary, just let us know in advance as soon possible so we can accommodate you.
By taking the necessary precautions while you travel,
We are here to help you!
Just remember to Be SAFE! And Have Serious FUN (at home... for now!)
Yes. We are one of the few tour operators and transport providers in Costa Rica who provides door to door service for just about anywhere in Costa Rica. Just be sure to clearly provide us the GPS coordinates from Google Maps or Waze and even the host contact information as finding locations can be very challenging in Costa Rica because we do not use proper addresses in most places. We appreciate your understanding.
However, we have offices in several parts of the country, so meeting at one of our offices for departure sometimes works out even better for clients.
Many clients frequently ask why it's important to work with a Desafio Adventure Specialist to design the best vacation in Costa Rica. Here we have the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions!
A: Our legendary motto says it all: Be SAFE & Have Serious FUN!!
We only have two rules at Desafio: Safety and Serious Fun! Desafio prides itself in running safe tours and transfers with the best logistics and safety procedures in the industry.
A: Reliability! We are the pioneers of adventure and started our company way back in 1992 - experience makes the difference - You can count on us! We are consistently rated at the top in TripAdvisor and have had thousands of repeat customers over the years!
A: We're there for you all the way: before, during and after the tour.
A: Exclusivity! Not only do we have the best tours in Costa Rica, many of them are only operated by Desafio Adventure Company... and while you are in La Fortuna, we invite you to try our Exclusive Hunters & Gatherers restaurant next to the El Salto swimming hole and waterfall on Rio Fortuna!
A: We're avid travelers ourselves. We enjoy personally visiting the hotels, tours and destinations we offer.
A: We have an easy and secure online booking and payment system.
A: We are all about creating fully customizable trips. We've got a lot of great itineraries to choose from, but if you want a customized trip, we'll be glad to put together an itinerary just for you.
A: We make it easy. Planning your vacation can seem like a daunting task. Not to worry! We'll help you put together a great vacation without all the hassle.
A: Time! We take the time to get to know you – your interests and your expectations! Then we'll use this information to design the perfect vacation for you.
A: We are local!
We are a family-owned and operated Costa Rican company and have offices and centers of operation all over Costa Rica (Arenal, Monteverde, Samara, Tenorio, Sarapiqui, San José, Manuel Antonio) - we know the country, we know the destinations, we know the tours!
A: Sustainability. We believe we can only be a profitable company when we contribute to the environment, our employees and our local community. We call this our People + Planet = Prosperity philosophy. We are accredited by the Costa Rican tourism board and have our Certificate of Sustainability.
Normally the employees at these companies office will install the chip for you and test it and we recommend this in order to avoid problems later on. Also, most larger supermarkets are now selling sim cards at the check-out stand and if you feel that you are tech-savvy enough to install it this may be a good option for you, especially if it is after hours and the cell phone company offices are closed for the day.
A third option is to not get coverage for your phone and instead use WiFi (at your hotel, for instance) and use a VOIP service such as Skype to make calls.
The cost of a meal depends a lot on what type of place you are eating at. A "Soda" is a simpler restaurant and typically where the Costa Ricans eat unless it is a special occasion. At most sodas you can get a casado -- which is about as typical of dish as you will find and it normally includes rice, black beans, fried plantains, salad (usually cabbage) and your choice of meat (they usually have chicken, beef, fish or a pork chop to choose from) -- and a natural drink for about $5-6. Most sodas also have fast food which is a little more expensive. There are also nicer restaurants available and there it depends quite a bit what you order but in most cases you are looking at $10 to $20 per person. There are, of course, also restaurants that are more expensive than that (especially at the luxury hotels) so we recommend having a look at the menu before deciding on a restaurant.
Bottled water can be found at most supermarkets and restaurants and the cost depends somewhat on the size of the bottle. In most cases it is between $1 and $2.
April 11: Juan Santamaria (national hero) Day
Easter Week (from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday)
May 1: Labor Day
July 25: Annexation of Guanacaste Day (Guanacaste is Costa Rica's 7th province)
August 2: Virgin of Los Angeles (Costa Rica's patron saint) Day
August 15: Mother's Day
September 15: Independence Day
October 12: Day of the Cultures (formerly Day of the Races)
December 25: Christmas Day
Gravity Falls is a very different canyoning experience than the Lost Canyon.
We hope you have an awesome and adventurous time in Costa Rica!
Canyoning in Costa Rica is done in areas with some degree of difficulty for access for emergency services and there is also risk of falling rocks, branches and trees, flash floods, insects, snakes and other encounters with Costa Rican nature. Our safety manuals -- approved by the Costa Rican Tourism Board and Health Ministry -- do not recommend canyoning for small children or people with health concerns. Our recommended age limit is 13 to 65 years of age and we may allow children as young as 10 years of age to do the tour if accompanied by an additional guide in the Lost Canyon. Our recommended age limit for Gravity Falls is 15 to 55 years of age.
Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping is definitely Costa Rica's MOST Extreme Tour and one of the coolest things you'll ever do in your life, but since it is a high-energy adventure tour, it also has it's inherent risks. Gravity Falls also requires you use your hands and feet to down climb large boulders and wall faces, jump from cliffs and from the top of waterfalls and river trace along some areas where there may be slippery rocks. Gravity Falls is recommended for adults ages 15 to 55 in good physical condition because this canyon is located in an isolated areas with some degree of difficulty for access for emergency services. There is also a risk of falling rocks, branches and trees, flash floods, insects, snakes and other encounters with Costa Rican nature. Our safety manuals -- approved by the Costa Rican Tourism Board and Health Ministry -- do not recommend canyoning for small children or people with health concerns.
Overall, it's difficult to rely on weather forecasts in Costa Rica. Climate change is a reality in Costa Rica. We used to have much more rain in previous years during our defined wet season, but now it is more unpredictable and our dry seasons are more severe.
Our company philosophy is based on making sure our clients are not missing out on a fun and safe day in Costa Rica, so if the weather conditions are unsuitable for a certain tour, it is easy for us to rearrange your itinerary to better accommodate.
This is the information from our
Waiver Form: Costa Rica's natural environment is filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles & other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks & sudden flash floods are possible. Desafio Adventure Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. Full refund is given if (on rare occasion) no tour is run. For reasons beyond our control (climate, river levels, etc.), we may change to a more-suitable tour with an equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure-appeal or offer other tour options so you don't miss out on a fun day in Costa Rica. Our Head Guide helps make the final decision.
Lifejacket sizes (For Gravity Falls)
Adult Small/Medium: Minimum 90 lbs (41kg) / Chest: 32-38 inches (81-97 cm)
Adult Large / Extra Large: Minimum 90 lbs (41kg) / Chest: 39-45 inches (99-144 cm).
FAQs for Stand Up Paddling
Overall, it's difficult to rely on weather forecasts in Costa Rica. Climate change is a reality in Costa Rica. We used to have much more rain in previous years during our defined wet season, but now it is much more unpredictable and our dry seasons are more severe.
Our company philosophy is based on making sure our clients are not missing out on a fun and safe day in Costa Rica, so if the weather conditions are unsuitable for a certain tour, it is easy for us to rearrange your itinerary to better accommodate.
This is the information from our Waiver Form: Costa Rica's natural environment is filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles & other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks & sudden flash floods are possible. Desafio Adventure Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. Full refund is given if (on rare occasion) no tour is run. For reasons beyond our control (climate, river levels, etc.), we may change to a more-suitable tour with an equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure-appeal or offer other tour options so you don't miss out on a fun day in Costa Rica. Our Head Guide helps make the final decision.
The dams release the water to produce electricity for San Jose and the release times work out perfectly for our raft trips.
We only cancel in extremely adverse conditions, but can easily offer to exchange rafting for another adventure option, such as our lost canyon adventures canyoneering tour. Rain or shine, we'll be running our adventure trips. Plus we have the most-flexible and client-friendly cancellation policy in the industry.
Many of our guides have graduated from the government-certified Desafio Adventure Academy, where they learned to the importance of leadership and provide our clients with comprehensive information on nature, culture and history of Costa Rica and the rivers we run.
We are proud of our staff and we know you will enjoy your rafting excursion with this fine group of people.
Q: Will I see wildlife in Costa Rica on a rafting trip?
Q: Where do I meet you for rafting?
Q: What do I have to bring on a rafting trip?
We will then carry our rafts to the river. You'll be assigned a boat and a boat captain and jump in! Our sturdy Star or
Your boat captain will give you further instructions on how to paddle once you are afloat and give you time to practice following the commands. Then you'll head on down the river for about 2 hours, for your best day in Costa Rica!
We'll cut up some tropical fruit at the end at our private take out where you can change into your dry clothes and then head to our River House for an all-you-can-eat, delicious lunch with many vegetarian options. You will also be asked to fill out our Client Comment forms to provide valuable and important feedback to Desafio management.
Q: Are restroom facilities available at the river?
Q: What about tips or gratuities?
Q: Which river is best for me rafting in Costa Rica?
Q: I have a family with young children. Can my family go rafting in Costa Rica?
Q: How many people are generally in one raft?
Q: About what time will we return back to our hotel?
We do offer
There are limited access points to our class 3-4 rivers in deep isolated canyons and although we pride ourselves on excellent safety protocols and well-trained guides, we cannot guarantee you will not fall out of the raft.
Our class 2-3 river can also be a pretty wild ride, especially in the first few rapids because we now have a new hydroelectric dam that releases it's flow near our private entrance for an excellent flow of water all year round. We are confident that the main reason clients go rafting with us in Costa Rica is that they want to go home and talk about their fun, exciting and SAFE time in Costa Rica, but do keep in mind accidents can happen.
A: September and October tend to be the rainiest months in most of the country and also the less traveled. Most of the rainy season means there are occasional afternoon tropical showers, but since many of the activities you can enjoy in Costa Rica involve getting wet - like whitewater rafting, canyoneering, surfing and relaxing in hot springs - it's even more fun doing these activities in the warm tropical rain!! Of course, hiking can be a bit muddier during these months, but with the right gear, you should be fine (let us know if you need help with what to bring - check out our online store Expedition Gear Outfitters EGO.)
Overall, it's difficult to rely on weather forecasts in Costa Rica. Climate change is a reality in Costa Rica. We used to have much more rain in previous years during our defined wet season, but now it is much more unpredictable and our dry seasons are more severe.
Our company philosophy is based on making sure our clients are not missing out on a fun and safe day in Costa Rica, so if the weather conditions are unsuitable for a certain tour, it is easy for us to rearrange your itinerary to better accommodate.
This is the information from our Waiver Form: Costa Rica's natural environment is filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles & other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks & sudden flash floods are possible. Desafio Adventure Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. Full refund is given if (on rare occasion) no tour is run. For reasons beyond our control (climate, river levels, etc.), we may change to a more-suitable tour with an equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure-appeal or offer other tour options so you don't miss out on a fun day in Costa Rica. Our Head Guide helps make the final decision.
Minimum Height: 1.40 m (4.59 feet)
Child/Youth weight: 50 a 90 lbs (23-41KG) -- 10 years of age in class 2-3 rafting and minimum age 13 years in class 3-4
Adult Small/Medium: Minimum 90 lbs (41kg) / Chest: 32-38 inches (81-97 cm)
Adult Large/Extra Large: Minimum 90 lbs (41kg) / Chest: 39-45 inches (99-144 cm).
A: Logistically it is difficult to coordinate driving your own car to the river for rafting because we start and end at different parts of the river and would likely have to back-track to go pick up your car.
In addition, we have to transport our guides and gear, so our transport is going anyway and the guides provide safety instructions along the way to the river. We have modern, comfortable vehicles with a/c. The idea is to sit back and enjoy the ride.