The put-in for El Chorro is on the upper Naranjo River, well south of Jacó, which is why this departure leaves at 6:30 am and runs seven hours door to door instead of the four it takes from Manuel Antonio. Pickup covers hotels in Jacó, Herradura, Los Sueños, and Esterillos. Breakfast is included on this departure, so you are not scrambling for food before a pre-dawn start, and a 45-minute drive brings you the last leg to the river. Go to bed early. This is not a day to begin tired.
El Chorro is the upper Naranjo at its steepest: a narrow gorge where the water compresses between rock walls and jets the raft through drops, steep rapids, and boulder gardens. The name translates loosely to jet gorge, which is a fair description of what the current does to the boat. Guides run detailed safety instruction and practice time before the first rapid, then work the raft through the bends and rocks while you paddle. Between rapids you get a moving view of forest that borders Manuel Antonio National Park, and there are snacks and hydration waiting before the ride home.
The season is short and firm. This is a dry season class IV: in the rainy months the same river rises to class V and is frequently unnavigable, so the tour operates January 1 to May 1 only. No rafting experience is required, but good physical condition is, and the operator holds a hard line on the limits: participants must be at least 16 years old and under 230 pounds (105 kg).
If you are based in Manuel Antonio or Quepos, the same run is a four-hour trip at a lower price from there: El Chorro rafting from Manuel Antonio. And if class IV sounds like more than you want, ask us about the class III runs on the Savegre or the lower Naranjo, both of which also pick up in Jacó.
Bring sunglasses with a retainer cord, a change of clothes, a bathing suit, a waterproof camera, sandals, and a beach towel. Minimum age 16, maximum weight 230 pounds (105 kg). Departs 6:30 am and operates January 1 to May 1.
Before you book, one honest note. Prices, departure times, and what is included move with the season here. Rivers rise and drop, tides reset the schedule, boats come out of the water for maintenance, and operators adjust rates without telling anyone first. The details on this page are what we last confirmed directly with the operator, and we go back and check them, but your booking is with the operator and their confirmation is the final word on price, timing, pickup, and what you get. If a detail matters to your trip, whether that is a dietary need, a mobility question, a birthday, or a tight flight, ask us before you book and we will confirm it with them directly rather than guess.
Traveling with kids, limited mobility, or a tight schedule? Tell us your situation and we will match you to the right day and departure.
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