El Chorro is the upper Naranjo River at its steepest: a narrow gorge where the current squeezes between rock walls and shoves the raft through drops, steep rapids, and boulder gardens. The name loosely translates to jet gorge, which is a fair description of what the water does to the boat. This is a dry season class IV run, and that window is the whole point: in the rainy months it rises to class V and is frequently unrunnable, so the tour operates January 1 to May 1 only.
A 45-minute drive from Manuel Antonio gets you to the put-in, where guides walk you through detailed safety instruction and practice time before you hit the first rapid. 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). Between rapids you get a moving view of the forest that borders Manuel Antonio National Park, and there are snacks and hydration waiting after the last drop.
From Manuel Antonio it is a four-hour trip with 8:30 am and 12:00 pm departures. From Jaco, Herradura, Los Suenos, or Esterillos it runs as a seven-hour day with a 6:30 am pickup, and breakfast is included along with lunch. If you want something tamer, ask us about the class III runs on the Savegre or the lower Naranjo instead.
Bring sunglasses with a retainer cord, a change of clothes, bathing suit, waterproof camera, sandals, and a beach towel. Minimum age 16, maximum weight 230 pounds (105 kg). 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.
Plan it with our concierge
We count visits without cookies, so nothing follows you home from here. Say yes to all and we also get to see which pages actually help people plan a trip. That is the whole ask. How we handle data.
