Adventure Travel White Water Rafting
“Wild rivers are earth's renegades, defying gravity, dancing to their own tunes, resisting the authority of humans, always chipping away, and eventually always winning.”
Quote Source Richard Bangs
White Water Rafting & Zip Lines
Both adrenaline activities - for that inner adrenaline “junkie” in you! Only go with a reputable company as they are both potentially high risk activities and you can get injured or worse, and if you are that way inclined check your travel insurance. Many companies will not insure you for it. If you get stuck you can always try one of our go to extreme travel insurers - Dog Tag, or for top up to regular insurance Sports Cover Direct (they insurance 500 sports). Most travel insurance you take out via Explore or Exodus type travel companies will also cover these events, but check it covers the water grade. Like most insurers they are getting pickier and there seems to be a lot more caveats then there were. Many UK insurers will only insure you are from specific countries eg the UK.
White Water rafting is split into grades of water, with Grade (Class) 5 being the World's Wildest (commercially available) white water rafting and these include the longest and most violent rapids, often with huge drops and tons of water being discharged.
Always go with a River Guide (who also steers the boat) and make sure they have enough crew including rescue Kayaks and shore crew with through lines where needed.
Class 1 Rapids - Moving water over shallow river bed
Class 1 is a great start point for kids and adults who like to take things gentle, effectively you are just drifting down the river, unlikely you would even get wet! They are typically shallow water gravel bed type rivers.
Class 2 Rapids - a bit of splashing but nothing too taxing
Probably a bit tame for most, it none the less will give a “bit of excitement” but don’t expect and adrenaline rush if your a seasoned “Junkie.” 1 meter white caps will be challenging for some, and deeper water may be unsettling.
Class 3 Rapids - Wave with a thrill factor, and a bit of skill needed
The boat handler will be doing all the work, you are just the engine that provides the power. Expect to get wet, but not classed as “white water.” 1 to 2 meter waves crashing over the bow; but your raft guide will see you through, but plenty of unexperienced helms or canoes will be in trouble in these waters, so it is not be taken lightly.
This will be the limit for some people, and probably the entry point for the thrill and adventure seeker, but make your own mind up to the level you are comfortable with.
Currents (hydraulics) will feel stronger than class 2 and channels between passages will seem quite scary. The boat will be jolted and buffeted by the punch of larger waves, and you will get soaked! - Don’t go to the front of the boat, try to be in the middle or rear. Of course we always go to the front!
Some rapids can be very dangerous with less water, as they rocks get exposed and you can collide with them. Sometimes more water is safer. Too much water (rivers in spate) after a heavy rain fall can also be an issue. If you guide says its not safe to go - trust them - its not.
Rain can fall many miles away (so you can’t see it) but that large body of water could be heading your way. River Guides, know and plan for this; they know their waters.
Class 4 Rapids - White Water, obstacles (rocks!) and technical skills needed
We are now officially “White Water” rafting although all of the classes get called the same.
This level is the adrenaline rush, it’s crazy enough for you to be scared and still have fun, but not so dangerous you think you are going to die! Costa Rica is a good place to try this type of rafting and the team we went with had all the safety cover in the right places and pools, with throw lines and support Kayaks in the water, and yes in line with tradition we “went for swim” - in the safer bits down stream.
Big waves, tight rocks and lots of paddling to get the boat where the helm needs, expect to be shouted at, and to have to duck down; there is also a real risk that the boat may flip, or get caught in the hydraulics, you need to be on it, and be able to punch the boat where it needs to be - or suffer the consequences if you don’t! The waves may seem impossibly large and you will feel fear when you approach the big ones. Some. passages my seem “impossible’ and cliffs and overhangs may be a feature. Some drops can be massive. Listed to instructions and follow them - if your helm shouts “hard paddle” its means NOW! Get down - means just that and hang on - it’s going to get bumpy!
If you see lots of guys standing on the riverbank with throw lines, and wearing safety helmets and buoyancy aids or Kayaks in the water, that is because its a hazardous section and their job is to to help rescue you (if they can) if you go for a swim. (fall out).
Class 5 Rapids - The highest grade of commercially available water you can run - big waves, unavoidable hazards and real risk of flipping, capsize or being “held” in pools by hydraulic forces.
We ran the Dalaman when you could - it has been damed now and this was a class 5 water. It was quite frankly “scary” - adrenaline rush has gone and you are now in survival mode. In places you are convinced you won’t make it and if you fall out you are a goner, caught up in the washing machine effect of the bigger falls ( and there is a real risk of this). At times you will be terrified, just hanging on for dear life. Approaching the big drops and falls, you just want to get out, or wish you had never got in!
After the big falls traditionally the helm will try to get you out of the boat at some point - often hitting a big rock (deliberately) so you all ping out - and you end up drifting down the rapids and current to an eddy where they drag you out. It’s fun! But on these rapids it’s a no no - you have to stay in the boat. Hitting rocks, huge hydraulic forces of many tonnes (you cannot pull yourself out), being caught in whirlpools and washing machine type falls it is potentially very dangerous.
Class 6 Rapids - Not available commercially and pretty foolhardy if you do. People can and do die in these waters.
Generally considered "un-navigable" or "un-runnable" you will not get insurance and most reputable companies would never run these. Many rivers can become Class 6 in full spate. They is a real risk of death or serious injury, so don’t.
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The essential part is to have fun! We all really want “apparent danger” not real danger! No one wants to break a leg, risk drowning and get resuscitated (or not) or get your head cracked open on a rock. so start at a lower level, get some experience and enjoy!
What we Loved
How to stay safe (safer)
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Make sure your helmet fits and is secure via chin strap. Make sure you BA is fitted properly - as former safety boat drivers we can tell you there is nothing worse than grabbing someone by their Buoyancy Aid and them slipping out the bottom. The old phrase “slippery when wet” applies to people in the water as well. You also don’t want your helmet coming off down a rock strewn water.
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Seriously - if you can have a look at the condition of the boats, the kits - is it in good order. Have a look at their website and set up - have they got qualifications. How long have they been trading that sort of thing. It is potentially a risky sport so makes sure you go with the best. Check out if the Kayaks (safety cover) in the, persons on the bank in tricker section with throw lines. If you don’t like the look of them, don’t go.
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Most of us want perceived danger - not real danger. The thrill of adventure, but not the risk of injury or worse. Real danger isn’t fun and can be damaging mentally as well as physically. We have over the years done many different adventures, sports and travels and one thing we have noticed is that each person will view that adventure differently, even people on the same trip. You can have had the same adventure but we all experience it differently. What is scary for us might be tame for someone else and visa versa. As an example a recent light aircraft flight we took over the desert was a bit bumpy and had some tight turns - almost wing overs, when suddenly all we could smell was puke and everyone had sick bags on. We thought it was ok. I guess our point is that it’s YOUR experience not someone else’s; so do what you feel comfortable with, although it’s nice to push the comfort boundaries back now and again isn’t it?
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We’d probably check we had insurance before the event - not after - we weren’t covered. Many insurances won’t cover class 4 or 5 waters. A good centre will be able to sort this for you. It may not be cheap. It is not cheap for a reason! Check out some of the companies we mention or do an internet search if you can’t get insurance. Both Sports Cover and Dog Tag are UK based insurance company who cover many extreme sports, but it is getting more expensive now.
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Ok so we went full on - but that doesn’t mean to say you should. Apparently paddling about on a lake doesn’t prepare you for white water rafting.
What we would do differently
Zip Lining - Doing the “Monkey” - “Superman” and “Crucifix” too!
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We’ve done many Zip Lines, you know the usual stuff of fairly tame zip towers (but enough for some!) and we saw one in Costa Rica which was zip lining through the forest canopy which looked great. We had visions of flying above the tree tops, leather glove controlling the descent and a wonderful view over the canopy, and maybe even a monkey to two enjoying the show! First line was fine but we over braked and had to haul in the last 5 meters or so. Next run, a bit too hot this time and we had to caught to avoid hitting the tree, but we were getting the hang of it.. See part 2.
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The next run was faster still and a bit of a rush. Then they decided I would do it superman style - no speed controls - horizontal (in just a sit harness) arms out wide - the canopy just feet below - it was fast, exhilarating and a bit too much! When I get scared I either chatter like a monkey - or go quiet! I was quiet - which they took for bored. So they upper the anti-again - this time upside down cruciform style. Now I don’t know if you know much about sit harnesses - but they are designed so you sit in them, not hang upside down in them.
I’ve taken many a fall from including a really big one of an underside of church ceiling traversing it when sports climbing and my “buddy” only just stopped me a foot or so from the floor. He get a bloody nose for his troubles as he was pulled into the wall, but lucky for me (not so for him!) he hung on.
We got to the edge of the platform and hooked in to the zip line, and before I knew what was happening they flipped me upside down. Arms out wide they instructed and I duly obliged. And with that I was off, the canopy just inches from my face - it was wild! But I could feel myself slipping out the harness, butt cheeks clenched! trying to get any purchase, but before I could hit the panic button I landed and flipped back over - it was puke making stuff, made all the more real that I almost came out the harness and with no chest harness I would have gone!
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I was still quiet (understandably having nearly slipped out the harness, which would have resulted in me plummeting dozens of meters to the ground), and so team “zip line” had a chat amongst themselves. Unbeknown to me the grand finally was to be the “monkey” - and not the kind I has imagined at the start of the trip. This version involved you going down the zip line - in normal form and then they flipped the line up and down, so you took off about the level and then came back down. I was not expecting that!! Still made for a great video clip. At the end I said that it was exciting! (an understatement) and they they were all very pleased because they thought I was bored and that it was a bit tame for me! So they spiced it up!! Just remember don’t let scared look like bored! (You can of course say something or not do it - but where would be the fun in that?)
Doing the “Monkey” The banging at the end was making the next batch of coffins! LOL. It was great fun.
These are mainly stock photos we will add the museum collection photo’s later.