Rafting Panama's Great Chiriqui Viejo
Date: 08/15/2005
Dear International Living Reader,
I’ve been told that Panama’s Chiriqui Province is the country’s outdoor adventure and sport capital, so I went to see for myself.
Three friends and I rafted the Chiriqui Viejo River, in the northwestern region of the province. We traveled right up into the central mountain region near the Costa Rican border, where we collected headgear, life jackets, and paddles, and headed into the rapids. Our guide, Luis, was a seasoned pro on the river and make sure we stayed on course. (We only capsized once.) Our scout, Tiny, preceded us in a kayak to make sure conditions were safe.
It was the dry season, so the water wasn’t raging, but we did experience some Class III and a few Class II rapids. Between rapids, we admired the lush forests and cascading waterfalls. We saw several lizards and a couple of monkeys. At times, the cliffs along the river rose several hundred feet, giving us the feeling that we were in a canyon.
The entire trip, including travel time to and from the river, lasted about eight hours. Four of those were in the water. We were well-briefed on safety before starting out, and were given a delicious lunch along the river (served on a red-checkered tablecloth). After our adventure, we were escorted back to our hotel in Boquete.
Our adventure was arranged by Chiriqui River Rafting, which is owned by Hector Sanchez. To plan your own white-water adventure in the Panamanian mountains, you can get in touch with him by e-mail at Rafting@Panama-rafting.com or through the website, www.panama-rafting.com/. I highly recommend Hector and his entire operation.
Scott McDonagh
For International Living
* Excerpted from Panama: The Owner’s Manual.
Editor’s Note: Watch for a special report about Panama: The Owner’s Manual, due in your inbox later today.
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