Chiriqui Whitewater Rafting | Panama River Tours | Raft Trips

Habla Ya Spanish students rafting in Boquete, Panama

World Class Whitewater Rafting Trips

Panama's best whitewater river rafting trips are in Chiriqui...

  • Panama Rafting Trip Options: prices, details and descriptions for full day and overnight whitewater river rafting trips in the province of Chiriqui departing from the highlands of Boquete, Panama.
  • Whitewater River Tours: the province of Chiriqui has the perfect river for everyone's rafting trip... from mild and scenic Class II's up to wild and crazy Class V's. Info on age limits and time on water for each raft trip.
  • Preparing your Rafting Trip: after choosing the length and technical difficulty of your river tour, how can you make it happen?
  • Rafting Safety Protocol: only selected outfitters adhere to the highest professional standards in the industry and thoroughly train each of their guides.
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Rafting Trip Options

How to choose the right rafting trip for you? Besides considering the difficulty of the river (which is known as the "Class" ) you also have to take into account the time you have. This is why we offer rafting trips of different duration:

  • Full Day Rafting Trips: leave Boquete at 7 a.m. and return at 3 - 4 p.m.
  • Overnight Rafting Trips: leave Boquete at 7 a.m. and return at 3 - 4 p.m. on the next day

Actual trip time on the water (2.5 - 4 hours) depends on how much water is in the river (the more rain, the faster the river, the shorter the trip) and on which sections can or cannot be rafted on a specific day.

Rafting the Chiriqui Viejo, Panama's whitewater gem

If you can spare the time, we definitely recommend investing a whole day on the river. In our opinion whitewater river rafting is simply the best outdoor adventure tour in the area, so why not make the most out of it?

On the other hand, an overnight rafting trip is a magical experience... swapping stories around a campfire on the river's shore in the middle of Panama's virgin tropical forests is an experience that cannot be matched by anything else and it is simply too awesome to be put into words. Consider an overnight rafting trip as two full day rafting trips put together, linked by the most amazing camping experience.

Rates
  Habla Ya Student Rate
Full Day Rafting Trips $65 - $95
Overnight Rafting Trips $175

* Prices are in US Dollars. The above prices are per person and do not include Panama's 7% ITBMS Sales.

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Prices include: transportation to and back from Boquete (we can pick you up and drop you off at your hotel), rafting equipment, professional guides, drinking water and meals (lunch for full day rafting trips, and every meal for the overnight rafting trips). Please note: a minimum of 4 persons is required for a full day rafting trips. A minimum of 4 persons is required for an overnight rafting trip. If you're traveling to Boquete on your own and you're really interested in Panama rafting, please go ahead and CONTACT US, and we will let you what options will be available during the time that you'll be in Boquete. For certain full day rafting trips we can also pick up and drop off passengers up in David, Caldera or Gualaca.
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Rivers and Classes in Chiriqui

Stunning waterfall during Panama Rafting in the Chiriqui Viejo

Chiriqui has a rafting trip for everybody. Spectacular passages through mysterious gorges in the middle of nowhere, fun and scenic family runs, steep gradients that lead to boiling eddies and big drops, hidden waterfalls, strong hydraulics that produce wild waves and intense and crazy rapids. Are you ready for Panama rafting? And if you're looking to experience the biggest whitewater in Central America, the rivers of Panama get even wilder during the rainy season, especially from June to November.

River Section Class Trip Type Time on Water
Dry Season Rainy Season
Chiriqui Viejo Palon III/IV IV/IV+ Full Day or Overnight 3 - 4 hours
Chiriqui Viejo Sabo III III/IV Full Day or Overnight 3 hours
Gariche Upper n/a II/III Full Day 3 - 4 hours
Chiriqui Witches n/a III/IV Half Day 1.5 - 2 hours
Caldera Upper n/a IV Toy Trip 1 hour
Dolega Lower n/a II/III Half Day 2 - 2.5 hours
Majagua Lower n/a II/II+ Half Day 1.5 hours
Esti   II II Half Day 2 - 2.5 hours

* Double the rafting time for overnight trips. The half day rafting trip on the Witches section of the Chiriqui can be transformed into a Full Day Rafting Trip by adding a visit to the Caldera Hot Springs at the end of the run. During the rainy season a run down the Caldera River can be added to any half day rafting trip to make it a full day rafting trip (this is what we call Toy Trip), or we can also run this river two times, in which case it would also be considered a full day rafting trip.

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Age Limits: Class II/III - 9 years minimum age, Class III/IV - 12 years, Class IV/V - 14 years minimum. Please CONTACT US if a member of your group or family is younger than 9 and wishes to join a rafting trip. Depending on water levels during the time of the year that you're planning your white water river rafting trip we might be able to accommodate your young one(s).
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Preparing your Rafting Trip

So, what do you need to do to make your rafting trip happen?

Follow these 5 simple steps...

Preparing for a Rafting Trip in the province of Chiriqui
  • Choose between a full day or overnight rafting trip and choose which "Class" of Rafting Trip you want to do (II, III, IV or V*)
  • Contact Us (if you're not sure which class just let us know)
  • Secure reservation with payment (you'll receive payment instructions after completing the steps above)
  • Come into our offices on the day before to sign release forms or if you arrive to Boquete after 5:30 p.m. and you'll be rafting on the next day, then we will request your details by email and have the forms ready for you, so that you can sign them just before starting the rafting trip
  • Meet at our office at 7 a.m. or we can also pick you up at your hotel if you let us know where you'll be staying at and in which room

For those rafters wanting to experience a Class V river run, we can arrange customized rafting trips. In this particular case, as long as every member of the group has sufficient experience with white water, is in good physical condition and water level permits... it is a possibility. At the end of the day it will be our call, so feel free to CONTACT US and tell us about your rafting group and about what crazy things you want to do!

So, what do I need to bring with me on the day of the rafting trip?

Preparing for a Rafting Trip in the province of Chiriqui

The following list of items are suggested.

  • Shoes or sandals with a sturdy sole and connected to the heel (in other words shoes that will not fall off: no flip flops!)
  • Towel and change of dry clothes
  • Waterproof sunscreen
  • Cédula or copy of your passport and of the page with Panama's entry stamp (in fact, you should always carry this)
  • Bands for glasses
  • Waterproof disposable camera (only take to the river equipment that you can afford to lose)
  • Snacks for at the end of trip (lunch is provided)
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Information about your party, rafting experience level, and the age of those wanting to raft is required. If you're traveling by yourself, with your couple or a small group of friends, PLEASE CONTACT US and we will advise on which rafting options will be available during the dates that you plan to visit Boquete.
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Rafting Safety Protocol

Participant's safety is essential in any rafting trip to ensure a really pleasant time

Our primary concern is participant safety. Age, weight, lack of conditioning, heart or other disease, can create additional hardship that diminishes the suitability or enjoyment of this type of vacation. If you have any medical or health condition or if you're taking any type of medications, please check with your physician prior to your trip. Rafters must alert guides in advance of any physical conditions that may impede performance on the river.

Some river sections are tougher than others and require constant paddling from all raft members so please be aware of your physical capabilities and fitness level. You may not believe it but paddling during several hours can be exhausting.

Alcohol beverages are NEVER allowed on our rafting trips. Rafting requires everybody's full attention at ALL times.

Pay attention! Before starting the rafting trip you'll be given a trip orientation safety speech by your guides that will include, amongst other things, how and where you can sit on the rafts, how to hold on, how to grab the paddles, how to paddle, what to do if you fall of the raft and other safety precautions while on the river. At all times rafters have to obey the guides. We cannot stress on the importance of following these indications. Not doing so may result in serious injury or even death.

Minimum age restrictions may apply depending on river section. Children under must be accompanied by parent or guardian. We reserve our right to cancel trips if water levels exceed our standards for river safety. Previous experience is required for rafting trips on certain sections and rivers.

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Each one of our guides experiences at least 300 hours of training before escorting his first guest down the river. This training includes swift water rescue certification, CPR and First Aid Certification.
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