{"id":38009,"date":"2025-12-19T00:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/?p=38009"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:25:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:25:21","slug":"rios-tropicales-re-emerges-as-rios-lodge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2025\/12\/19\/rios-tropicales-re-emerges-as-rios-lodge\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00edos Tropicales Re-emerges as Rios Lodge\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The year 2020 was a wildly difficult year for many, myself included. First, my father died after a drawn-out bout with Parkinson\u2019s. A week later, my mom\u2019s house burned down in a wildfire along the North Santiam River in Oregon, and I lost my most valuable river outfitting business assets (a triplex and historic home) in the same conflagration.<\/span><\/p>\n

My light room, dark room and over a decade of 35 mm slides from river adventures all around the world burned. Digital video masters from film work, accolades, tear sheets, and all my keepsakes from traveling the world as a full-time kayak competitor, instructor and guide for my entire adult life, gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, 4,400 miles away, Costa Rica\u2019s tourism economy ground to a halt due to COVID, and whitewater legend Rafael Gallo was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Rafa, as he was known, passed away in the spring of 2021. My old business partner in Costa Rica, Arturo Oropeza, called with the tragic news as word spread through the paddling community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Man, myth, legend <\/span><\/h4>\n

For those who didn\u2019t know Rafa, he was the man responsible for building the largest whitewater rafting operation in Costa Rica (R\u00edos Tropicales) and making the Pacuare River famous for being one of the top-five most scenic whitewater destinations in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rafa put whitewater rafting on the map in Costa Rica. He was a founding member of the International Rafting Federation and helped the developing world learn about ecotourism, setting the precedent with his business in Costa Rica. If you\u2019re lucky, you know about or have stayed at his riverfront camp right before the start of the inner gorge\u2014one of the most spectacular places I\u2019ve ever been.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Rafa worked to build a 2,000+ acre private reserve in the watershed and influenced the development of a presidential decree that prevents dam building on the Pacuare (it expires in 2040).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never forget my first trip down the tropical whitewater of the Pacuare in my slalom boat in 1993. It sparked my adventurous spirit and lit up my imagination with its clear, free-flowing water and remarkable rapids and gorges. Blue morpho butterflies, toucans and howler monkeys punctuated the journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n