November 15th to November 23rd - Intermediate (Class II-III)
  

Water levels can vary greatly during the rainy season. We have access to over 35 runs in the Chiriqui province and our itineraries vary according to water levels. This trip is mostly class II runs with the occasional class III rapid mixed in.

Day 1: Arrive in Panama City. You will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in Panama City where you will spend the night.

Day 2: Catch an early flight to David, the provincial capital of Chiriqui. From there, we will make a quick stop at the lodge, outfit our boats and do a warm up run on the Bajo Mendez section of the Rio Chiriqui. This section is class II.

Day 3: We head to the Rio Majagua to step things up a bit. This section is close to home with class II and a few easy class III rapids.

Day 4: We head to the Rio Dolega today. This river is similar to the Majagua, but a bit longer and with a few more class III rapids thrown in.

Day 5: We make a bit of a drive to the lower Rio Gariché. This crystal clear river runs through a series of beautiful gorges. This run is a great time to spot monkeys and orchids. This section is Class II.

Day 6:Today we are off the beaten track. We head for the Rio Fonseca, which drains out of the indigenous Gnobe-Bugle Comaraca (similar to a reservation in the USA). You will get a feel of indigenous world as we put in at a small indigenous town. The run is mostly class II.

Day 7: We head back to the Rio Gariché to do the middle section. This section is even more beautiful than the lower section. The rapids are a good mix of Class II and III.

Day 8: Close to home, we do the Upper Rio Majagua. This section is mostly class III for the first half and then becomes class II. After taking out, we head back to lodge, pack our bags and catch an afternoon flight back to Panama City. (You will be transported from the domestic airport to your hotel).

Day 9: You will be transported from the hotel in Panama City to the airport for your return flight home.

Location
We will be in the highlands of western Panama in the Chiriqui Province (bordering Costa Rica and the Pacific Ocean). The trip is based out of the small mountain town of Boquete, famous for raising coffee and flowers. Boquete is located on the slopes of Volcan Baru (the highest point in Panama at about 11,400 feet). The area receives over 100 inches of rain each year, with nearly all of that falling during the rainy season from May until December. In addition to the abundant rainfall, the temperature varies from the mid 80's during the day to the mid 50's at night. There are an abundance of rivers to run during the rainy season. To date, we have catalogued over 35 runs in the Chiriqui province alone, with over 20 being class IV or harder.

Food and Water
Panama has excellent food and water quality. You can drink the tap water anywhere you will be on our adventure. We also feel very comfortable eating uncooked vegetables, etc. The meals during the trip will be a combination of eating out at restaurants in Boquete and the surrounding areas and meals prepared back at the lodge.

Gear
Our outfitter (Boquete Outdoor Adventures) will provide the kayaks on our trip. Guests should provide their own PFD, skirt, helmet, paddle and any other personal gear. We encourage you to bring a throw rope and any other rescue gear you normally carry. For those who want to travel light, rental gear is available (PFD, skirt, helmet and paddle) for $20 per day.

Kayaks Available
BOA has over 35 boats in our fleet. Most of the newer boats are river runners and creek boats since this is mostly what we will be doing. Some of the boats available are: Dagger Mambas (8.0 and 8.5), Nomads (8.0 and 8.5), GTs, GTXs Liquid Logic Jefes (medium and large) Prijon Imbudos Pyranha Burns (Medium and Large) We also ship about 5-7 new boats each year to keep the fleet as up to date as possible.

Travel Information
Traveling in Panama is safe and easy. Compared to most of Latin America, the roads and transportation system are in amazingly good shape. In addition, the food and water is safe to eat and drink just about anywhere in the country. To travel to Panama, you will need a passport. In addition, we recommend that you visit the US Center for Disease Control website to see what vaccinations are recommended before you travel. You will be in the provinces of Panama and Chiriqui.

Please check with your airline for baggage restrictions. They often impose curfews on larger bags (such as paddle bags) during this time of the year. In addition, the local airlines limit bags to 25 pounds per person for checked baggage.