I have written in the past of Costa Rica’s rivers.  One of my favorite weekend day trips is to go to the Rio Pejibaye.  Pejibaye comes from the palm fruit by same name that is a popular food all over Costa Rica.  The Rio Pejibaye is located to the east of San Jose in the province of Cartago.  You take the road to Cartago and drive through Turrialba towards Siquirres.  The road forks and you take the way towards Suiza.  You will come upon a bumpy dirt road that you have to follow 10 kilometers or so before you arrive at the river.  You will pass by a hotel known as Casa Turire, which is a great place to spend a couple nights in the area.  If you are traveling across the country from the Pacific to the Caribbean, this is a great halfway point and Casa Turire is your best choice.  It is a little pricey and nearby is the Turrialtico Lodge, if you want something more economical.  Of course, Package Costa Rica can set it all up for you.  Rio Pejibaye is less known for rafting than the nearby Reventazon and Pacuare rivers. Nevertheless it is a beautiful place to visit. The water is cold and clear like a mountain stream on a summer day in the Carolinas (well, maybe not that cold).  The river is shallow and although there are spots with strong currents, it is a great river for swimming.  There are deep pools where you can climb upon rocks and jump if you are daring enough, or just watch the locals do it. Or just sit back and enjoy the natural beauty of the place. It is also a great place to go biking.  The next time I go there I am going to see how the river fares for tubing (I did see some locals enjoying this activity). I used to take my kids tubing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and boy did we love it.  There is a neat little family-run restaurant near the river where you can catch your own tilapia and they will cook them for you.  And this place has the most sugar cane that I believe I have seen anywhere in Costa Rica.  The hills are  blanketed with it and in some areas large sections are carved out as if some great giant came along and cut the cane with wide sweeps from his scythe.  The naturaleza of the place is amazing, particularly because it is a mixture of the tropical vegetation of the Caribbean blended in with mountain greenery.  There are always many Montezuma Oropendolas flying about.  The Pejibaye is a great place to have a picnic and enjoy a day on the river, which is what many locals in the area do each weekend.  There is a puente colgante (hanging bridge) that you can cross to get a panoramic view.  You can go into the tiny village of Pejibaye and sample some real typical food, or just hang out and down a few Imperials with the locals.  What is always refreshing is that the locals in remote areas like this are always friendly and warm and not at all threatened by the appearance of “tourists”….that is, as long as we mind our manners.  Costa Rica is full of secret spots like the Rio Pejibaye that are “off the beaten path.”  Stay tuned to this blog for more.

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