Added: 11/25/2005 |
Kayaking Sport Vacations - Paddling Down A RiverImagine a day peacefully paddling down a calm serene river with not a care in the world - it is the most natural sight of kayaking sport vacations. Kauai resort has four peaceful rivers that you are allowed to kayak through. Ocean kayaking is also possible on both ends of the island defined by seasonal ocean conditions.
You may rent a variety of craft but the most common used by the visitors and locals are the rigid single or double self bailing kayaks. A few vendors rent aluminum type canoes but they are not as stable and fill with water if tipped. There are multitudes of rental outfits, as well as a full range of prices. Your choice of kayaking sport vacations will be dependent on whether you want the ease of not having to haul it to your destination and haul it back after a long fun day.
The Wailua River is the most popular river due to its central location. It is an adventure well suited for the entire family, as well as a single visitor. The scenery is magnificent; there is a waterfall that you can hike to if you wish, and a rope swing along the way. Most rentals will provide you a cooler and a good map, but you must provide the ice, drink, and sandwiches. It can be a relaxing way to spend a day on your vacation. The Wailua River is 5 miles round trip and will take you about 2.5 hours even adding a few stops for hiking.
The Hanalei River on the north shore is the longest river. Recently named an American Heritage River is a bit quieter. It will take you about 3 to 3.5 hours and is 7.5 miles round trip. The waterfalls are spectacular after a heavy rain. The Huleia River in Lihue is 5 miles round trip and will take you about 2 hours to paddle. The water flow is not great and you will find the water to be more swamp like. The vegetation is quite thick. You will pass the Menehune Fishpond. It is on this river that a scene from Raider's of the Lost Ark was filmed. The river does travel through a wildlife refuge. The paddle back will be against the wind. This is probably why there is a guided tour up the river that picks you up by van, so you don't have to paddle back. So there are multiply ideas how to spend kayaking sport vacations.
The Kalihiwai River is the shortest adventure and for many visitors just perfect. You can paddle this one in just one hour. If you decide to hike to the Kalihiwai Falls, it will take a bit longer. Be aware that the falls is located on leased land and this may or may not be a problem.
Canoeing and kayaking are relatively new sports to Puerto Rico, although the island's first Indian settlers probably arrived in dugout canoes a few thousand years ago. In the past decade, kayaking has taken off. Olympic smooth-water kayaking and kayak polo are now practiced on Puerto Rico's lakes under the watchful eye of the Canoe and Kayak Federation of Puerto Rico.
You don't have to be an Olympic champion to have an exciting experience running the island's only real rapids on the Tanamá River or gliding silently along the island's only navigable river, the Espíritu Santo. A kayak or canoe is a marvelous way to sightsee or bird watch on the island's many man-made lakes, or on its countless coastal inlets, coves and bays.
Some of the most popular sites for ocean kayaking sport vacations are along the coasts of the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra, Ballenas Bay bordering the Guánica Tropical Dry Forest in the southwest, and the small east coast islets and cays off Fajardo.
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