floating the san juan

[mrlee]

we are planning to float the san juan river, from the lake to the sea; in march of 08. looking for any insight or info. 

[Joshua Berman]

What kind of boat? What kind of accommodations (camping?)? I believe you can rent a dugout canoe from someone, float down, and put it on the ferry back up. I've never done it all the way down, but I know  few folks have.

[adam]

I've got some related questions. 

Does anyone know what sort of licenses (both for the boat and the captain) are required to take boats around lake Nicaragua?

Cheers,
-Adam

[Joshua Berman]

No idea, Adam. I'd check with the folks doing kayak tours, or the Nicas down by the dock who run commercial tour boats.

[Randall Wood]

You've chosen approximately the hardest time of the year to float the San Juan simply because it's the tail end of the dry season and the water levels are (nearly) at their lowest - only May could be any drier.  You will have to choose your boat carefully as you will wind up portaging several sections.

Go prepared to camp, but your being able to camp will be dependent on your Spanish and your negotiating skills as the land is almost entirely privately owned the entire way down.

As for nautical certifications, the Nicaraguan military does ostensibly certify captains of nautical vessels, but the kind of boat you'll be using on the RSJ hardly counts as a nautical vessel and those guys
"don't need no stinkin certifications."  Neither will a certification mean much of anything in those parts.

Use your good common sense, choose the craft carefully based on your own assessment of its seaworthiness and your own willingness to haul it over the difficult sections, bring a water filter (so you don't have to schlep too many cases of bottled water) and send back some pictures for us.

Last tip:  leave your "I love Costa Rica" tshirt at home, as it won't be appreciated on the river.