It is a pleasant, hard working town that has traditionally welcomed paddlers, although tensions between townspeople and paddlers have risen somewhat in the last two years. Some of the major outfitters rent boats on a daily or weekly basis, subject to availability. Outfitters reserve boats for their trips and rent them only when they do not need them. Shipping boats into Costa Rica is not worth the difficulty and cost unless you are planning to stay for more than a month. Canoes and kayaks can be shipped via the airlines, but this can be expensive and time-consuming.
Charges vary considerably from airline to airline and from agent to agent.
The simplest, safest, and easiest way to take a rafting or kayaking tour is with a licensed Costa Rican outfitter. They have top of the line boats and equipment and, more importantly, the experience and expertise to provide a great river trip. Regular package tours are available, but the operators are more than willing to custom design a trip on any rivers you would like. For a very reasonable price they will provide equipment, guides, shuttles, and superb food. Kayakers will need their own paddling gear, including sprayskirt, helmet, paddle, and lifejacket.