History of Costa Rica Rios

Costa Rica Rios began in 1993, when Ray McLain led a group of youth athletes to Turrialba for a two week training camp. Although Ray did not foresee the beginning of Costa Rica Rios in 1993, the dream of offering great vacation experiences in Costa Rica came true in 1995. Ray and his friend, Tom Foster, drove to Costa Rica and started their dream of offering adventurous vacations and quality service, centered on enjoying the beautiful outdoors of Costa Rica. (Below is a short story)

Costa Rica Rios soon grew from offering river trips a couple of months a year to a full service, year round operation. The modest beginnings in 1995 soon grew to operating a four building Bed and Breakfast, offices and equipment warehouse headquarters facility located centrally in Turrialba. In 2006, Costa Rios completed their private Pacuare River Camp.

A Brief History of Costa Rica Rios, by Tom Foster

It all started with a phone call from Ray McLain in July of ‘95. We had both been to Costa Rica (CR) a few times and we were both looking for a new venture. I had managed a paddling school for 15 years and Ray had retired from Proctor and Gamble. I had already decided to close my school in the Fall when Ray’s call immediately motivated me in another direction. So Ray drove East in late September and we loaded many of my Centre’s boats and gear on one of my cargo vans and headed for CR. For those who chose to drive, remember this: the Pan Am Highway is not a "highway" by our standards!! We paid a bribe at every border and roadblock and it took us 12 days to drive almost 7,000 miles. Ray drove down six times!

For the first two years we rented a house in Turrialba and worked out of it... usually storing boats in the backyard and hauling them through the house to get them out! But it was a start and it was fun!

Entering the third year, Ray purchase a house, the present headquarters and we began to renovate it to fit our needs. Later, Ray was able to purchase a fairly new warehouse diagonally across the street and now we had not only the headquarters and staff sleeping casa, but a fantastic boat and equipment storage bodega, primed for future expansion. This settled us down and we began to fine tune the operation with better advertisement. Everything we did was geared toward improving service delivery and maintaining safety on and off the rivers.

Ray and his wife Virginia became permanent residents while I continued to spend 5 to 6 months there each year. Not only was I a head guide, but in addition, I baked the bread for all the lunches and managed to cook a few dinners for our clients.

What a beautiful chapter in our lives! We both fell in love with the people, the rivers and the over-all beauty of Costa Rica. Our casa was always full of friends, many of whom just wanted to try their hand at taking on "Ray and Tom" at a game or two of pool...they usually lost!

Unfortunately, as in all of life, everything comes to an end, for some sooner than later. Ray was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2000, but stayed on running the business until he was forced to return to the Green Bay area with his wife in the Fall of '02. Ray died in January of ‘03, but I will always remember the great times we had together paddling the Costa Rica rivers in a C-2 and playing pool.

Just before Ray left CR, he sold the business to Brett Shelton and the rest is more modern history. Ray would be very proud of what Brett and his staff have done to improve the entire operation...I am!

Costa Rica Rios Founder

Ray McLain, founder of Costa Rica Rios, died January 23, 2003, after being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer about 17 months previously. He was 65. Below is Ray’s letter to all his friends concerning Costa Rica Rios:

November 20, 2002

It is with great pleasure that I pass the baton to Brett Shelton for the future of Costa Rica Rios. Brett has the energy, love of Costa Rica, and the desire to provide quality services to guests that makes me confident that I would be proud in years to come to have started Costa Rica Rios a part of my legacy. Already, he and his capable staff have come up with many improvements - and I think they are just beginning.

I have loved Costa Rica. I have had many friends - both visitors and my Tico friends - that have made these years among the best years of my life. Sadly, because of colon cancer, my days are numbered. I am returning to where my family will be by my side during my last months.

A message of advice to my friends - make sure you are up to date on colonoscopies. Had I started these tests in my 50s, I would not be facing a shortened life span! Don't make the same mistake I made.

Ray McLain

Ray loved to paddle so much, he left Green Bay, Wisconsin to live in Turrialba, Costa Rica year round! One of his claims to fame is having been a gate judge at the 1996 Ocoee Slalom venue, judging gate 21. You may have seen him on TV! Ray started in marathon canoe racing, and was once a national champion in his class. In 1982 he won his first whitewater slalom national championship, and has since been national champion in the Masters age group multiple times in C-2, C-2 Mixed, C-1, and Solo and Tandem Open Canoe. He attributed most of his success to picking good partners ;-).