Next month, the Chicas del Pacuare female rafting team will travel to Argentina to represent the country at the World Championship. Behind that jersey lie years of training, sacrifice, and a shared conviction: that rafting, a sport traditionally associated with men, is also a space for strong, capable women.
We spoke with several members of the team about what this process means to them, the role of local support, and what they would say to other women considering getting on a raft for the first time. Proud sponsor Serendipity Adventures has backed this female rafting team throughout this journey, and one familiar face is on the roster: Nela, one of our own rafting guides, is paddling for Costa Rica at this year’s World Championship.
We Are Strong, Capable Women
Cintya has spent years paddling alongside her teammates and describes the team as “very solid,” with a lot of trust among its members. For her, the backing of local businesses didn’t come overnight, it was the result of steady work that gradually built credibility.
“We’ve gotten local companies to believe in us, to believe in our work, and to believe in what we’re capable of accomplishing as women, as athletes,” she says. That support, she adds, motivates them to push even harder.
Her message to other women is direct: rafting builds confidence, and motherhood, age, or profession shouldn’t stand in the way. “We can be mothers, we can be women, and we can also grow in a sport as unusual as rafting“.
A First World Rafting Championship
For Valentina, this will be her first World Championship, and she’s living it with a mix of excitement and responsibility. “Super excited, preparing in the best way possible,” she sums up. On the topic of local support, she makes an open call to businesses to get involved: “I invite companies to support us a little more so we can achieve even more.”
Her invitation to other women carries a clear undertone about the place this sport has historically occupied: “It’s a sport that’s mostly for men, but here you can really come into your own.” For her, rafting is a source of adrenaline and personal growth.
Falling in Love with Rio Pacuare
Hazel is also making her World Championship debut this year, and she speaks with pride about the team, highlighting the intensity of their training. Reflecting on the support they’ve received, she’s grateful for what they have, but insists more is needed: “We urge other companies and businesses to support these teams, especially in sports that aren’t as common here in Costa Rica.”
To women curious about this world, she encourages them to shed their fear and dive in: “Take the initiative, come and start paddling. You fall in love with the river, with the sport, with everything. It’s tough, but it’s captivating.”
Years in the Making, a Solid Female Rafting Team
When she’s not competing, Nela guides trips for Serendipity Adventures, and she speaks from the experience of a team with a long history. “We’re a team that’s already been through a long process, several years long, and that gives us a lot of security and confidence,” she explains. For her, local support isn’t just financial; it’s a vote of confidence in work done “with sacrifice, with love.“
Nela draws a direct line between the sport and female empowerment: “This is a sport that shapes our character, that helps us become more independent, more confident.” She adds that because rafting has historically been practiced more by men, every achievement the team earns carries extra symbolic weight.
Enjoying the Journey, Beyond the Results
Camila Segura closes out the round of testimonials with a reflection on what rafting has given her beyond competition. On local support, she’s candid: while it’s still limited today, every contribution matters. “Supporting the sport is also supporting talent and wellbeing,” she says, inviting more people and companies to get involved.
Her advice to anyone hesitant to try paddling is simple: don’t be afraid, and focus on the journey, not just the result. “Beyond transforming the body and helping physically, the sport frees the mind, it transforms you deeply.” She closes with the idea that captures the whole team’s spirit: “As women on a team, we support each other so much, and we grow together and, in the end, that’s what matters.“
Bound For Argentina
Across the testimonials from Cintya, Valentina, Hazel, Nela, and Camila, one thread runs through them all: rafting as a space for empowerment, community, and personal growth.
Their collective message is clear: take the leap, don’t be afraid, and discover what the river has to teach you.