ThePADDLER 8
CO-FOUNDED RIOS TROPICALES
In 1985 , he co-founded Rios Tropicales , along with Jimmy Nixon and another childhood friend . Their mission was to share the magnificent rivers and rainforests of Costa Rica with all people in a way that protects and sustains the environment and local communities . Rios Tropicales became a leading , worldclass , award-winning adventure company dedicated to conservation . They won National Geographic ’ s 2008 Geotourism Award and the Best Outfitter in the World award , and Skål International ’ s 2014 Sustainable Tourism Award , among many others .
Along the way , Rafa co-authored ‘ The Rivers of Costa Rica ’ with a university friend and fellow paddler Mike Mayfield in 1988 . He worked inclusively with the Cabecar indigenous people in the Pacuare region , teaching the first Cabecar rafting guides and employing local community members at his jungle eco-lodge that he built alongside the Pacuare .
Never one to sit still , Rafa headed up the Costa Rica Sports Association for Adventure and Paddling , served as president of the Costa Rican Network of Nature Reserves from 2007 to 2017 , was a board member of the Biodiversity Partnership Mesoamerica alliance , and was appointed as an honorary member of Costa Rica ’ s Blue Flag Program National Commission .
NEW ADVENTURES
Planting dreams wherever he went , Rafa continually embraced new adventures and life-changing aspirations with his driving passion , affecting untold lives , communities , and the natural environment every step of the way .
Rafa was passionate about protecting the environment and operating his business in harmony with nature . He believed strongly in leaving a better planet for his three kids and future generations .
PRIVATE RAINFOREST RESERVE
Over the past three decades , Rafa and his family created the largest private rainforest reserve in the Pacuare River Valley . Today , the Gallo family holds 2,500 acres in their private reserve , which includes primary rainforest and cut areas reforested . Almost 31,000 native hardwood trees have been planted , regenerating the forest habitat and biodiversity . Great Green Macaws , which had disappeared from the region , have returned thanks to hundreds of planted mountain almond trees – the Macaws ’ principal food . Ocelots and jaguars , which are endangered in Costa Rica , also have returned to the region .
Rios Tropicales participated in the United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) worldwide tree planting campaign between 2006 and 2011 . In 2016 , Rios Tropicales and the Costa Rican Network of Private Nature Reserves partnered with Visit Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Adventure Travel Trade Association . Together , they made that year ’ s Adventure Travel World Summit carbon neutral by planting 5,000 trees in Rafa ’ s private reserve . The prestigious EARTH University Carbon Neutral Unit verified the event .
As a result of Rafa ’ s far-reaching conservation achievements , the Costa Rica National Alliance of Rivers and Watersheds named a new environmental award after him in 2019 – the Rafael Gallo Palomo Award , Safeguarding the Future of Our Rivers .