Rafael Gallo (CRI)
2009 Class | Advocate
Rafael Gallo has pursued his passion for whitewater paddling from learning to paddle in the Great Smoky Mountains of the United States during college to founding and growing one of the best rafting companies in the world in his native Central America, based in Costa Rica.
Rafael Gallo has introduced thousands to the sport of paddling at Rios Tropicales. In the 1990’s, he led the fight to save the world-renowned Pacuare River from the first dam threat, purchased and protected 2000 acres of rainforest along the Pacuare and Rios’ eco-lodge, and planted almost 14,000 native tree species as part of the United Nations Environmental Program “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.” Rafael served on several Costa Rican and international tourism, environmental, and paddlesports boards. As a founder and current President of the International Rafting Federation, he helped increase international rafting standards, awareness, and promote the sport throughout the world. Rafael has helped to pioneer rafting and promote whitewater sports in other countries, including Argentina (1990), El Salvador (1996), Colombia (1997) and Jamaica (2000). These countries have experienced a huge growth in rafting as a result of Rafael’s foundational assistance. In 2009, Rafael assisted the Kingdom of Bhutan to establish best practices in rafting operations and sustainable adventure tourism development. The National Geographic Society coined a new term “Geotourism” in 2008 that best captures Rafael’s holistic approach to the whitewater paddlesports industry and how his advocacy has positively affected the whitewater rafting industry in particular.
