Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
+42
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a thrilling yet gentle day of white-water rafting down class II and III rapids on the Balsa River. This active adventure includes transfers from La Fortuna, equipment, instruction, a safety briefing, and ends with a delicious lunch in a local restaurant. Feel the thrill as you bounce and glide 6 miles (10 kilometers) down the river flanked by lush the jungle filled with monkeys, tropical birds, and sloths.
- Paddle through moderate class II and III rapids
- Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch plus bottled water
- Handy transfers from hotel in and close to La Fortuna are included
- Towels are included so you don't need to bring your own
Sample Menu
Main
Costa Rican Casado Lunch
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Transportation from hotels located less than 6 km away from our main office
- Bottled water
- Towel
- Lunch
- Pick up time may vary up to 20 min depending on hotel's location.
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase) at the end of the tour.
- Pick up service at hotels located over 6 km away from our main office
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Start time.9:20 am
What To Expect
1
Arenal Rafting
2
Rancho Mi Tata To Go
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Minimum age 5 years old
- Maximum weights 220 pounds
- Near public transportation
- Please bring changing clothes, water shoes, clothes to get wet
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Denise_G
Very professional company, safety first. The guides are all amazing. We had Jaben, and he was knowledgeable about the species along the river and kept us having a fantastic time down the river. Highly recommend this company. We did the class 2/3 rapids and it had enough rapids to keep the fun in rafting and nothing to crazy either.
Reviews
5.0
based on 2,060 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Nicole_D, Aug 2026
we did this with our seven and 11 year-old, we all had so much fun! highlight of the trip. highly recommend. Tom was great!
Cole_K, Aug 2026
This was such an awesome experience. The company is very organized, had great communication and everything was perfectly on time. Our guide, Tucan, was a lot of fun and both of us and the kids had a great time. The meal at the end was also quite good, it was excellent value for the price paid.
Andrew_W, Jul 2026
Fantastic experience great time rafting on the river. Very friendly staff also helped point out wildlife as we went past. All finished with a lively lunch
Sari_M, Jul 2026
My husband and I went with our 3 kids ages 18, 11 and 9. Our family had the best time ever!!! We have been rafting a few other places and this one really blew us away! Not only were the rapids super splashy and fun, Tugui was a phenomenal guide and ALL of the guides were so friendly!! Safety was a top priority but fantastic hospitality and loads of fun were close seconds! Highly recommend!!!
Shannon_d, Jul 2026
From pick up to drop off it was an incredible experience. Our guide picked us up our hotel and gave us the lowdown while we drove to our drop off pint. He went over all the safety features and fitted us with a life jacket, helmet and paddle. He gave us explicit instructions on what to do and what not to do. It had been raining a lot so the rapids were moving that day. Joseth made us feel very safe and guided us down without any issues.
After we finished the trip a delicious meal was waiting for us and we enjoyed looking at the pictures from our trip
Annemiek_D, Jul 2026
A fantastisc experience, well organized and top guides! Good lunch and for 40usd you can buy the series of photos from your boat.
Jennifer_D, Jul 2026
What an experience!!!! My husband and I were rafting rookies and we had such a great time. Exhausting. Exhilarating. We never thought we could do something like this…and they took dozens of pictures of our ride (87 to be exact)!
Yader made us feel welcome from the moment the shuttle picked us up, and Joseph was a fantastic capitano! Very patient and encouraging, focusing on teamwork.
I highly recommend Arenal Rafting! We are so glad we did it. Pura Vida!
Kristen_L, Jul 2026
From start to finish this was a wonderful trip. Our family of 5 enjoyed the exciting and busy river! Tain was our guide and he made sure we felt safe while having a wonderful time. The transportation to and from was easy and the lunch after was delicious. Highly recommend this company and this river!
Lindsey_M, Jul 2026
Excellent rafting trip! First time taking our children aged 6 and 8 rafting and they had a great time. Our guide Carlos was very knowledgeable and great with kids. He made sure that they enjoyed the trip and wanted to go rafting again.
Errin_J, Jul 2026
The four of us had a fantastic time! Toucan was our guide and he was great! We got the closest view of a sloth and her baby from a tree hanging over the river. We would do the rafting again if we get to come back to the beautiful Costa Rica.
Matthew_L, Jul 2026
We had so much fun! It was definitely exciting enough to keep us entertained the entire time. It was the perfect way to add a fun adventure to our honeymoon without taking up the whole day. The photos turned out great too!
Chris_D, Jul 2026
This was our first time and it was so much fun! Different guides do different things like a leaf in your helmet, splash wars with other rafts, or just basic instructions while rowing, which makes a big difference. We could have did without the fruit stop in the middle but overall we would do it again. They provided towels and water plus food at the end which was good. The picture package was $40 and worth it as we had over 100 photos.
Caroline_C, Jul 2026
We were a family of 5, inc 3 kids (16,13,7yo) and we all had an amazing time.
The whole Arenal Rafting team were so friendly and fun as well as making you feel safe throughout. We had Julio on our transfer who was bilingual and Johnny as our raft guide. Both were excellent!
We did a II/III level rafting session and it was perfect for us all.
A great mix of crazy water rapids and swim/ float down river if you wish plus gentle journey with a chance to spot incredible wildlife
Natasha_A, Jul 2026
Booked this tour last minute and it was so much fun! Absolutely amazing experience all the way through. Great guides, customer service and a delicious lunch at the end. Tom was the best guide and made us feel safe the whole time while also giving us some thrills.
Mike_R, Jul 2026
Marcelo/Joseph are hands down the best guides! This was the highlight of our trip, and we will definitely be doing this again if we ever travel back. Great experience and the provided lunch afterwards is amazing.
Shakti_K, Jul 2026
One of the best experiences in La Fortuna!! This tour definitely worth the money. Our guide Rasta Fox was amazing and made my first rafting experience safe, fun and thrilling. Highly recommended
Tammy_R, Jul 2026
Definitely a must do when you're in the area! It was a great experience. William and Wilbert picked us up at our hotel and took us to their main building where we got the rest of our group. We headed to the Balsa River and the staff quickly got us set up with lifejackets, helmets and paddles. The staff was efficient and very friendly. William ended up being our guide and we had a blast. We were up for a challenge and he didn't disappoint. He was so knowledgeable about the area, animals, plants, and history. Pineapple will never taste as good as Costa Rican pineapple. We were sad to have the trip come to an end but we were met by a crew with water and just as quickly as we got ready, they were able to get us set to head back. The towels were perfect to keep us dry. We also made a stop at a small market to buy snacks and souvenirs. Once we returned to the main building the staff served us lunch which was delicious. While eating we talked with others and looked at our pictures. Then it was time to head back to our hotel. We would recommend You William, Wilbert and all the staff to anyone looking for a great experience rafting.
Anonymous, Jul 2026
Guides are very skilled and make the experience very fun and enjoyable. Would definitely recommend, very easy to learn. You could even be lucky to see some wild animals.
Lisa_D, Jun 2026
Absolutely amazing and so much fun! I have to admit I was a little nervous about this excursion as it looked a little more thrilling than I was up for. It was indeed thrilling but not scary! It's not easy but also not too difficult and the guides make it so much fun for everyone, regardless of skill and fitness level. Huge shout out to Braulio who was so good and accomodating with my daughter who did not like the rough parts. The entire crew was incredible. Our friends had Victor for their guide and loved him as well. Definitely a must-do while in La Fortuna!
Christina_J, Jun 2026
Tom was the ultimate raft guide for our family (including daughters 13, 11, 6). We felt safe and had an absolute blast. Lunch was delicious and the photo service was well worth it. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
LauraClahane, Jun 2026
This was the BEST excursion and SO MUCH FUN! From the beginning, when our main tour guide Moses picked us up, to the drip off. He was funny, engaging, caring, and informative. We had children within our tour (not mine) and he was so thoughtful and made sure they would be under HIS care and raft. The other tour guides were also knowledgeable and made sure our experience was as fun as possible and I always felt safe! GREAT TOUR AND WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE! Oh… the pineapple… SO GOOD! Lunch was a bit hectic but still incredible considering the amount of people. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Alfred_S, Jun 2026
This Great activity for families, extraordinary experience. Thank you. Joseph and Moises. You are amazing!
Dhara_P, Jun 2026
We had a blast and recommend doing this activity if you’re visiting La Fortuna. Our guide Braulio made the experience so much fun! Everything included from the hotel pick up, stops for refreshments, fresh fruit in the middle, and the traditional lunch at the end were all appreciated. It was easy for beginners on our boat and exhilarating for the more experienced individuals at the same time.
Jennifer_K, Jun 2026
This is my most favorite experience in Costa Rica. This is the second time I have rafted with Arenal Rafting and it was fantastic both times. Jader was our guide and he did a fantastic job! Carlos was our bus guide and he was also very good. The whole crew is very informative and safety is a priority. My family had never been and they all loved it. If you are in CR and are wanting to try this, this is the only company you should work with! Pura Vida!
Armond_R, Jun 2026
My family and I had an amazing time. Our guide in one raft was Moises and our other guide was Frijoles (black bean). I highly recommend this excursion and these guides.
stacy_m, Jun 2026
Good safety information. Fun trip. Offered juice, water, coffee on arrival. Took 30 minute bus ride to river. Got on river... Half way through got fresh pineapple and watermelon. Continued down river. Got water and towel at end to use. Drive back to starting place and got a great local lunch. Places to change clothes and use restroom. Our tour guide braullo was great!
Deepali_S, Jun 2026
It was first white water rafting experience for our twin boys. Marcelo (our guide) was very patient and ensured kids felt safe, and we all had fun. Balsa River wasn’t available the day we decided to go, so we did it at alternative Sarapiqui River. Fruits - yum, lunch - amazing. Picture package was pretty decent priced and they were delivered within 2 hrs. Along with us was a family who were celebrating birthday of their little daughter and company arranged for a yummy cake during lunch. That was a nice gesture. If I ever visit CR the next time, I would love to do more thrilling rafting.
maidabcariazo, Jun 2026
I was hesitant at first because it was the first time white water rafting for all of us, including my husband’s family. We also had teenagers with us, although they were in a separate boat. Our guide, Robert, and the guide for the other boat, Tom, were both amazing. They made the entire experience fun, exciting, and unforgettable.
From the van ride to the rafting adventure itself, we were laughing the whole time. I never felt scared during the trip because I knew we were in good hands. Their professionalism, energy, and sense of humor made everyone feel comfortable and safe.
Without a doubt, this rafting experience was the highlight of our trip and one of the best memories we made together as a family. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Megan_C, Jun 2026
This was our whole family’s favorite thing on our trip to La Fortuna! Julio, our guide, was awesome with the kids (11, 9, and 8). Everything was well organized and the lunch was great!
Anastasia_A, May 2026
Great experience from start to finish. Our guide in the bus was informative yet entertaining when it came to giving us the breakdown of what to expect/rules. He went so in depth that it actually made me nervous to do it. Once on the water, all my anxieties went away. It helps that o was in a raft with two kids, so I think our raft guide took it easy on us, which I’m so grateful for! Everyone from the company that I interacted with was kind (all dudes though) until the very end. The lunch after was also very good! We also spotted a sloth at the fruit store on the way to the river
From $73.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica
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