Top Costa Rica White Water Rafting

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.

Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica

Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica

5 hoursFree Cancellation

White Water Rafting Class II and III

Navigate Class III-IV rapids under the guidance of an expert during this white-water rafting course down the Pacuare River from San Jose. Paddle your way through one of Costa Rica's most picturesque river gorges, looking out for native wildlife between rapid runs, on an exciting day trip ideal for thrill seekers. Hotel pickup and drop-off, equipment, and lunch are all included, so you can focus on the thrills.

White Water Rafting Pacuare River From San José

10 hoursFree Cancellation

Rafting the Sarapiqui River isn’t just a fun way to get an adrenaline fix; it’s also a chance to see spider monkeys, sloths, toucans, and other wildlife. As you hit a series of class III and IV rapids on a raft, your guide shares information about the river’s important history and rich wildlife. This all-inclusive tour provides hotel pickup, transportation, snacks, drinks, and lunch, so you can avoid logistical planning.

Sarapiqui River Extreme White Water Rafting Class IV

5 hoursFree Cancellation

Grip it and rip it on the upper Balsa River during the half-day whitewater rafting adventure over class III and IV rapids. Feel heart-pumping action while immersing yourself in Costa Rica's incredible natural beauty, spotting sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys, and tropical birds. Cap it all off with an authentic lunch chased down with a glass of handmade sugar cane juice that you get to press yourself while learning about local culture.

White Water Rafting Class III & IV

Prepare to get wet and wild as you tackle the class III and IV rapids of the Sarapiqui River on this half- or full-day white-water rafting adventure from La Virgen. Marvel over the dramatic scenery and lush rainforest of the Sarapiqui canyon as you hurtle downstream, then re-fuel with lunch (full-day tour only) or refreshments by the waterfront. Best of all: the rapids are suitable for all abilities, including complete beginners, and anyone over 14 can give it a go!

Extreme White Water Adventure Class III & IV

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Whitewater Rafting Class III and IV

Tenorio Whitewater Rafting Class 3 & 4 - Native's Way Costa Rica Tours & Packages

10 hoursFree Cancellation

Whitewater Rafting Savegre Class II-III plus Waterfall Manuel Antonio

White Water River Rafting Class III-IV from La Fortuna-Arenal

8 hoursFree Cancellation

Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel

40 minutesFree Cancellation

Prove your paddling skills on some of Costa Rica's best white water on a full-day rafting trip down the Pacuare River. Navigate Class III-IV rapids as you navigate through a scenic gorge, admiring cliffs, waterfalls, and unspoiled tropical rainforest that you can only see from the water. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as sloths, coatis, and toucans during calmer stretches, and stoke your energy with lunch at a riverside camp.

White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo

7 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Dial up the adrenaline with this family-friendly, full-day, guided white-water rafting adventure with lunch included. No matter your skill or ability level, this thrilling ride down the Balsa River and over class II and III rapids is pure fun. Paddle with your fellow travellers over rapids called “Dredges” and “Magnetic Rock” and see the tropical jungle and wildlife along the shore. Afterwards, relax with a traditional lunch.

White Water Rafting Balsa River |Class II &III From Arenal

Experience the thrills of both white-water rafting and tubing in one day on this combo adventure in La Fortuna, which saves you the hassle of booking activities separately. Tackle Class III and IV rapids in a raft with a small group and guide. Enjoy a refreshment break halfway, then hop on a tube through Class II and III rapids. Afterwards, refuel with an included lunch and enjoy an organic farm tour and sugarcane demonstration.

La Fortuna Small-Group Whitewater Rafting and Tubing Combo Tour

6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Jungle adventure meets family fun on this canyoning and whitewater rafting tour from La Fortuna. Tour the rainforest, rappel down waterfalls, and bounce down class II and III rapids on the Balsa River, stopping along the way to swim and spot wildlife. This tour even includes a professional photographer so you can leave the camera somewhere safe, live in the moment, and purchase pictures after.

Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting near the Arenal Volcano

Whitewater Rafting Naranjo River from Manuel Antonio Class III-IV

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

White Water Rafting Class II- III From Sarapiquí

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Savegre Whitewater Rafting Small-Group Tour from Jaco with Lunch

6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

If you’re looking for an extreme adventure on the Balsa River, this white-water rafting tour is a great pick. Paddle your way down six miles (9.6 kilometers) of nearly non-stop white water—most rafting companies don’t take this extreme route on the Upper Balsa, so it’s unlikely that you’ll see any other rafts as you head through the rain forest canyon. This tour includes an extra stop at the El Salto swimming hole and lunch.

White Water Rafting class V

You book Jonatan — not a company. He has 24 years on the Pacuare River, personally plans your trip, and past guests have stayed at his house. That’s the Turrialtours difference. The Pacuare is National Geographic-ranked among the world’s top whitewater rivers. It runs through a pristine jungle canyon and the protected territory of the Cabécar people — Costa Rica’s largest indigenous community. No dam, no crowds, no highway views. Private 4x4 pickup — never a bus. Maximum 18 guests. World Rafting Federation-licensed guides, CPR/First Aid certified, fully insured. Everything included: transport, equipment, buffet lunch (+ breakfast from San José). No hidden costs, no surprises. Our guests say it best: “friends, not clients.”

Pacuare River Rafting Class IV from Turrialba

8 hoursFree Cancellation

Go whitewater rafting even if you're a beginner, with this Class II and III rapids experience on Costa Rica's Balsa River. Well-suited for travelers who like to keep active on vacation but want to ease into this activity, start off with small to medium waves before progressing to an intermediate route. Enjoy the views as you cruise through the rainforest, with opportunities to see monkeys, sloths, and toucans.

Rafting Class II & III + Local Farm Lunch & Cultural Tour

Costa Rica Guanacaste Airport ( LIR )Private Arrival Transfer

30 minutes to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

Combine three thrilling activities into one action packed day with this tour. Instead of having to book separate canyoning, rafting, and water-tubing packages, you get to experience all three along with a small group of fellow passengers and guides to keep you safe and on track. As an added bonus, stop for an included post-activity lunch at an organic farm and enjoy a short farm tour before returning to La Fortuna.

La Fortuna: Small-Group Canyoning, Rafting, and Water-Tubing Tour

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse areas of the planet and the Guanacaste region’s tropical dry forests are stunning. Discover this beautiful patch of forest yourself as you glide down the rapids of the Tenorio River. Challenging rapids await you as 10 miles of twists, turns, and drops take you through the jungle. An intense experience for adventurers, it’s an exciting way to see Costa Rica’s natural beauty on a thrilling ride.

White Water Rafting: Class III and IV on The Tenorio River

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in Costa Rica

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What are people saying about Costa Rica

White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo

Suzie_W, Oct 2026

An absolutely amazing...

An absolutely amazing experience! The Pacuare River is breathtaking, and the rafting was so much fun and exciting. Our guide, Roberto, was fantastic and made us feel safe throughout the trip. Everything was well organized, and the breakfast and lunch were great too. Highly recommend this adventure to anyone visiting Costa Rica!

White Water Rafting Class II and III

Marvin_C, Oct 2026

Best adventure in Costa Rica

Fun and safe. The whole team was great. We did the class 2 and 3 rapids, great intro for first timers. We had a halftime, on land fruit break. Had a little swim time off shore and holding on the raft in calmer waters. We had several sections of rapids and calm waters. During calm waters we saw lots of igauanas, birds, bats and slothes which the guides pointed out for us. Our guide felt out our excitment level and so he made out raft do 360 spins and backwards approaches which added to the fun. We had a delicuois lunch back at the compnqy resturant and got to pet amd feed the animals (goats, cow, donkey) in the back. The whole trip was 5 hours. Uriel was our guide and Warren was thr kayak photographer. I highly recommend this company.

White Water Rafting Class III & IV

Tammy_Y, Oct 2026

I would highly recommend...

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to white water raft in La Fortuna. We had a blast while rafting on the Balsa River with Elvis. Our main tour guide, Orlando, was very knowledgeable, funny, and gave local recs for food and coffee. My boyfriend had never rafted before and they made him feel comfortable and he made it to the end without too much of a problem. The rafting was fun and nature-packed. We saw 4 sloths total, including a close-up with one on the side of the road! Lunch at the end with fresh made coffee and delicious guava juice was awesome. The entire experience was around 5 hours.

Whitewater Rafting Naranjo River from Manuel Antonio Class III-IV

Santiago_B, Sept 2026

Amazing experience. Pura Vida!!!!

This is a very well-run operation. Safety and fun are prioritized. The crew, Kenneth, Jason, Alvin, and Juancito were amazing. We had a great time! Juancito paddles ahead of your raft and take beautiful pictures of your ride, at an extra cost, but worth every penny. I can’t wait to come back.

Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica

MonaLy_R, Sept 2026

All the guides for the...

All the guides for the rafting were great. The shuttle ride to the river went by a breeze with Yader spotting sloths and telling jokes. Our raft guide was Roberto and he did a great job making the activity as a whole feel very safe, secure and fun. At first we were a little worried as it was our first time rafting, but Roberto made sure we were ok and also enjoying ourselves. He was very good at spotting wildlife, stopping to show us poison dart frogs, toucans and sloths. One of the highlights was the fruit they served, which to date is the best pineapple we have had ever.

Whitewater Rafting Savegre Class II-III plus Waterfall Manuel Antonio

Alyssa_U, Sept 2026

Awesome Rafting Trip

We had a blast with Amigos Del Rio Rafting Tours! Juan Carlos and Jason were awesome guides and very knowledgeable about the river! We stopped in a small village and got some delicious food prior to hitting the water! Juan Carlos was a great leader and did well with providing instructions during his safety briefing. Once we hit the water there was nonstop fun and beautiful scenery. The rapids were constant, fun, and at points challenging. The break along the river to check out the waterfall was nice, with excellent snacks! Then after rafting the lunch that was provided was amazing! We truly had a wonderful time on this trip!

White Water Rafting Pacuare River From San José

Trinity_H, Aug 2026

10/10 experience!

Amazing experience. One of my favorite things we have done in Costa Rica so far. Be prepared to work! It’s not a lazy trip down the river. The scenery was beautiful and our guide Jose was very knowledgeable about the river, different birds we saw, and overall made the experience so wonderful for us.

Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica

Payal_S, Aug 2026

Very good. Only down...

Very good. Only down fall was the Balsa River only open when dam is open and it was not open by the time we reached there so we had to go to another river so ended up being a long day and lots of time driving. Wish they had checked before we went or given us maybe some of our money back. But it very good and a thrilling adventure.

Sarapiqui River Extreme White Water Rafting Class IV

Sandeep_K, Aug 2026

Carlos and Alan were...

Carlos and Alan were absolutely amazing and incredibly helpful throughout our rafting experience. This was our first time rafting, and they made sure it would be an unforgettable experience. Initially, we chose a rafting level that was too challenging for beginners. After understanding our experience level, they wisely suggested that we downgrade to an easier level. It turned out to be an excellent recommendation! After experiencing the easier route, we realized that the original level would have been far too difficult for us as first-time rafters. We really appreciated their professionalism, attentiveness, and genuine concern for our safety and enjoyment. Thanks to Carlos and Alan, we had a fantastic and memorable rafting experience. Highly recommended!

Whitewater Rafting Class III and IV

Vanessa_R, May 2026

A MUST in Guanacaste!

Our white-water rafting excursion was easily one of the highlights of our trip! A huge thank you to our guide, Junior, who made the entire experience unforgettable. As first-time rafters, we were a little nervous, but Junior was incredibly friendly, professional, and knowledgeable from start to finish. He explained everything clearly, kept us informed throughout the trip, and most importantly, made us feel completely safe on the river. His confidence and expertise allowed us to relax, have fun, and enjoy the adventure. The rafting itself was exciting, beautiful, and well-organized, but Junior's outstanding service truly made the experience special. If you're considering this excursion, we highly recommend it—and if you get Junior as your guide, you're in excellent hands! Thank you, Junior, for an amazing adventure and memories we'll never forget!

Whitewater Rafting Class 2-3 Balsa River from La Fortuna

Karina_G, May 2026

AMAZING experience!

Booked this experience because we had to fill one of our last days, and went into it with no expectations. Although I was a little nervous at first, it ended up being so fun! Our guide Aurelio was super nice and informative, and had an amazing vibe! We also felt super safe as there are many other rafts and individual guides in the river that go and help out when people get pulled in the water (although this is rare). Overall amazing experience, and even though this seems like more of an adrenaline excursion, at times it felt like a nature one as well because of the AMAZING views and huge amount of wild life (especially birds) that we got to see. Overall a 10/10 and I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for something fun and different for your trip!!

Extreme White Water Adventure Class III & IV

Magali_F, Jan 2026

Fantastic!!!

Absolutely fantastic! 1st of all huge thanks to our guides, Steven and David! This was an amazing experience, we loved it. Also many many thanks again for waiting for us for 45 minutes to start the activity!!!! The lunch was excellent and it was fun getting the sugar cane at the end. MUCHAS GRACIAS E PURA VIDA.