Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- 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
Operating hours.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
Amanda_P
We had the most amazing experience white water rafting today! We were picked up promptly at our hotel at 9 am. Axel was such a fun bus guide. Once we got to the river, we met our guide, Carlos Gonsales, who was so experienced and so fun! The trip was extremely well organized, very safe. There were photographers along the way to capture the trip. It was so fun, very safe and so well organized. It ended a delicious lunch and slide show of all of the pictures. I highly recommend using Arenal Rafting for your best white water rafting experience in Arenal/La Fortuna!
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,954 reviews
Amanda_W, Apr 2026
Great rafting trip, lots of rapids throughout the trip. Staff was friendly and our guide, Chompi, was great!
Steven_M, Apr 2026
Did this white water rafting river cruise class 2/3 rapids with my 3 kids (12, 14 and 17) and wife. The experience was absolutely fantastic, enjoyed more than expected. The right balance of thrilling and a sense of accomplishment almost that we didn't fall in the river lol, as many people do! But it felt quite safe, there are guides and spotters all along the river. Kids especially can't wait to do it again.
Amanda_P, Apr 2026
We had the most amazing experience white water rafting today! We were picked up promptly at our hotel at 9 am. Axel was such a fun bus guide. Once we got to the river, we met our guide, Carlos Gonsales, who was so experienced and so fun! The trip was extremely well organized, very safe. There were photographers along the way to capture the trip. It was so fun, very safe and so well organized. It ended a delicious lunch and slide show of all of the pictures. I highly recommend using Arenal Rafting for your best white water rafting experience in Arenal/La Fortuna!
Jennifer_A, Apr 2026
This was fantastic! Our 7 and 8 year old had a wonderful time as did we. Our guide Moises was amazing and so fun! The entire team was so enthusiastic, helpful, and fun. Highly recommend this activity and company.
popsie1, Apr 2026
We had never been whitewater rafting before and signed up for the class 2 and 3 rapids. These rapids were more like class 3+ as our guide explained. There were 4 of us - me, my husband, and our two teenagers. The instructions were very clear and the whole team was organized. We were given a small raft that fit the 4 of us and our guide, William, who told us he was a national champion. He definitely knew what he was doing and how to steer the raft. The rest of the people all had large rafts and bigger groups, so I wonder if having a small raft made our trip harder. We had water in our faces the entire time with the exception of the very end where the rapids are calm. It felt like we were constantly trying to come up for air because the water was coming straight in our faces. At one point, we hit a large rapid and our raft turned sideways. Thankfully my kids didn't fall out but slid to the back of the raft where William caught my daughter who was very anxious to begin with. My son had his feet in the air (per the photos we saw at the end) but recovered. My husband and I fell out. My husband was able to get back on the raft quickly, but in the fall, I was thrown from the raft and despite wearing a life jacket, plunged into the river and had to swim up. When I came back up, I saw our raft heading far away from the river. I figured ok, I guess I need to figure out how to swim to shore, but swiftly within 10 seconds, my life jacket was grabbed from behind by a single rafter who worked for the company, extended his paddle for me to grab onto, and then swung me over to another raft who could pick me up. In the process, I got pinned under another raft coming down the river. It was only for 20 seconds or so, but given that I am a terrible swimmer, it was scary because I was stuck under water. Thankfully, the raft was able to paddle backwards so that I could come up for air. I then climbed onto that raft which was a big one which others had and the experience was totally different. No crazy waterboarding in my face, but just a fun ride. Eventually we reached my original raft where my family was relieved to see me, and they pulled the raft together in the river so that I could hop back onto my original raft. After that, we came to the rest stop for fruit. At that time, I learned my husband had fallen in and lost his shoe but was able to recover it. He ended up with a few scratches. I was fine but the next morning had an enormous black and blue bruise on my forearm which was either from the impact of falling into the river, or from the force of being pulled into the other raft. We were all surprised by the impact of the fall into the river. My husband hated the trip, my daughter thought it was way too scary, my son thought it was ok but didn't like the water in his face all the time, and I thought the trip was ok and very uncommon from all the reviews I read on here. I was expecting big rapids but not having water straight in my face constantly. I'd give this an average experience because I think falling happens, maybe not in the way I experienced it, but I did appreciate how organized and experienced the rafters are. I wish we could have bought some photos but every photo was a splash and there were ZERO photos of the four of us without water covering our faces. I think I saw only one photo where my son's face was visible and that was it. So unfortunately, this experience is a far cry from all the other reviews on here. Maybe it's because it was a small raft. Maybe William was struggling because we were all novices who couldn't paddle well. No idea, but this was not the experience I was expecting.
Allison_K, Mar 2026
We had so much fun white water rafting. Amazing guides and just a fantastic day on the Balsa River. If you’re on the fence, do it!
Emma_M, Mar 2026
This was a top notch experience. From the comfortable ride to the rafting and back for an AMAZING lunch! Pictures to purchase were affordable and fantastic! We had almost 100 pictures of our trip and they captured the fun perfectly. Jefferson was our guide on our raft and he was so fun. We love to have fun and he played right along and into it. Highly recommend! This was such a great experience! Great for everyone!!!!
Kristi_C, Mar 2026
Erick was our guide and he was awesome! Experienced, professional, and funny, and so kind to our 9-year-old daughters. We felt well-prepared, taken care of and safe (even if we had fallen out, which we didn't). Highly recommend if whitewater rafting is on your list!
Adili_S, Mar 2026
Great rafting trip. It was our first time but the guides were very skilled . The rapids were definitely intense at times and we were on the water for 2 hrs . Saw sloths , monkeys and iguanas. The lunch was good also . Would definitely recommend.
Khoa_L, Mar 2026
We had a great time. Didier was a great host providing the overview. We were all beginners but our boat guide Carlos Segura made us feel comfortable and let the kids stay involved. The tempo was good with rapids broken up by areas of calm water to rest and the adventure came with a great fruit and lunch break at the end. We would highly recommend it to other families.
Elizabeth_P, Mar 2026
Well arranged trip - rafting was a lot of fun! Great guide! Def worth it! Well arranged trip - rafting was a lot of fun! Great guide! Def worth it!
Marilyn_L, Mar 2026
We had an absolutely incredible experience white water rafting in Costa Rica, easily one of the highlights of our trip!
From the moment we started, we felt completely at ease thanks to our amazing guides. Alejandro, our main guide, was exceptional. His experience really showed, and he made safety a top priority, which was especially important since we were traveling with kids. He took the time to explain everything clearly and kept us feeling confident the entire time.
The rapids were exciting, the scenery was beautiful, and the whole experience was the perfect mix of adventure and family-friendly enjoyment.
This was truly one of the best experiences we had in Costa Rica. Highly recommend—especially if you’re going with kids and want something both safe and unforgettable!
Gretchen_D, Mar 2026
Great experience from start to finish. Our guide Tom was amazing. Rafting was thrilling but felt safe the entire time. Highly recommend
Shavanya_S, Mar 2026
This was a great experience. The guides were friendly and fun as well as the rafting being just the right thrill. I would definitely do it again!
Preiya_H, Mar 2026
We had a great time with Arenal Rafting. The organisers were professional, patient and reassuring that we were safe and would really have an exciting time. Didier Wes great, went through all the safety details and assigned us to a raft with another couple of similar experiences. Our raft guide Pado/Darwin was great, really reassuring, told us how to sit and move in the raft and be safe and what to do if we fell out. I did, and without any problems I was hauled back in, no problems at all and added to the fun! I would genuinely recommend this tour. We were novices and have a great time.
Karthik_S, Mar 2026
Axel was a tremendous guide. The trip as a whole was extremely well organized. We felt very safe and had no issues as far as safety for children (age 11 and 14). Highly recommend!
Saro_L, Mar 2026
This whitewater rafting trip was hands-down one of the best experiences of our trip! our guide Pablo Chole, was great.
The rapids were thrilling (Class II/Ill felt just right—enough adrenaline without being overwhelming).
If you're in the area and want an authentic, heart-pounding rafting experience with a guide who genuinely cares, book this tour and pray you get Pablo—he's the real deal! We'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Krista_F, Mar 2026
We had a great time on the river. The company was so organized and easy to work with. Very kid friendly. Bring long sleeves cause the sun is bright!
Katie_C, Mar 2026
Our rafting trip was a lot of fun. Carlos, our rafting guide, made the experience fun for the kids. He pointed out sloths, monkeys, birds and lots of trees/plants.
Susan_G, Mar 2026
So much fun 1st time white water rafting! Felt safe and Pablo was very knowledgeable. We were all pros by the end and friendly. Fruit 1/2 way through and lunch later. Great day!
Rachel_M, Mar 2026
Our family did this rafting adventure with our 13, 10 and 9 yo. It was a blast! It was fun, a low to medium level of scary, which made it just right for us and the kids. Out of the 20-30 rafts in our group, I didn't see anyone fall out of the raft so it felt safe. Allan was our guide on the raft and he was great. Lots of playful fun between all the rafters going down the river. Half way through we stopped and the guides pulled 3 boats out of the water onto the shore, flipped them over and diced up a bunch of pineapple and watermelon. It was a lovely break. The lunch served afterwards was great too. I would highly recommend.
Angela_S, Mar 2026
We did this as a family of 3 with a teenager and no previous experience ( except for one other rafting trip 24yrs ago!). Communication was excellent before and during the activity, and the safety briefing by Didier on the bus was comprehensive. Alan was our raft captain and kept us safe but made sure we had a ton of fun. There was a break for some fresh fruit half way down the river! We got very wet, we had so much fun and even saw a sloth and a toucan on the riverside! Excellent experience, very well organized, safe, incredibly fun and value for money. Didier, Henry and Alan thank you for a wonderful day!
Allyson_P, Mar 2026
Family friendly. Very well organized. Efficient. Safe. We had a blast. Son 8 years old and daughter is 9.
GRANT_M, Mar 2026
Great family experience and our boat captain was Julio and he was absolutely amazing!!! I would highly recommend this to friends and family.
Sheymarie_R, Mar 2026
Will do it again. Crew was very friendly and funny. The lunch at the end was delicious. Bring sunblock.
Tara_S, Mar 2026
We had so much fun!! The guides were great, so much fun! The communication from start to finish was excellent! If I come back to Costa Rica I will definitely book again!
Sarah_P, Mar 2026
This was a well-organized and super fun experience! When we arrived we were greeted with coffee and juice, then seperated into groups for the drive. We really appreciated our bus guide, Juan, giving us some insight into the agriculture and towns we drove past on the way to the river. We got to learn a lot of tidbits and this was just the warmup! When we got to the river, we got our life vests, helmets, and paddles, and separated into smaller groups. Our raft guide, Fabricio, did a great job calling out in instructions and keeping us safe. The rapids were super fun to navigate. In the calmer parts of the river he also pointed out iguanas and sloths, and gave us some bonus facts about some of the trees and coconuts. The pineapple/watermelon snack was a nice midway point. After the rafting concluded, we went back to base camp for lunch and the lunch was delicious casados (I got the tilapia and loved it even as someone who doesn't usually prefer fish!). We also enjoyed watching the photos as a group as a fun debreifing activitiy. All together the day flowed nicely and we had a great time from start to finish.
amandarcestrone, Mar 2026
We had the best time during this white water rafting excursion! My husband and I both agreed this was the highlight of Costa Rica trip! Our guide Yader was so friendly and welcoming, you could tell he really loved hi job and wanted to share his beautiful country with us! We felt completely safe during the entire excursion and Yader made the trip better by pointing out slotted and monkeys and telling g up about the nature in the area! We had delicious fruit halfway through the rafting and then we were served lunch! Overall this was such a great experience and I would recommend this to everyone!
Stephanie_S, Feb 2026
Best thing we did in La Fortuna. Exciting rapids and saw a decent amount of wild life (sloths, iguanas, many birds.) Axel was an awesome tour guide. This Viator booking is for a 2-3 level rapid, they do offer a 4 level rapid option as well.
Chris_C, Feb 2026
Amazing rapids and saw some sloths, iguanas and lots of birds!
Great lunch included also, would highly recommend.
From $75.00
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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