Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take advantage of some of northern Costa Rica’s best white-water rafting on this full-day, guided tour with traditional lunch included. Paddle through the rainforest and over the rapids of the Balsa River stopping along to swim and rest in nature. After your adventure is done enjoy a Costa Rican style lunch at a local restaurant.
- Class III and IV white-water rafting adventure
- 9-miles (15-kilometers) of paddling down the Balsa River
- Enjoy a break to swim, relax, snack and have a beer
- Lunch at a local restaurant after your rafting trip
Sample Menu
Main
Costa Rican Casado
A casado is a meal using rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and an optional protein source such as chicken, beef, pork, fish and so on.
What's Included
- Fruits on the river
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Transportation from hotels located less than 6 km away from our main office
- Towel
- 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.
- We do extra pickups in some hotels for a charge of $40
- 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
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Near public transportation
- 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
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Our guide, Carlos was amazing. Informative, funny, nice, and high energy. Transportation to inform was seamless, with all important information discussed during the transit. The rafting itself was incredibly thrilling. We were not expecting that intensity, but it was a blast. The Shoreline stop with fresh fruit was great. Scenery was amazing and they pointed out several sloths and monkeys along the way. The ending lunch was actually delicious and a big surprise. Highly recommend these people. If you end up with Carlos, consider yourself lucky!
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,992 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
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.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the entire experience, from the shuttle ride to the river adventure.
We’re especially happy to hear that Yader kept the ride entertaining while spotting sloths along the way, and that Roberto helped you feel safe, comfortable, and confident during your first rafting experience. It’s great to know you also enjoyed discovering Costa Rica’s wildlife, from poison dart frogs and toucans to sloths!
And we’re so happy the fresh pineapple was a highlight — we’ll gladly take the title of the best pineapple you’ve ever had!
Thank you for choosing Arenal Rafting. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Pura vida!
Great time, great crew , great river to raft on. Our guide Allen G. was great one the boat and gave us a marvelous tour of the river and creatures along the river while handling the raft. Would definitely reccomend.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hello,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great time on the river and enjoyed the experience with our crew.
We’re especially happy to hear that Allen G. made your adventure memorable. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed learning about the river and spotting some of the incredible wildlife along the way while he guided the raft.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to the river for another adventure in the future!
Pura vida!
Jefferson was a great guide! He made the most of our rafting journey! We love the experience and service overall.
We will do it again :)
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great time on the river and that Jefferson helped make your rafting adventure special. We truly appreciate your kind words about our service, and we’ll be happy to have you back for another adventure with us in the future!
Pura vida!
We had an AMAZING time on the tour. Our guide was Carlos and he made it so fun and safe. Our original tour got cancelled because the rain made the water levels unsafe and luckily the team was able to quickly rebook us and it worked perfectly. Was definitely the highlight of our time in La Fortuna. And the whole operation was ran like a well oiled machine. Would highly recommend. Our photos were phone and hilarious. Carlos was so kind and funny and catered to everyone’s wants and needs while on the river. I can’t say enough. Thank you to the whole crew David our driver , Carlos and even Alan another guide.
We had so much fun! Even though the dam wasn’t working in the river we were supposed to go to, they took us to another river and had the best time! We even saw iguanas and monkeys along the way. Alan was a great guide, who kept us safe while having a blast! The lunch afterwards was enjoyable as well
The best fun we had in Costa Rica!! Loved it! Our guide Nana was brilliant and we felt very safe with him x
Book this adventure now…you will not regret the fun and memories you will make rafting! My family has rafted before in the US (in Maine, etc) but hands down enjoyed this experience so much more. For one, the water and scenery were beautiful but our guide and the experience were top notch. Our guide, Carlos González, made sure to have fun with us and hit all the rapids.
This was the first time for my BFF and her daughter (mother-daughter girls trip), but they both loved it and felt safe the entire trip. During the ride over to the river, Carlos thoroughly explained the safety precautions, dos and dont’s, paddling commands, etc. He took every measure to ensure we were prepared for the river.
During our time on the river, Carlos also talked about the river, the area, and pointed out birds or animals. He was extensively knowledgeable about the La Fortuna area.
The fresh fruit break on the river was great and the traditional Costa Rican meal back at the rafting place hit the spot.
My BFF can’t wait to come back to CR with both our families and take them all on the river.
Well run and nicely organized. It’s a giant pack of people, but they do a good job personalizing your experience. Our guide was Julio, who did a wonderful job with our teenagers- one was a thrill seeker and the other was pretty freaked out by the rapids. He adapted his approach to both, leaving everyone happy and glad to be there.
Travelers should expect courteous, friendly, and professional staff. They should also expect thrills and possibly spills along a beautiful scenic river/s. I should also remember the banks of the river are alive with nature. Expect to see slough, birds, and monkeys. Fresh pineapple and watermelon accented the break along the riverbank. Kudos to team Joseph, David, and William!
Absolutely incredible! The guides were amazing and informative. They pointed out wildlife and taught us about the local culture and had so much to tell us. The actual rafting was gorgeous and thrilling and has been by far the best activity we have done. By the end it was like we were one giant family and I would 1,000% recommend this to anyone visiting La Fortuna.
Top notch. Fun, safe, exciting. Perfect level of activity and chill times. Excellent lunch...exceeded expectations!
We had 4 people in the raft and the guide (eziquel). He was really helpful and nice. I was kinda worried having never done this before but it wasn't that bad and ok to do as a beginner. It was my favorite activity at La Fortuna.
A stand out activity for us!
My partner and I did this tour in April and loved it, very much a highlight of our trip.
Our guide (Braulio M) was great, very energetic and enthusiastic!
During the rafting we encountered a surprise rapid(?) that had not been there the day before, this did several cause boats including ours to completely capsize, however there was plenty of staff around helping everyone out the water and making sure everyone was safe!
The fruit provided was great, and the meal after the rafting was also good. There was also the option to purchase photos after the tour.
Would recommend!
Absolutely top notch experience. We had a very anxious 13 year old and we were smartly paired off with raft guide Fabricio. He’s really good and super funny. He had us all belly laughing so it was hard to be anxious. We saw many people fall out but our guide gave such great instructions (between jokes and antics) we never came even close to falling and we even helped retrieve paddles a few times. We are still talking about how it has been one of favorite things if not most favorite of the trip so far!
This white water rafting experience was one of the highlights from our time in La Fortuna. Joseph was an awesome guide and ensured we had a fun and safe day on the river. The lunch after the rafting trip was delicious. All in all it was a great day and we would definitely recommend!
This was a highlight for my boyfriend and i’s trip, we had a blast with the activity and wildlife. Our tour guide Moises was so patient with us. Would recommend him to anyone, especially first timers!! Thank you to everyone. 😊
This was a great activity that our whole family enjoyed. I don’t think the rapids were actually class 3/4 at the end of dry season in April, but we had a great time on the river. Guides were experienced and very fun. They made sure to point out birds, iguanas and a sloth in the forest as we passed. The tour was well run - we stopped off at a little souvenir shop on the way for toilets and purchases (turned out it had the best prices we found in Costa Rica). The lunch after the trip was very delicious!
A fantastic trip with great guides and thrilling rapids! We have rafted before and this was by far the best experience to date! Tom is the best!!
SO much fun! Great time with family. I would highly recommend Arenal Rafting company. Professional and easy to work with. Highlight of our CR trip!
YES! BOOK IT! We went on day one of our trip and also did ziplines, night tours, Manuel Antonio, and more. This was the favorite activity of ALL members of our family. You get a great rush and it is for people of all ages! The guides are fantastic! DO IT!
all of the guides were awesome! They enjoy their job and make sure you have fun also. highly recommend for a fun day!
it was incredible. Edwin was our guide & he made the experience so great, truly. you can tell all of these guides love what they do & want to make your experience the best. so grateful for this experience! we saw tucán, iguanas, and a sloth. lots of cool wildlife!
Our guide, Carlos was amazing. Informative, funny, nice, and high energy. Transportation to inform was seamless, with all important information discussed during the transit. The rafting itself was incredibly thrilling. We were not expecting that intensity, but it was a blast. The Shoreline stop with fresh fruit was great. Scenery was amazing and they pointed out several sloths and monkeys along the way. The ending lunch was actually delicious and a big surprise. Highly recommend these people. If you end up with Carlos, consider yourself lucky!
Tugui was an amazing rafting guide! He made our adventure fun, exciting and informative. The Balsa river did not disappoint today! Great staff at Arenal Rafting! Would highly recommend
If I could give this more than 5 stars I would!! This was an intense, exhilarating, and fun experience. The guides truly love what they do and make sure that everyone is safe the entire time. The photos they are are 1000% worth buying! (Only $40 for 100 photos!) must do in Costa Rica
So fun!
Carlos Was great. Our driver Mario was smooth and my husband who gets car sick felt fine which is HUGE!
Axel was our guide and did the entire trip in both Spanish and English for our group. He was amazing, request him! He was so kind and inviting and made the trip so much fun for us!!
It was super fun! We went with Didi and he
made it a great experience. We stopped at a little store on the way to the rafting !
Roberto was great. Had an amazing time! The whole group enjoyed and it’s an experience I’d definitely recommend to anyone
Great experience! Exciting rapids, great water temperatures. Delicious fruit. Overall a highly recommended adventure.
White water rafting in La Fortuna was easily one of the top five experiences of my life. If you are anywhere near La Fortuna, rafting is a must. The scenery alone is worth it. Lush jungle the entire way, monkeys in the trees, exotic birds flying overhead, and even cows casually hanging out along the riverbanks. It felt wild and untouched but somehow peaceful at the same time.
Our guides, Cuca Daveed, were incredible. He constantly pointed out wildlife, made sure everyone felt comfortable, and really understood people’s individual limitations. At the beginning they go through detailed safety instructions, and I will admit that if you are already nervous it can sound intense. Do not let that scare you. It is purely to prepare you. Once you are actually on the river, it is very doable. They are professionals and you genuinely feel safe the entire time. They even have medical rafts for assistance, and if you carry an EpiPen (like me) for emergency medication, the captain of your raft will hold it securely for you.
One very important tip. Use the bathroom before you depart. There is about a one hour and forty five minute drive to the river, and there is no bathroom when you first arrive. You can go before leaving town and again after rafting before the drive back, but once you are on the river, which is about two to three hours, you are committed. Plan accordingly.
After rafting, they take you to eat and the food was AMAZING. Fresh, filling, and exactly what you want after being out on the water.
I had a slightly embarrassing moment when tipping because I remembered the medic’s name but blanked on my raft captain’s name.PThey handled it so kindly. No awkwardness, no pressure. They even explained that tips are shared among the team. Costa Rican culture is very Pura Vida and not pushy at all, but please tip. They work extremely hard and truly care about your experience.
If you are debating it because you are scared, do it anyway. It is thrilling without feeling reckless, adventurous without feeling unsafe, and something you will remember forever. I would absolutely do it again.
Member Pricing
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$80.75
per personWas $85.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica
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