Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
This 2.5-hour journey with your professional guide down a lush Costa Rican river offers the thrill of big waves and excitement for the whole family. Navigate 10 kilometers of white water rapids, stop along the way to rest a bit, do a little swimming, and enjoy some fresh Costa Rica fruit. After white water rafting, enjoy a Costa Rica style lunch at a local restaurant.
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Minimum age 5 years old
Maximum weights 220 pounds
Please bring changing clothes, water shoes, clothes to get wet
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Towel
Bottled water
Professional guide
Transportation from hotels located less than 6 km away from our main office
Lunch
Pick up time may vary up to 20 min depending on hotel's location, please...
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
The rapids at Balsa River are the best for action adventure people who want to challenge the limits of adrenaline 2.5 hours of only rapids where our clients finish very scare or very happy , our professional guides with more than 18 years each doing rafting will make sure you are going to remember your outstanding action adventure of your vacation super fun and safe ,a lot of paddling a lot of work your biggest rafting adventure. INCLUDES: fruit on the river ,towel beers water and a delicious most popular Costa Rican lunch Casado and PURA VIDA time. DEPARTS: every day at 09:00 until 14:45 WHAT TO BRING: Changing clothes, clothes to get wet, tennis shoes or water shoes.
main
Costa Rican Casado Lunch
Pickup included
1,672 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Anne E,
Jul 5, 2025
- Viator
We had the best time on our white water rafting with our guide Carlos Vasquez and his partner Juan Miguel. They made the bus ride entertaining, gave clear instructions, and provided hours of fun. The fresh fruit at the end of the excursion, and meal when we got back was all delicious. You can tell the staff enjoy what they do and have fun right along with you. Definitely recommend booking this if you are in the La Fortuna area.
Jen A,
Jul 5, 2025
- Viator
Everyone in our family said that this was their favorite excursion that we did while in Costa Rica! Be prepared to get soaked! Be prepared to use your arm and leg muscles. Be prepared for a Costa Rican adventure! We went as a family of 7, and they accommodated us and allowed us to all be in our raft together. They took over 100 photos of us, and the cost was super reasonable for the photo package. At the time of our trip, it was $40 for all images.
Lisa S,
Jul 2, 2025
- Viator
Amazing experience! Julio was a fun and experienced guide! Lunch was wonderful and they even had fresh cut watermelon and pineapple after we were done!
Vivien C,
Jul 2, 2025
- Viator
We ended up at the River Sarapiqui instead of River Tulsa which was fine, just wish that’s what was advertised. I think that’s why the ride there and back took 1 hr each way instead of 45 mins. Our rafting guide Jerry was an expert and pointed out lots of wildlife and no one fell out unless we jumped out ourselves. On the van ride back our tour guide (the one who gives us instructions on the van) told us not to give our towels to anyone who asked (I assumed he meant other customers) because lost towels would be docked from his pay. Then right when we arrived back at the Arenal Rafting company office, a staff member asked to take our towels to be cleaned. When our guide found out he was mad/ upset and yelled at us because he had told us earlier to not give our towels to anyone. But why would someone else from the company ask for our towels if that’s not the standard procedure? It’s confusing. Also, I don’t think customers losing towels should be docked from the guide’s pay anyway since it shouldn’t be his responsibility. Why is it on the customer to refuse another staff member’s advances to take our used towels away? Arenal Rafting company has been around for a long time so it’s surprising that they’re so disorganized.
Brandi A,
Jul 2, 2025
- Viator
Great trip down a beautiful river! Rapids were fun and guides were clearly experts at navigating the river. The amount of fun depends very much on the guide you get. Other boats had guides that were a ton of fun and made the trip even more fun than just the ride. Putting pineapple leaves in hats to make horns, picking (kindly) on their boat members, and telling them about what they were seeing along the way. We were a little disappointed that our guide didn't do any of that. It was simply helping us get down the river safely, which he did very well. It was also complicated by the fact that of the 6 patrons, 3 were Spanish speakers and we were not. So our guide spent 95% of the time talking with them and didn't really say much to us or tell us about the river, plants, animals, etc. Overall, still very fun, but it could have been extra fun with a little more effort. Lunch afterwards was nice and we were able to split the cost of the pictures afterwards with the other family in the boat, making them very affordable. So, that was great! Anyone thinking of going...you will get wet, and I mean, soaked. So don't spend time wondering about that. It's a given. ;)
Operated by Arenal Rafting