Top Central Valley White Water Rafting

Connect with the waters of Costa Rica by paddling down class II and III white waters of the Balsa River. This half-day, guided, white-water rafting tour includes equipment, instruction, safety briefing and ends with a delicious lunch served in a local restaurant. Feel the thrill and excitement as you glide six miles (10 kilometers) down the river flanked by lush the jungle filled with monkeys, tropical birds, and sloths.

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.

Navigate 38 Class III-IV rapids on 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 teenagers and adults alike. Hotel pickup and drop-off, equipment, and lunch are included.

More than just a white-water rafting tour, this trip from La Fortuna also includes a hike on an organic farm, a look at coffee and chocolate production, and a chance to see wildlife like sloths and iguanas in their natural habitat. Between activities, navigate tumbling class II to III white-water rapids along with a guide.

Rafting the Sarapiqui River isn’t just a fun way to get an adrenaline fix; it’s also a chance to see animals like spider monkeys, sloths, and toucans in the wild. 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 transportation, snacks, drinks, and lunch, so you don't have to do any extra planning.

As one of Costa Rica's biggest exports, coffee plays a big role in Costa Rica's economy—and its culture, too. Learn about artisanal Costa Rican coffee from bean to cup complete with harvesting, roasting, and grinding on this tour of a family-owned coffee farm near Arenal Volcano. As a bonus, try other favorite Costa Rican crops such as chocolate and sugar cane.

Spend the day away from bustling San Jose and see the majestic Rio Celeste, one of the top attractions in Costa Rica. Located inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the deep turquoise waters of the river can be explored via a trail, which includes a waterfall, a suspended bridge, and a section of hot springs

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with this all-access day pass to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Featuring hiking trails through the cloud forest, cascading waterfalls, a rescued jungle cats educational program, and numerous specialty wildlife exhibits, La Paz Waterfall Gardens guarantees good fun for the whole family. This pass can be redeemed anytime during the park’s normal operating hours and is good for accessing all of the exhibits.

Max out the adrenaline (and the fun) during this full-day adventure combining a white-water rafting trip and zipline excursion. Zoom through the rain forest canopy during a series of heart-pounding zipline rides, some on cable spans as long as 3,200 feet (980 meters). Then battle the Class II and III rapids of the Balsa River. Lunch, snacks, and rafting gear are all included.

Explore the Sarapiquí River on a guided white-water adventure from San Jose. After a convenient hotel pickup, embark on your journey to La Virgen de Sarapiquí. Plow through class-II rapids that are ideal for both a beginner and an experienced paddler. Enjoy incredible jungle scenery and wildlife on your 10-mile (16-kilometer) trip downriver. 

Experience the thrill of rafting down Costa Rica’s Rio Balsa on this white-water adventure! Following the lead of an experienced guide, you’ll navigate Class II and III rapids as you pass through a lush rain forest landscape. After working up an appetite paddling down the river, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local eatery. Round-trip transport from your La Fortuna hotel is included.

Grip it and rip it on the upper Rio Balsa during the half-day whitewater rafting adventure over Class III & IV rapids. Feel heart-pumping action while immersing yourself in Costa Rica's incredible natural beauty. 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.

Two popular Costa Rica adventures come together into one adventure-packed day with this white-water rafting and canyoning tour from La Fortuna. During the canyoning portion, rock climb, rappel down a waterfall, and zipline—all under the watchful eye of your guide. Then, head down to the Balsa River for a 2-hour white-water rafting tour with class II to III rapids. When to action ends, wind down with a typical Costa Rican lunch.

This white-water rafting adventure from La Fortuna is a great choice for families and first-time rafters. You don't need any prior experience to enjoy the trip down class II and III rapids—a guide makes the whole trip easy for everyone in your group. This tour also includes transportation, fresh fruit, and beer for unbeatable value.

Appease your appetite for adventure during an exhilarating 3-hour rafting session on the Sarapiqui River from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui . With an experienced guide, conquer the Class II and III rapids on the river’s most intense section and feel your adrenaline levels surge. During calmer periods, marvel at the abundance of exotic wildlife on the banks of the Sarapiqui River and listen to fascinating commentary from your guide. All rafting equipment and round-trip transportation from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui is included on this tour.

With its cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife, the Pacuare River is rightfully famous for its natural beauty. Paddle through the river gorge, navigating 52 Class II-IV rapids as you go, on this 12-hour trip from San Jose. Take in views of the tropical rain forest and wildlife such as sloths, parrots, and toucans as you ride the river (and your adrenaline rush) over the course of the day.

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.

The Balsa River is one of the best spots in Costa Rica to try white water rafting, and this 6-hour tour from La Fortuna is suitable for complete beginners. Tackle the Class II and III rapids, enjoy spectacular views as you cruise through the rainforest, and look out for wildlife such as monkeys, sloths and toucans. Hotel pick-up and lunch is included.

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!

Jungle adventure meets family fun on this canyoning and whitewater rafting tour from La Fortuna. Ride through the rain forest in a rugged 4x4, rappel down waterfalls, and cruise down rapids on the Balsa River, stopping along the way to enjoy fresh fruit, swimming holes, and wildlife sightings. This tour even includes a professional photographer so you can live in the moment and purchase pictures afterward.

The Sarapiqui River is a popular spot for white water rafting in Costa Rica with Class III and IV rapids. This tour is ideal for adventurers traveling between San Jose and La Fortuna—enjoy door-to-door one-way transfers and take part in an action-packed tour along the way. Admire views of the rainforest as you paddle along the river, tackle thrilling rapids, then enjoy a delicious lunch before continuing to your La Fortuna hotel

If you’re traveling from San Jose to La Fortuna/Arenal, get there the fun and adventurous way on a whitewater rafting tour and transfer. After pickup in San Jose, gear up for a thrilling ride down the class II and III rapids of the Sarapiqui River. Recharge over an included Costa Rican lunch before getting dropped off at your La Fortuna lodging to start the next chapter of your trip.

Shoot the rapids on the Pacuare River on this day tour from Turrialba. With a guide providing instruction and ensuring your safety, paddle down 18 miles (29 kilometers) of Class III and Class IV rapids through Costa Rica's lush landscape. Stop for guided hikes up waterfalls located in hidden canyons and at a base camp halfway for lunch. Learn about the surrounding ecosystem, flora, and fauna through your guides' commentary.

Take a wet and wild ride down the Sarapiquí River on a thrilling white-water rafting tour! Paddle your way through Class III and IV rapids while surrounded by the lush tropical scenery of the Costa Rican rain forest. Refuel with a tropical snack on the river bank, and reward your white-water victory with a hearty lunch at an authentic restaurant. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna.