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Whitewater Rafting Class 2-3 Balsa River from La Fortuna
Badge of ExcellenceLa Fortuna, Costa Rica
From USD 85.00
Select Date and Travellers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
La Fortuna Tours
Attractions
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park Tours & TicketsArenal Observatory Lodge and Spa Tours & TicketsLa Fortuna Waterfall Tours & TicketsVenado Caves (Cavernas de Venado) Tours & TicketsTabacon Hot Springs Tours & TicketsButterfly Conservatory Tours & TicketsLos Laureles Hot Springs (Termales Los Laureles) Tours & Tickets
Nearby
- 4 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
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.
- White-water rafting trip down the Rio Balsa in Costa Rica
- Paddle your way through Class II and III rapids surrounded by lush rainforest
- Spot wildlife like birds, butterflies, sloths and monkeys as you journey down the river
- Tuck into a satisfying Costa Rican lunch at a rustic local restaurant after rafting
- Safety briefing, gear and instruction provided by first aid–certified professional guides
- Snacks, lunch and round-trip transport from most La Fortuna hotels included
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Local guide
- Gratuities
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
- Desafio Adventure CompanyBehind the catholic church, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica
We are happy to pick you up at your hotel or rental home, but you can also easily fin dour office in the center of La Fortuna, 100 meters West of the Central Park.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
10:00 am
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Pickup details
If you are staying at an AirBnB or rental home, please be sure to send us the exact location and GPS. We have an extra transport charge for hotels outside of our normal pick-up zone.
What To Expect
Become a jungle explorer for the day on this rafting tour through Costa Rica’s rain forest. Your guide will pick you up at your La Fortuna hotel for the scenic drive to the winding Rio Balsa. You’ll receive a short safety training at the launch site and gear up with a paddle, life vest and helmet. If it’s your first time rafting, not to worry — your guide will demonstrate paddling techniques and share basic rafting tips. No need to bring a camera and risk getting it wet, as a photographer will accompany you on the trip, and you’ll have the option to purchase photos at the end of the tour.
Next, set out on the river and begin your 6-mile (10-km) descent through the rapids. Water levels vary depending on rainfall, so the river may be shallow or deep. The first half of the ride is the most challenging. Prepare to get wet as your guide helps you navigate Class III rapids like the Congo Loco and Rock around the Croc (don’t panic, as no crocodiles are actually found here).
Take a break after successfully clearing these rapids with a riverbank pit stop and snack of fresh fruit. Relax in the shade of towering trees or enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. Hop back in your raft for the continued journey down more mellow, Class II rapids. Soak up the passing tropical scenery and keep an eye out for native rain forest residents including monkeys, sloths, butterflies and colorful birds.
At the end of your rafting journey, step back onto solid ground and enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. You can shower and change into dry clothes before the return drive to La Fortuna, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Next, set out on the river and begin your 6-mile (10-km) descent through the rapids. Water levels vary depending on rainfall, so the river may be shallow or deep. The first half of the ride is the most challenging. Prepare to get wet as your guide helps you navigate Class III rapids like the Congo Loco and Rock around the Croc (don’t panic, as no crocodiles are actually found here).
Take a break after successfully clearing these rapids with a riverbank pit stop and snack of fresh fruit. Relax in the shade of towering trees or enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. Hop back in your raft for the continued journey down more mellow, Class II rapids. Soak up the passing tropical scenery and keep an eye out for native rain forest residents including monkeys, sloths, butterflies and colorful birds.
At the end of your rafting journey, step back onto solid ground and enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. You can shower and change into dry clothes before the return drive to La Fortuna, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for people over 65
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveller Photos
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Featured review
rangst
This was such a fun day for my family!!..started in morning with Lost Canyon waterfall rappelling…..bumpy ride up to the top in a Jurassic Park vehicle….guides fit us with gear and off we went down a short path to first small falls….the guides were super funny and professional….instructed us on what to do and always “had us” if we needed help…..felt very safe the whole time!!….very beautiful canyon you “hiked” down in between falls….cool clear water and a couple surprises along the way!….don’t hesitate to do this!!….then we had a small breakfast back at the main camp and another bus picked us up to go rafting on the Rio Balsa (II-III rapids)…..also informative guide along the route and fit us with gear and all instructions before starting out on the River…..fun and mildly challenging rapids with very good guides!!..once again, always felt safe!!….got great pictures and had a yummy fruit snack midway through ….at end, had facility to change into dry clothes if you wanted and short bus ride back to main area again for a typical Costa Rican lunch buffet which was delicious!….fantastic day-highlight for sure!!
Reviews
5.0
223 reviews
Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 223 reviews
Whitewater rafting
GREG_P, June 2023
Fabulous trip. Water was cold. Pascal was great. Enjoyed it. Saw sloths and a cow. Also saw a few birds.
Got scammed on pictures taken
janetbucciero, May 2023
The rafting was fun but I’m only giving it a low review because pictures were taken of my family and I, we paid $20 cash and was told 24-48 hours we would receive. It’s been a week and never received.
After first getting a reply to my email asking for the 2 email addresses I provided for the pictures it’s been dead silence on all my follow up emails asking where the pictures are. It’s expensive enough to do these activities and feeling like I gotten taken now for another $20 with no pictures just doesn’t sit well. My family and I would have loved the pictures as it’s one of our last family vacations as my son moves in October and we were celebrating his graduation from college with this trip.
10/10
Sage_M, Apr 2023
The guide was amazing and knowledgeable. On the drive up we learned a bunch about Costa Rican culture and even pulled over to check out a sloth on the side of the road. We felt super safe the whole time and would 10/10 recommend this company verses others in the area.
Overall very good, consider class 3/4 if looking for adventure
barry_l, Apr 2023
Pablo our guide was great, lunch was good, only reason giving 4 stars over 5 is that the rapids weren’t quite as thrilling as we hoped. The first 15 minutes are good, the final 30-45 are very quiet
We had a great time! We...
Victoria_B, Apr 2023
We had a great time! We were picked up right from our hostel and then driven up to the river. The guides were very nice and the rafting was a blast! Then we had a tasty lunch after. It was not too long and great experience for families, friends, or solo! Easy to meet people :)
A Must Do!
Chris_M, Dec 2022
All around excellent! Andy was the BEST!
I would definitely recommend if you are in the area. If you are in the area this is a must do.
Great Day White Water Rafting
Travis_D, Dec 2022
I had originally heard White Water Rafting was fun but that was an understatement. I had a blast. Such a rush. Definitely recommend Desafio Adventure Company tour. Stephen and crew were very helpful and kept us safe. Clearly explained the instructions to keep us safe and was firm about it that let me know he cared. He was also educational teaching us about Costa Rica and the surrounding areas. Very courteous and nice crew. We loved it. Definitely recommend this company and tour. We had a fantastic time!!
The tour was a blast! As...
Ricky_R, Nov 2022
The tour was a blast! As exiting as could be and the guides were very experienced and professional. Really enjoyed!
Great experience. Would...
Luis_E, Nov 2022
Great experience. Would highly recommend to anybody visiting La Fortuna. Great experience. Great experience.
Thrilling adventure
Deborah_H, July 2022
Even though I was nervous about this activity, I didn’t want to back out as I wanted to enjoy this activity with my teens.
We did explain to our tour guide Diego that I was nervous and he instructed me with the best place for me to sit.
Diego and the other guides start off by telling the group all of the instructions. Very easy to follow instructions. Diego was in the raft with us and I felt like we were in good hands. His instructions were concise and clear and you can tell he has done this many many times and knows how to read the rapids. This ended up being a really fun activity to share with my family.
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Whitewater Rafting Class 2-3 Balsa River from La Fortuna
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4 hours
Free Cancellation
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USD 85.00
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