Water activity

Costa Rica: Río Balsa Half-Day Rafting Adventure

4.8 / 5

22 reviews

Activity provider: Desafio Adventure Company
Water activity

Costa Rica: Río Balsa Half-Day Rafting Adventure

Activity provider: Desafio Adventure Company

From US$ 81 per person

Enjoy an exciting rafting adventure on this half-day tour in Costa Rica and discover Río Balsa, a beautiful river surrounded by rainforest near the Arenal Volcano. The class 2-3 rapids are ideal for families and first-timers who want adventure.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 4 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English, Spanish
Pickup included
We pick up at local hotels in the Arenal Volcano area

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy an adventurous rafting experience for the whole family on class 2-3 rapids
  • Admire the spectacular scenery near the Arenal Volcano
  • Encounter the amazing wildlife in the area, including monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds
Full description

See amazing wildlife and enjoy plenty of whitewater fun on this half-day rafting adventure, right near the base of the Arenal Volcano! Perfect for families and first-timers! Challenge yourself as you paddle through fun and safe rolling rapids with names like "Congo Loco" and "Rock around the Croc", plus the challenging “Las Dragas” section. Then play around in tranquil river pools in an isolated rainforest river canyon. Your professional, experienced bilingual guides will give you a safety talk and paddling instruction, lifejackets and helmets before you begin. You'll spot wildlife including monkeys, sloths and tropical birds such as ospreys, Oropendolas and toucans. This unique river trip is the perfect combination of adventure and nature. We call this our “Whitewater & Wildlife” tour. Enjoyable for kids and adults alike! After nearly 30, fun, easy-rolling rapids, you’ll have some delicious fresh fruit and end at our private take-out to change into your dry clothes in our dressing rooms. We then take you to have a delicious, home-cooked, traditional Costa Rican meal, which is guaranteed to please!

Includes
  • Transport to and from your hotel
  • Professional guides who love what they do
  • Tropical fruit break
  • Delicious home-cooked meal
  • Private entrance and exit with changing rooms and bathroom towels
  • Gratuities
  • Photo CD of your trip from your guide
  • You can also rent or buy a GoPro camera!
Not suitable for
  • People with heart problems
  • People with recent surgeries
  • People with low level of fitness

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

Know before you go

  • Tours run rain or shine. For reasons beyond our control (climate, etc.) we may do a more suitable tour with equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure appeal. We also reserve the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. Full refund is given if no tour is run.
  • Rafting, canyoneering, and other adventures involve some inherent risk and physical exertion, so you must be in good physical condition without any recent surgery, heart condition, pregnancy, or injury. If you take medication such as allergy pills and need them with you or have other medical concerns, please inform your guide.
  • The environment is unpredictable and filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles, and other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks, and sudden flash floods are possible and river levels often vary. We may not be held responsible for any of the above
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 22 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    5/5
  • Transportation
    5/5
  • Service
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5

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Star rating:

Excellent

March 20, 2023

Esteban and his team are excellent guide for this beginners’ rafting activity. He was so patient and taught us every steps to achieve this fun and exciting activity. We definitely will recommend this activity to our friends.

December 13, 2022

It was an excellent adventure and perfectly planned tour. All was very smooth, lunch was superb and our guide Antonio was just the best! Excellent value for money!

November 15, 2022

Product ID: 11580