Peñas Blancas River Safari Float
Description
This tour is perfect for those who do not want much walking, but plenty of opportunities to observe and photograph the natural beauty and wildlife. The raft makes for a quiet and peaceful trip, where you will only occasionally need to lightly paddle to avoid an obstacle. Its material allows it to be light, highly buoyant, and stable without affecting the river floor as it passes nor disturbing the animals that inhabit it. The boat captain is also an experienced naturalist guide with great knowledge to interpret the ecosystem and provide interesting information about it. His experience has also given him a unique ability to locate species in the dense vegetation, even those with camouflage and mimicry adaptations.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Get to know the tropical river ecosystem, experience the tranquility of the forest while floating slowly down the Peñas Blancas River with the opportunity to observe many species of arboreal and aquatic animals such as: monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, alligators and different types of birds such as herons, cormorants, American darters, and passerines, along with the possibility of observing a reptile species called the basilisk lizard, which is capable of walking on water. The interesting vegetation includes dense branches of ficus, luehea, and kapok trees full of lianas and epiphytic plants, which intersect from both sides of the river forming tunnels full of various shapes and exuberant green colors where very little sunlight gets through.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that our reservations team Will contact you in advance to confirm your exact pickup time at your lodging. EXTRA Cost: Arenal Lodge Arenal Observatory Chachagua Rainforest Hideaway Rio Celeste Linda Vista Del Norte Lost Iguana Resort and Spa Rancho Margot El Tucano The Springs Resort and Spa Volcano Gold
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Reviews(155)
Worth every dollar . Saw crocodile , iguanas , sloth , howling monkeys , 4 species of birds like kingfisher , Jesus Christ camouflage lizard , bats and overall amazing experience . The food was great too and the guides were nice . 10/10
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Peñas Blancas River Safari Float and that the wildlife sightings exceeded your expectations. Encounters with crocodiles, sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, kingfishers, and so many other species are exactly what make this river such a special place to explore. We're also very happy to know that you enjoyed the food and that our guides helped make the experience enjoyable and welcoming throughout the tour. Thank you for choosing to explore with us and for your 10/10 recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another unforgettable wildlife experience. Pura Vida!
Amazing experience with a knowledgeable guide
My mom and I had the best time! She is in her 70s and they took great care helping her in and out of the van and raft. The float was calm and beautiful and we saw monkeys, toucans, a crocodile, kingfishers, and tons of other birds. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat. 10/10 recommend!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your mom had such a fantastic time on the Peñas Blancas River Safari Float. It means a lot to know our team helped make the experience comfortable and enjoyable. The calm beauty of the river combined with the incredible wildlife always creates such a special experience, and we’re so happy you were able to see monkeys, toucans, crocodiles, kingfishers, and so many other birds along the way! Thank you again for your kind recommendation. We would love to welcome you both back for another adventure in Costa Rica anytime!
They picked us up at our hotel, it was great. Driver was good. It was a 20 or 30 minute drive to the river. We were allowed a restroom just before our tour. We put on our raingear as it was raining. We had good life jackets. The guide helped us into the boat. My aunt and I were in a small rubber raft with our very own guide. Families were together in larger rafts. The rafts were not close together so it seems like we had the river to ourselves. Our guide was great, very knowledgeable. The water was calm. This is a very safe ride. My aunt is in her late 80s and was fine although her back was bit sore afterwards. We saw monkeys jumping from tree to tree. Our guide pointed out a Caiman, a large green frilled lizard, a toucan and other birds. We might have seen more animals except for the rain. There were many huge trees and very thick stands of bamboo all along the river although just beyond the trees was agricultural land. It was absolutely pouring rain, a deluge, the whole time. I LOVED IT! A true jungle experience! Afterwards we went to a small farm to sample hot drinks, banana bread and plantain along with other snacks. We watched many colorful birds at their bird feeder. Just be sure to wear nice long raincoat as you will be seated in the boat. We just wore the disposable raingear you would take camping. They worked fine. The boat ride was about 1 hour. The rest of the time was the time eating snacks, and the van ride back and forth from our hotel. I would recommend this tour. I wish I had photos but it was raining too hard! It is expensive, but I thought it was worth it.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, and for joining our Safari Float. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your full experience. We’re delighted to hear that you and your aunt had such a great time, even in the rain. It’s especially meaningful to know she was able to enjoy the tour as well. Our guides will be very happy to hear your kind words about their knowledge and care throughout the journey. Rainy days can make the experience feel even more like a true jungle adventure, and we’re glad you embraced it. It’s also great to hear you enjoyed the wildlife sightings and the visit to the farm afterward with local snacks and birdwatching. Thank you as well for sharing helpful tips for future travelers. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you both again in the future.
The company was extremely professional and our guide was very knowledgeable. There was a slight mixup with our reservation. The company immediately apologized and rectified the issue without any excuses. The tour itself was very peaceful and our guide shared a lot of great insight about the environment as well as cultural distinctions of the area. He also had a very sharp eye and spotted a variety of animals along the float. We saw monkeys, iguanas, birds, and a tyra but unfortunately no sloths or crocodiles on the afternoon we went.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. It truly means a lot. We are very glad to know that everything was handled promptly and with care, and that you felt well supported throughout your time with us. Our team always strives to provide attentive service, even when unexpected situations arise. It is wonderful to hear that the float offered a calm and enriching experience, and that the guide helped bring the surroundings to life with meaningful insights. Nature is always full of surprises, and every outing has its own unique moments. We hope to welcome you again in the future for another memorable experience.
We had a great safari float trip with our tour guide Gonzalo. He was very attentive and pointed out plenty of wild life especially howler monkeys which I had not seen yet during our trip. After the trip we had a delicious snack at the farm. Loved the plantain and fresh cheese. Only recommendation is better and more clear communication and instructions as to where to meet for the tour. I contacted Jacamar a few times and they did not respond. Also the meet up location was a little difficult to find. It’s in the 2nd floor of a building, stairs around the back and there was no instructions on where to park. Once we finally met with our guide our tour went great.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are very glad to know that you enjoyed the time on the river and that the experience itself felt relaxing and rewarding. It is always special to have those close encounters with wildlife, and we are happy the day offered those moments. We also truly appreciate you bringing the communication and meeting point details to our attention. This is very important for us, and we will make sure to review and improve these aspects so that future guests have a smoother start to their experience. Thank you again for your feedback and for choosing us. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future.
We (2 adults + one 15-yr-old) truly enjoyed our morning river float. It was peaceful and relaxing, with just a little paddling required from two of us because the river is on the low side at this time of year. Our guide, Juersson, was fantastic - friendly, great English (our Spanish is almost non-existant), and extremely knowledgeable about the birds, other wildlife (we saw many howler monkeys, a sloth, iguanas, tiny tree frogs...), and the habitat and history of the area. Our driver Marta was also lovely. The trip was extremely well run and felt very safe. We also really enjoyed the large "snack" at the end at a little farm cafe, which ended up being our lunch.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are very happy to know that the time on the river felt peaceful and enjoyable for your family, and that the experience offered a nice balance of relaxation and connection with nature. It is always special when the surroundings and wildlife come together to create memorable moments. It is also wonderful to hear that the guiding and support throughout the tour made you feel comfortable and well taken care of. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Pablo was amazing! He was kind, funny, patient, and knowledgeable. Going down the river with him felt like hanging out with a friend. Highly recommend!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are very glad to know that the time on the river felt so natural and enjoyable, and that the guiding helped create such a comfortable and personal atmosphere. Those connections often make the experience even more special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Amazing rafting experience with plenty of native wildlife sightings. Hugo was a master in finding animals in the jungle for us to enjoy. He also steered our raft with expertise avoiding obstacles and stopping in short notice to enjoy the sightseeing.
We had a great time on this trip. Super easy and made for a nice relaxing day. We saw monkeys, iguanas, toucans, etc. our guide was great and made sure we had the best chance to spot all the wildlife. The farm at the end was cool too. We walked through and checked out their chickens, horses and goat.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed a relaxing day on the river and had the chance to spot so much wildlife along the way. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide helped make the experience even more special. We’re also happy you liked the visit to the farm, it’s a nice way to end the tour with a bit of local charm. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on your next visit!
