White Water Rafting (Class III) with lunch - Arenal Area
Description
The northern zone of Costa Rica is blessed with the most beautiful landscapes and incredible rivers for rafting. With an excellent level of water throughout the year, Balsa River will allow you to enjoy the best rafting experience if you're a novice. If you are an expert you will enjoy it the most, thanks to its beautiful surroundings, challenging rapids, and good waves that may request you a good maneuver from time to time. Best of all: just 30 minutes from your hotel in La Fortuna.
Tour Options
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
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Water shoes, or any type of shoe that protects feet and don't come out easy, are required for this experience.
Reviews(111)
It was a very nice experience. Our guide Adrian was simply great; he taught us a lot about the surroundings and had a sense of humor. With him, one felt very safe. I am Mika, 12 years old, and I love the water. The tour is recommended for children who, like me, enjoy getting wet and having fun.
This was a very amazing experience. We were picked up at our hotel, driven to the drop off point and met the rest of our guides. Adrien was absolutely AMAZING!!! He was a great captain, very clear with his instructions and kept us all safe. He was very knowledgeable of all the wildlife and explained the path of the river and how it changes with the floods from the rain. We then went to a farm for a late lunch and were then dropped back off at our hotel. Over all this was a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much, Angie, for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that your first white water rafting adventure was such a memorable one. It's wonderful to know that everything—from the hotel transportation to the riverside lunch—helped make your day enjoyable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Adrien. He is passionate about keeping our guests safe while sharing his knowledge of the river, local wildlife, and the surrounding environment, so we're thrilled that his guidance made such a positive impression. Thank you for choosing to raft with us during your visit to the Arenal area. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in La Fortuna soon. Pura Vida!
Our guide, Adrian, was fun, skilled, and knowledgeable. The rapids were challenging enough to make it an exciting excursion. The fresh organic farm-to-table lunch was tasty and presented very nicely. We had a fantastic time.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time white water rafting with us. It's great to know that Adrian's fun personality, expertise, and knowledge helped make your adventure both exciting and enjoyable. We're also delighted that you enjoyed the farm-to-table lunch after your time on the river. Using fresh, organic ingredients from our local farm is something we're very proud of, and we're happy it was a memorable part of your experience. Thank you for choosing to adventure with us in the Arenal area. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
I have been on a few whitewater rafting trips and this was the best I have experienced. The Sarapiqui river provided a decent challenge for a class 2/3 rating. Our guide Adrian was excellent, great equipment, lunch and overall memorable time. The photos which were available for purchase were of top notch quality, quantity and at a very reasonable price. The four of us are in our late 70's and were able to handle the paddling and the waves which at time splashed over our raft. Again, Adrian was a great guide. Managed us through the challenging areas, always with a big smile on his face. Nice guy.
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We are truly honored to hear that this was the best whitewater rafting experience you have had. The Sarapiquí River is such a fun and exciting adventure, and we’re delighted that you enjoyed both the challenge and the beauty of the experience. A special thank you for recognizing Adrian’s excellent work. We will be sure to share your kind words with him, he will be very happy to know he helped make your adventure safe, memorable, and full of smiles. It’s also wonderful to hear you enjoyed the the lunch and photography service. Thank you again for choosing Jacamar Naturalist Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another Costa Rican adventure in the future!
We had never done this prior to our visit. Adrian our guide was amazing he was so patient and made us feel safe . We were 4 sisters ranging in age from 62-68 and treated us like we were his mom. Wouldn’t go anywhere else for a rafting trip in Costa Rica.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to us that you chose us for your first rafting experience. We’re especially happy to hear that Adrián made you feel comfortable, safe, and well taken care of throughout the adventure—he’ll be delighted to know he made such a positive impact. It was a pleasure having your group with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another great adventure in Costa Rica!
I cannot say enough good things about this tour. Starting with Jefrey our guide who made it fun and kept us safe. My son told him he really wanted to see a sloth. In the middle of the river, Jefrey spotted one high in a tree. He jumped out of the raft, held the boat and pointed at a sloth high in a tree. I have no idea how he saw it while paddling through a gentler part of the river (but definitely not a still part!). He went the extra mile at every turn (puns intended). The river is pretty strong and there are scary moments (in a good way- at least according to my husband and son!). This is no lazy river. But in the other boat on our tour was a bunch of retired ladies and they liked it, too (which surprised me!). This is my 4th white water rafting trip (Tahoe, Montreal, Argentina) and the best. It was exciting and adventurous but I always felt safe. Maybe the coolest part of this tour is that there is a guy in a kayak who accompanies you the whole way. He goes ahead, gets out and takes action shots at the best rapids, then gets back in his kayak and goes ahead of you again for the next rapid. At the end you can buy (for only $35) 100 digital pictures that are so cool! This company is also very honest because I forgot I paid for the pics when I signed up for it and paid again after the trip. They reached out to me to tell me I paid 2x and immediately reimbursed me. The lunch at La Finca was delicious- the restaurant is covered, but outside so you can see so much wildlife while you eat- tucans, parrots, pheasants were all just wandering around the property. You should definitely book this trip. It was the highlight of our whole 8 days in Costa Rica. I did 3 trips with Jacamar and every driver and guide was amazing.
We truly don’t have enough words to thank you. After joining us on several different tours during your visit, reading this review means so much to our entire team. It’s an honor to have earned your trust again and again throughout your trip. We’re especially happy to hear how much you enjoyed the rafting experience with Jefrey. He will absolutely love reading this! Spotting a sloth while navigating the river is definitely next-level guiding skills — but that’s exactly the kind of passion and attention our team brings to every tour. Going the extra mile (and yes, we appreciate the pun!) is what we strive for. We also love that you highlighted the safety aspect. Class III rafting brings excitement and adrenaline, but feeling secure and well-guided is essential. Knowing that both thrill-seekers and more cautious adventurers in your group had a great time says everything. The kayak photographer truly adds something special to the experience — those action shots capture moments you simply can’t get yourself. And thank you for mentioning the reimbursement situation. Integrity is extremely important to us, so we’re glad we could correct that quickly. Ending the adventure with lunch at La Finca, surrounded by wildlife, is one of our favorite parts too. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a delicious meal while toucans and parrots make an appearance nearby. To hear that this was the highlight of your 8 days in Costa Rica is an incredible compliment. Thank you again for choosing us for the different adventures. We truly hope we’ll have the chance to welcome your family back someday for even more memories in the rainforest!
We had a really good experience with Jacamar. We did a three separate adventures with them: White water rafting with Adrian who not o Lu was a great fun guy but also gave a very solid safety briefing, steered the raft like a champ and gave us a thrilling ride! Thanks Adrian We also hiked the volcano and La Fortuna waterfall with Melanie who did a wonderful job - despite the low cloud and rain ;) Finally we spent two really fulfilling and educational hours with Gilbert finding Sloths and many other mammals, reptiles and birds. He was wonderfully generous with his knowledge and experience. Thanks all.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing us for multiple adventures during your time in La Fortuna! It truly means a lot to hear that each experience — from rafting to hiking to wildlife spotting — left such a positive impression. Adrian will be very happy to read your comments! We’re glad you felt both excited and secure throughout the experience. Melanie will also appreciate your recognition. Hiking the volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall in misty, rainy conditions can actually add a special rainforest atmosphere — and we’re so glad she helped make it enjoyable despite the clouds. And of course, Gilbert will love knowing that his passion for wildlife and sharing knowledge made your Slothies tour fulfilling and educational. Our guides truly enjoy helping guests discover the incredible biodiversity that makes Costa Rica so unique. Thank you again for trusting us with three different tours. We hope we’ll have the opportunity to welcome you back for even more adventures in the future!
Our guide, James was incredibly friendly and helpful. He was able to navigate us in front of a large crowd of Whitewater rafters so our family of four could have a very special solo experience. Jeffrey was able to take some amazing shots, which are some of our favorite from our entire vacation. The meal at the end was probably the best we had in Costa Rica. All in all the whole experience was incredible.
Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback. We are delighted to know your family was able to enjoy such a special and personalized experience on the river. Creating moments where guests can truly feel immersed in the adventure is something our team works hard to achieve. James will be very happy to hear your kind words. His focus on both safety and guest experience makes a real difference on the water. We are also glad the photography captured memories that became favorites from your vacation. Those action moments are always fun to relive. It is especially rewarding to hear that the meal at the end stood out during your time in Costa Rica. Ending an exciting adventure with a satisfying lunch is the perfect way to complete the day. Thank you again for choosing to raft with us. We truly appreciate your trust and hope to welcome your family back for another adventure in the future.
We went on the white water rafting tour with Adrian as our guide. We had a fantastic trip! The rafting was adventurous but we felt safe the whole time as Adrian guided the boat perfectly. He was very charming, knew a lot about the area, the volcano, local birds and had a killer howler monkey impersonation. We really enjoyed our meal after at the farm to table restaurant too! 10/10 recommend. Definitely remember a change of clothes and closed toed shoes - you are going to be soaking wet.
Thank you very much for your fantastic review. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great rafting experience with Adrian and that you felt safe while still enjoying the adventure. He will be very happy to know that his knowledge and sense of humor made the trip even more memorable. We are also glad you enjoyed the meal afterward. Thank you for the recommendation and for choosing Jacamar Naturalist Tours for your adventure.
Excellent experience on the river that fills half of your day with great great customer service and lunch with homemade hot sauces.
Thank you very much for your excellent review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time on the river and that our team’s service made the experience even better. It is also wonderful to know you appreciated the lunch and the homemade hot sauces. Thank you for choosing Jacamar Naturalist Tours. We truly value your recommendation.
