Whitewater Rafting Class 2-3 Balsa River from La Fortuna

Absolutely amazing time! Our guide, Emmanuel, was very skilled and fun! He pointed out a baby sloth in the trees, wood storks and "Godzillas". Cannot wait to come back and brave Class III-IV rapids!! Highly recommend this tour company; groups are small and the guides were top notch!

We booked this rafting excursion for our anniversary. My wife had never been rafting and was very nervous. We go on a lot of excursions and, honestly, most excursion companies are the same and have the same offerings, the only difference is in the guides. Desafio has the most amazing tour guides! For this excursion Diego was our primary guide and he was absolutely phenomenal! Diego and the rest of the team (Pelusa, Jorge, Aurelio, Randi, Manuel, etc.) were so kind, fun, and genuine. They truly prioritized safety, but also ensured everyone had a fun and exciting adventure! Each of the team members were so experienced and professional that it seemed like the guides from other companies were looking to our guides and following their lead, hahaha. We had such an amazing experience with that team that we booked two other excursions with Desafio (Arenal Volcano Hike and Canyoning) and they were both just as amazing! Thank you Diego and team!

Went rafting with my wife for our anniversary. She had never been rafting before and was very nervous. Our guide, Diego, and the rest of the Desafio team (Pelusa, Jorge, Aurelio, Randi, Manuel, etc.) were absolutely phenomenal. We go on a lot of excursions during vacations and this team was possibly the best we have ever had on any adventure/excursion. It is hard to balance safety, fun, and adventure, but they did it perfectly! They were VERY experienced, patient and kind, and brought high energy. It even seemed like guides from other companies looked to our guides as examples! They took time to make sure my wife felt confident and safe, and made this a special memory. Honestly, all excursion companies are very similar and the only real difference is the guides. 10/10 I would recommend all the guides atDesafio (we followed up with two other excursions with Desafio, and the two others were just as amazing!)

We had the BEST experience rafting with these guys! Diego was our raft guide and he spent a lot of time making sure everyone was comfortable. It was my very first time and I was terrified. He made sure I was comfortable and ready! I appreciated his professionalism and his expertise. My life felt very safe in his hands with a guide with that much experience. Gorge, Manuel, Pelusa, and Aurelio (the whole team) were fantastic. They were fun to be around and helped make unforgettable memories!

Rapids were probably a little stronger than Class 2-3 in the US. Had a great time. Tour guides were informative and helpful.

The Balsa River whitewater rafting trip was an absolute blast! It was the perfect mix of excitement, adventure, and breathtaking scenery. The guides were professional, fun, and made us feel safe while keeping the energy high. We laughed the entire trip and made memories we'll never forget. If you're visiting the Arenal area, this is a must-do experience. We'd do it again without hesitation!

My first experience river rafting, and it was a great time. Everything, and more than I expected. Fruit break was great. Rafting experience was fantastic. Guide was exceptional. lunch after the river run was very good. Overall, a great experience.

Our white water rafting trip was the highlight of our entire vacation in Costa Rica. The water was perfect and our guide who goes by "Fluffy" was wonderful! He was so knowledgeable and took extra good care of our family after I let him know one of my kids was quite nervous. His sense of humor really helped keep the mood light even when the rapids were tough. We would highly recommend this company and our guide specifically.

If you wake up, look outside, and see dark skies, pouring rain, thunder, and lightning... don't even think about canceling. In fact, consider yourself lucky. Once you're white water rafting, you're going to be completely soaked anyway. After that first wave crashes over the raft, there's no such thing as "more wet." The tropical storm actually transformed an already incredible adventure into one we'll be talking about for years. We booked the Balsa River Class II-III White Water Rafting trip with Desafío Costa Rica, and from the moment we pushed off, it was nonstop excitement. Sideways rain, booming thunder, flashes of lightning in the distance—it felt like we were starring in our own adventure movie. Every rapid seemed bigger, every splash more refreshing, and every laugh louder. Our guide absolutely MADE the trip. He was funny, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable. More importantly, he inspired complete confidence. It honestly felt like he knew every rock, current, and hidden twist of the river by heart—as if he'd spent his childhood growing up on it. Even in the storm, we felt 100% safe and free to simply enjoy the ride. And it wasn't just about the rapids. Between bursts of adrenaline, we drifted through jungle scenery and spotted sloths and monkeys in the trees, tropical birds, otters, and iguanas along the riverbank. It was like combining an exciting rafting trip with a wildlife safari. The friendly "water wars" with the other rafts were another unexpected highlight. Everyone was splashing each other, laughing, and cheering as we floated downstream. Total strangers instantly became teammates in the best kind of river battle. One piece of advice: buy the photo and video package. It's one of the best values you'll find. The photographers somehow captured every big rapid, every laugh, every soaked smile, and every victory pose. This trip is the perfect mix of adventure and fun. The Class II-III rapids are exciting enough to get your heart racing but approachable enough for families, first-timers, younger kids, and anyone looking for an unforgettable experience without needing to be an extreme thrill seeker. If you're visiting La Fortuna, put this at the top of your list. And if the forecast calls for rain? Smile. You may have just hit the jackpot.

Amazing experience and a great way to see wildlife!! I would highly recommend it!!