10 best white water rafting tours in La Fortuna, Costa Rica (2024)
Are you ready to take your travel adventures to a whole new level? Look no further than the best white water rafting tours in La Fortuna!
La Fortuna is one of my favorite places in Costa Rica, and one of the most exciting ways to explore the adventure capital of Costa Rica is by rafting!
But with so many different white water rafting tours in Arenal available, how do you choose which one to take?
No worries, this post will help!
Below, I have listed the top three rafting tours in Arenal National Park, and further down you’ll find even more.
Let’s dive in!
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Top 3 best white water rafting tours in La Fortuna
Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica
Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica
Our Famous Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting near the Arenal Volcano
10 La Fortuna white water rafting tours
1. Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 1189 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
On this highly-rated rafting tour, you’ll go white-water rafting down the Balsa River.
With your professional guide and 5 fellow rafters, you’ll paddle for 15 kilometers through Class IV rapids, which are quite challenging.
There will be breaks to swim and have snacks.
After rafting, you’ll eat lunch at a local restaurant. The tour starts at 9:00 am from La Fortuna and includes transport from nearby hotels, equipment, guides, snacks, towels, and lunch.
2. Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 725 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This white-water rafting tour in Arenal is a half-day, beginner-friendly trip on the Balsa River.
You’ll tackle Class II and III rapids, which are suitable for beginners. In the boat is your experienced guide who will brief you on safety and hand out rafting equipment before you head out.
After rafting for about 10 kilometers, you can look forward to a traditional Costa Rican lunch. The tour runs daily from 9:00 am to 2:45 pm and also includes snacks, towels, and drinks.
It’s the perfect family adventure.
3. Our Famous Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting near the Arenal Volcano
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 84 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This La Fortuna white water rafting tour is great for families and beginners.
You’ll start with canyoning near La Fortuna, rappelling down waterfalls. Then, you’ll go white-water rafting on the serene waters of the Balsa River where you might spot wildlife in the rainforest.
The combo tour is suitable for anyone 10 years and older and includes lunch, snacks, and hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Plus, there’s a photographer to capture the moments!
4. White Water Rafting Class III & IV
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 695 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This Arenal white water rafting tour is a half-day trip on the upper Rio Balsa, suitable for people with rafting experience.
You’ll navigate Class III & IV rapids, surrounded by Costa Rica’s natural beauty.
The trip includes a local lunch with homemade sugar cane juice and roundtrip hotel pickup. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you raft.
5. Sarapiqui River White Water Rafting Class IV
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 465 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This Class IV rafting tour on the Sarapiqui River is perfect if you’re an experienced rafter.
You’ll spend two hours navigating challenging Class III and IV rapids, so get ready for teamwork and intense paddling! Along the way, you might see wildlife like monkeys and toucans.
The tour includes snacks, drinks, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna.
6. White water rafting class II & III
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 395 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
Are you ready for an action-packed day? That’s what you’ll get with this beginner-friendly Class II & III rafting tour, which is one of the best rafting tours in La Fortuna.
Unlike other tours, it includes a visit to an organic farm near La Fortuna where you’ll learn about coffee and chocolate production and see local wildlife.
Get ready to have fun while you navigate easy-to-moderate white-water rapids and big waves in the Arenal volcano area.
The river guide is there to guide you through the challenging and more exciting passages.
Once you’re done, you can enjoy an organic lunch.
7. Whitewater Rafting Class 2-3 Balsa River from La Fortuna
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 226 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This is another beginner-friendly Balsa River rafting tour that includes Class II & III rapids. Perfect for first-timers and the whole family.
You’ll paddle 10 km through scenic rainforest where you might be lucky to spot wildlife like howler monkeys or toucans in the dense forests. After rafting, there’s a traditional lunch at a local eatery.
The tour provides all safety gear and round-trip transportation from La Fortuna hotels, so everything is taken care of.
8. Full Day Class II-III Rafting and Zipline Tour from La Fortuna-Arenal
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 209 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
Want a tour that combines rafting with ziplining?
This La Fortuna rafting tour for beginners includes both.
The day kicks off with a zipline adventure in the rainforest, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph, including a ride over La Fortuna Waterfall.
After that, you’ll take a 4×4 jeep to the Balsa River for beginner-friendly rafting. Once in the water, you’ll tackle class II & III rafting, while looking out for wildlife as you go down the rapids.
This Costa Rica adventure wraps up with a traditional lunch at a local estate before you’re taken back to your hotel.
9. White Water Rafting Class II & III in the AFTERNOON
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 107 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
This white-water rafting adventure from La Fortuna is perfect for beginners and families.
You’ll tackle Class II and III rapids, which is a fun and safe experience. An experienced guide will ensure everyone has a great time.
The rafting trip includes transportation, fresh fruit, and even beer, making it a fantastic value. Plus, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at your La Fortuna hotel for added convenience.
10. Waterfall Rappelling and White Water Rafting
- ⭐️ RATING: 5/5 from 59 reviews
- ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours
- 🛶 BOOK NOW
On this Costa Rica white water rafting tour, you’ll get two adventures in one.
First, you’ll go canyoning: climb rocks, rappel down a waterfall, and zip through the air.
Then, it’s time to hit the Balsa River for 2 hours of white-water rafting on class II and III rapids. After the excitement, you’ll be served a typical Costa Rican lunch before your guide takes you back to your hotel.
FAQ – Best white water rafting tours in La Fortuna
What to bring on a river rafting tour?
This is what you should bring with you (leave the camera at home – there’s a photographer on site who will take photos of you in the boat:
- Swimwear and towel
- Change of clothes
- River shoes – Don’t wear flip-flops or crocs!
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses with a strap
Who has the best white water rafting?
Here are the top 5 white-water rafting destinations in the world:
- Costa Rica (Lush rainforest and diverse wildlife)
- Colorado, USA (Variety of rivers and challenging rapids)
- Nepal (Thrilling Himalayan rapids)
- New Zealand (Scenic rivers and diverse terrain)
- Chile (Remote and pristine river settings)
Where is the white water raft in La Fortuna?
White-water rafting in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, primarily occurs on the Balsa River and the Sarapiqui River by the base of the Arenal volcano.
These rivers are popular rafting destinations, and local tour operators in La Fortuna offer rafting trips on these waterways.
Where is the best place to sit during white water rafting?
The back of the raft is the best spot if you’re feeling nervous. You’ll be closest to the guide and won’t get hit hard by the rapids.
Sit on the outside tube of the raft, put your outside foot forward, and tuck it under the tube in front of you.
More posts about La Fortuna you might like
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- 8 absolute best ATV tours in La Fortuna
- 10 best chocolate tours in La Fortuna you should try
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