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Costa Rica Travel Blog is the current traveller, will-be traveller, has-been traveller, and should-be traveller's guide to everything costa rica. Information, stories, news, advice – written by the Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated team – costa rican insiders, outsiders, and everywhere-in-between-siders.
The Best River For Rafting In Costa Rica
Ricky (aka. Ricky Bobby) – Guiding on Pacuare
We love rafting. Point blank. Given that Ricky was a white water rafting guide and safety kayaker on Costa Rica’s pacuare river for more than 6 years, we are of course biased when we say that pacuare is the best river for rafting in the country. However, our love for this particular river goes beyond our personal experience. It is rooted in fact – fact that the rapids are some of the best in the country, fact that the trip (which includes complimentary transportation between popular areas such as San Jose, La Fortuna/Arenal, and Puerto Viejo), and fact that National Geographic once identified the river as one of the best in the world for river scenery. But all accomplishments and accolades aside, here’s the truth. As appealing as pacuare is, if a run down this particular river does not fit with your trip itinerary, desired river level, or budget, there are many other worthwhile river trips to choose from.
In our post Where To Go In Costa Rica: Determining The Best Places To Visit During Your Trip we explain that the only person who can decide which Costa Rican destinations are the “best” to visit is the person doing the visiting. Similarly, in our posts When Is The Best Time Of Year To Travel To Costa Rica? and Which Costa Rica Zipline Is The Best? Comparing 6 Popular Canopy Tours in Arenal and Monteverde, we argue that it is up to travellers to decide for themselves when they should travel to Costa Rica and which tours would be most enjoyed by them. In each case, although we aim to provide travellers with as many details as possible so they can make informed decisions regarding their trip, we are hesitant to pinpoint the “best” anything, as doing so would only overshadow our clients’ unique interests, desires, and needs with our own opinions.
So in true CostaRicaTravelBlog.com style, below is a list of some of the most popular rivers for rafting in Costa Rica that visitors can choose from. These include both rivers for white water rafting and flat rivers where safari float tours (slow-moving rafting tours) take place. As always, readers can contact us (info@puravidaeh.ca) with any specific questions they may have about tour options or the rivers listed below.
Note: Skip to the bottom of this post for some helpful rafting tour tips!
WHITE WATER RAFTING TOURS
Pacuare River Rafting Tour
PACUARE RIVER (LOWER SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 12+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal, San Jose, Sarapiqui, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Guapiles, Siquirres
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, breakfast, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? Yes
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the pacuare river rafting tour!
Reventazon River Rafting Tour
REVENTAZON RIVER (EL CARMEN SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: II/III
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 6+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal, San Jose, Sarapiqui, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Guapiles, Siquirres
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, breakfast, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the reventazon river rafting tour!
Toro River Rafting Tour
TORO RIVER
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 13+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal and San Jose
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the toro river rafting tour!
Balsa River Rafting Tour
BALSA RIVER (LOWER SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: II/III
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 7+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal and San Jose
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the balsa river rafting tour!
Sarapiqui River Rafting Tour
SARAPIQUI RIVER (SAN MIGUEL SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 13+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal, Sarapiqui, and San Jose
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the sarapiqui river rafting tour!
Tenorio River Rafting Tour
TENORIO RIVER (UPPER SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 13+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde, Samara, and the Northern Guanacaste Beaches (Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal, Panama, Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, and Langosta)
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the tenorio river rafting tour!
Savegre River Rafting Tour
SAVEGRE RIVER
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 5+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: Manuel Antonio
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? Yes
Other: tour runs twice daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the savegre river rafting tour!
Naranjo River Rafting Tour
NARANJO RIVER
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: III/IV
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 8+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: Manuel Antonio
Time of year tours are run: April to December
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and snack (no lunch)
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs twice daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the naranjo river rafting tour!
Naranjo River Chorro Section Rafting Tour
NARANJO RIVER (CHORRO SECTION)
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: IV+
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 12+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: Manuel Antonio
Time of year tours are run: January to April
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and snack (no lunch)
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs twice daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the naranjo river rafting tour!
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COLORADO RIVER
Tour type: white water rafting
Rapid class: II/III
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 10+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: the Northern Guanacaste Beaches (Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal, Panama, Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, and Langosta)
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, rafting tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the colorado river rafting tour!
SAFARI RIVER FLOAT TOURS
Penas Blancas Safari River Float Tour
PENAS BLANCAS RIVER
Tour type: safari river float
Rapid class: N/A
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 3+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal and San Jose
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, safari float tour, transportation, and snack (or lunch, depending on whether a tour option including lunch is chosen)
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs twice daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the penas blancas safari river float tour!
Tenorio Safari River Float Tour
TENORIO RIVER (LOWER SECTION)
Tour type: safari river float
Rapid class: N?A
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 10+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde, Samara, and the Northern Guanacaste Beaches (Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal, Panama, Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, and Langosta)
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, safari float tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the tenorio safari river float tour!
Corobici Safari River Float Tour
COROBICI RIVER
Tour type: safari river float
Rapid class: N/A
Prior rafting experience required? No
Recommended for: travellers 6+ years (minimum age limit may vary across tour operators)
Tours are run to/from: the Northern Guanacaste Beaches (Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal, Panama, Potrero, Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, and Langosta)
Time of year tours are run: all year
Tours include: all equipment, guide, safari float tour, transportation, and lunch
2-Day/Overnight rafting tour option? No
Other: tour runs once daily
Resource: click here to access discounts for the corobici safari river float tour!
RAFTING TOUR TIPS
When preparing for your rafting tour, know the following:
-River levels are determined by the amount of rainfall over the day(s)/night(s) prior to the tour date. Costa Rica’s rivers are higher during the rain/wet/green season (May-December) and lower during the summer/dry season (January-April).
-More often than not, prior rafting experience is not necessary. All rafting tours include a safety demonstration and all necessary rafting equipment.
-Rafters do not need to be body-builders, but they should be in good physical condition. This means that travellers who wish to participate in the tour should be mobile (able to climb into and out of the raft) and have the ability to use their upper body and arms to paddle.
-Knowing how to swim is not a requirement but it is an asset. Feeling comfortable in and around the water will help calm any nerves and heighten your overall rafting experience.
-Rafters must wear secure shoes (and bring a set of dry clothes to change into) during their rafting trip.
-If river conditions are unsuitable the day of the rafting tour, the tour operator will either cancel the tour or else change the tour location to a back-up river.
-Most tour operators employ a photographer to join the tour (photo CDs are often available for purchase through the tour operator after the rafting trip). Don’t forget to ‘say cheese’ when you hit the rapids!
-Some tour operators offer their rafting tours as a connection between two destinations. In these cases, travellers can get picked up in one city before their rafting tour, spend the day rafting, and then get dropped off in a different city after their rafting tour (taking advantage of the complimentary transportation between cities). Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated offers many discounts for these types of tours (which are called city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours) and a discount list can be viewed here.
QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been white water rafting in Costa Rica? Which river did you choose? How did you enjoy the trip?
Pura vida!
Thank you for the award! http://busanbyday.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
We miss the PACUARE RIVER
Such a great memory with Ricky! Can’t wait to visit again!
I’m planning to go white water rafting for the first time here at home (in Romania), but I bet it’s not gonna be as awesome as in Costa Rica. Your country’s simply beautiful, I’d love to visit it someday!
Very tempting information. Felt the waves crashing sitting thousands of mies away
Maryam.Shahbaz –
Such a relaxing thought! Rafting is one of our greatest passions and great loves, and despite the thrill of it all, it still amazing me how relaxing and calming the activity can be. There’s something to be said about the innate beauty that a river holds, especially when you travel over raging rapids only to come to its great peace. So glad to hear you could participate, albeit from miles away!
Pura vida!
Everything you said is insanely true
I have aqauphobia but immensely enjoy swimming .. two opossites .. I feel exactly the same way about the innate beauty of water ..
Hope to visit the same thrill someday
Regards,
Looks like an amazing country. Definitely visiting once during my life
.
jumpingpolarbear –
That is so great to hear! If/when you decide to make the trip, please let us know so we can help you access our over 2000 discounts for Costa Rica!
Pura vida!
Looks like a fantastic adventure!!!
Belly Zen –
Rafting is so much fun! Perhaps there is some way it could help achieve a balanced and zen belly?
Pura vida!
Perhaps!!! Rafting is definitely on my bucket list, and in Costa Rica no less
What fun!!!
Belly Zen –
Awesome! Can’t wait to see you in Cr one day!
Pura vida!
This looks exciting.. you should visit the Philippines!
narcissuschronicles –
We would love to visit the Philippines! Besides, your pics from wakeboarding make it look like so much fun!
Pura vida!
Never tried rafting really, but that looks like awesome fun.
morgansherrah –
You are 100% right – it is AWESOME fun! Hope to see you in Costa Rica one day, and on one of the incredible rivers!
Pura vida!
These river rafting tours look so cool!
When a Third World Came West –
We agree! Costa Rica is great for rafting – we are of course biased, however the rivers are breathtaking!
Pura vida!
Awesome ! I rafted the Rio Toro around 5 years ago now with a bunch of girlfriends and we had an absolute blast. Our guide was incredible.
The fact that I ended up in the water twice made it even more fun ! A hilariously good time !
A definite highlight of my trip to Costa Rica !
A tale or two to tell….. –
That sounds like so much fun (travelling with a group of friends and keeping the great rafting experience as a memory of it!)! The guides in Costa Rica are… you said it… incredible. The majority truly love their jobs and love making travellers smile. Most Ticos (Costa Ricans) are proud of where they come from, and guiding is one way they can share the love they have for their country with others. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!
Pura vida!
Excellent and informative post! Thanks for all the details!
fotogfoodie –
Thanks so much for the comment! We LOVE your blog – it makes us want to cook, eat, dine out, dine in, and take up photography all in one. Not to mention… add apples to our french toast ASAP!
Pura vida!
Gracias! It really means a lot to me that people enjoy the stuff I post. Helps keep me motivated. I love your blog as well, gives the travel exactly the information they need!
fotogfoodie -
We truly do! We visited your blog again today and love the free eBook hook-up. We are a travel-themed blog, however everyone has to eat, so we don’t mind linking back to your post! http://fotogfoodie.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/5-ingredients-in-10-minutes-free-ebook/
original source: http://thestonesoup.com/blog/#
Pura vida!
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