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Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
Ricky; guiding a white-water rafting tourwhite-water rafting tour groupRicky and Nikki; white-water rafting
Do you want to know our pick for the BEST RIVER FOR WHITE-WATER RAFTING in Costa Rica? It is featured on DIY Costa Rica!
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We have rafted Costa Rica’s rivers 2,000+ times. Yes, you read that right.
We are no strangers to white-water rafting tours in Costa Rica, especially white-water rafting tours run on the Pacuare River, which, between the two of us, we have experienced more than two thousand times. As avid rafters, we know Costa Rica’s rivers personally, but we also know them professionally as a result of our experience working as a white-water rafting tour guide and handling rafting tour reservation requests from travelers. Given our familiarity with (and extensive knowledge of) Costa Rica’s various rivers and rafting tours, we’re qualified (and happy) to answer your Costa Rica rafting tour questions.
To learn more about white-water rafting on Costa Rica’s Pacuare River, see our related blog post:
FAQ: Our answers to your Costa Rica rafting tour questions
Is previous rafting experience required to participate in a Costa Rica rafting tour?
No. All Costa Rica rafting tours include a safety demonstration (plus all necessary rafting equipment) regardless of a participant’s level of previous rafting experience. While it is an asset, rafting experience is not required.
Do I need to be able to know how to swim in order to participate in a Costa Rica rafting tour?
Not really. Being able to swim will likely help you feel more comfortable in and around water, and that level of comfort may heighten your overall rafting experience, but it is not a requirement to know how to swim. All Costa Rica rafting tours include life jackets and other safety equipment, plus tour guides are trained in rescue techniques in the event that you happen to fall out of the raft, so you should never find yourself in a situation where you must be able to swim to be safe.
Do I need to be in good physical condition in order to participate in a Costa Rica rafting tour?
Yes. You don’t need to be an Ironman champion or a marathon runner, but you should be able to climb into and out of the raft without issue, have the ability to use your upper body and arms to paddle, have the ability to bend your knees to sit comfortably in the raft, and not have any preexisting medical conditions that could be made worse by adrenaline-inducing activities, sudden and jerky movements, and/or physical exercise.
How old do you have to be to participate in a Costa Rica rafting tour?
It depends on the river you plan to raft, the class (degree) of the river’s rapids, and the tour operator running the rafting tour. In addition, although every rafting tour outfitter has a minimum age requirement for participation in their rafting tour(s), the limit may be negotiable with the tour operator according to the height and weight of your child, your child’s previous rafting experience, and the time of year you wish to raft, especially if you plan to be in Costa Rica during the dry/summer season when river levels are typically low. The following are the age limits for the top white-water rafting tours in Costa Rica, although they’re subject to change by the tour operators.
Costa Rica white-water rafting tour minimum age limits by river, rapid class, and tour operator:
Pacuare River; class III/IV (Exploradores Outdoors): 12 years old Reventazon River; class II/III (Exploradores Outdoors): 6 years old Sarapiqui River; class III/IV (Desafio Adventure Company): 13 years old Sarapiqui River; class II/III (Desafio Adventure Company): 10 years old Balsa River; class II/III (Desafio Adventure Company): 10 years old Tenorio River; class III/IV (Desafio Adventure Company): 13 years old Tenorio River; class II/III (Desafio Adventure Company): 10 years old Naranjo River Chorro Section; class IV (H2O Rios Tropicales): 15 years old Naranjo River; class III/IV (H2O Rios Tropicales): 8 years old Savegre River; class II/III (H2O Rios Tropicales): 6 years old
What is the difference between a Class II/III river in Costa Rica and a Class III/IV river in Costa Rica? Which river class should I choose?
River classes (sometimes referred to as grades) signify river difficulty. In general, Class II signifies novice rapids, Class III signifies intermediate rapids, and Class IV signifies advanced rapids. Classes are often grouped together (e.g., as class II/III or class III/IV) when a river includes a combination of easier and more difficult sections. In Costa Rica, most white-water rafting tours are run on either Class II/III or Class III/IV rivers. In layman’s terms, at least in Costa Rica, Class II/III rivers are best chosen by timid rafters and/or rafting groups comprised of children who don’t meet the minimum age requirement to participate in Class III/IV river rafting tours. In contrast, Class III/IV rivers are the most common rafting tour option; they are available to all travelers who meet the minimum age limit for participation, they are ideal for both beginner and experienced rafters, and they provide the most thrilling rafting tour experiences.
What will the river’s water level be like on the day that I raft? Are rafting trips always guaranteed?
Costa Rica’s rivers are typically higher during the rain/wet/green season (May-December) and lower during the summer/dry season (January-April). This being said, a significant amount of overnight rain on any day of the year can increase a river’s water level, sometimes to an unsafe level, leading to rafting tour cancelations the following day. For this reason, river levels are difficult to predict, and rafting tours cannot be guaranteed in advance.
When is the best time of year to go rafting in Costa Rica? If we considered, on average, all of Costa Rica’s class III/IV rivers for white-water rafting and gave the water/rapid level a score between 1 and 10 (1 being the lowest level we have seen and 10 being the highest level we have seen), this is what to expect from month to month:
January: 5 February: 3 or 4 March: 2 or 3 April (first few weeks, depending on whether the rain/green season starts early or late): 1 April (the last week, depending on whether the rain/green season starts early or late): 5 May: 5 or 6 June: 5 July: 5 August: 5 September: 6 October: 7, 8, or 9 November: 8, 9, or 10 December (first few weeks, depending on whether the dry/summer season starts early or late): 8 December (last few weeks, depending on whether the dry/summer season starts early or late): 5
What color/clarity of water can I expect from a river?
Unfortunately, this is impossible to predict. Water clarity and color are dependent on several factors that change from day to day, most notably the degree of dirt and mud flowing into the river from its surrounding landscape and mountains due to recent rainfall. Throughout Costa Rica, we have rafted rivers that are nearly crystal clear as well as rivers that resemble melted chocolate.
Will I see wildlife during my Costa Rica rafting tour?
Unfortunately, this is impossible to predict because wildlife-spotting is never guaranteed. This being said, while rafting, we typically spot a variety of birds and butterflies flying overhead, egrets and herons perched on riverbanks, and iguanas basking on tree branches. From time to time, monkeys can be heard, as can the river’s natural soundtrack of bird calls, cicada buzzes, and roaring rapids. The trouble with trying to accomplish more in-depth wildlife-spotting during such a fast-paced activity like white-water rafting is that the nature of the adventure tour makes it impossible to stop along the way to look for or admire fauna. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to approach Costa Rica rafting tours as adrenaline-inducing adventure tours, not wildlife-spotting tours.
What happens if it rains on the day of my Costa Rica rafting tour?
Costa Rica is part rainforest and rain is inevitable. For this reason, the majority of tours and activities experienced in the country, rafting tours included, run rain or shine. Because you’ll get splashed with water during white-water rafting tours anyway, rain rarely hinders rafting tour experiences. In the event of extreme weather, such as significant rainfall that could increase a river to a dangerous water level, the river trip would be canceled by the tour operator.
What happens if my Costa Rica rafting tour reservation is canceled?
In the event of a rare river tour cancelation issued by a rafting tour operator, the tour operator will either offer a rafting tour experience on an alternative river (if one is available and safe) or make an attempt to reschedule the original river rafting tour experience for a different day (usually the next day). If/when neither of these solutions is possible, a refund would be issued.
Are Costa Rica rafting tours ever canceled for reasons other than high river levels?
Not usually. We cannot say this would never happen because life is full of surprises and anything is possible. However, throughout our history of rafting Costa Rica’s rivers (two decades) and working with rafting tour outfitters, we can only remember a few times when rafting tours were canceled due to reasons other than dangerous water levels (they were caused by obstacles blocking river access, such as fallen trees, mudslides, and street protests). While cancelations that result from high river levels are rare, cancelations that result from other causes are even less likely.
What do I wear for my Costa Rica rafting tour?
In short, wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind being wet in. Most men wear bathing suit shorts with a t-shirt, and most women wear shorts and a t-shirt or tank top with a bathing suit underneath. Water shoes, running shoes, or strap-on sandals are a must; the use of flip-flops or other non-secure footwear is not permitted. Hats are also not permitted, as a helmet must be worn during the tour. If you have long hair, consider leaving your hair down or tying it in a low ponytail/bun to prevent discomfort while wearing the helmet. Do not wear any valuable jewelry or accessories to avoid losing them in the river. If you must bring glasses, be sure to have a tight-fitting band that will keep them secure around your head (under your helmet) while you brave the bumpy rafting ride.
Separate from the rest of your luggage (if you plan to use the rafting tour as a city-to-city transportation-inclusive tour) and in addition to the clothes you plan to wear during the rafting tour, bring a towel and a set of dry clothes (including a t-shirt or tank top, shorts or pants, undergarments, and footwear) to change into upon completion of the rafting tour. Although most tour operators provide tour participants with plastic bags for storing wet clothes in, it’s not a bad idea to bring a plastic or reusable bag of your own, in case one is not provided. Bring a high SPF waterproof sunscreen (we recommend 60+) for adequate sun protection while on the river, any necessary prescription medicine, and cash for tipping your tour guide and/or purchasing rafting tour souvenirs, such as photo CDs and/or t-shirts, at the end of the river trip.
What do I bring with me to the river to store in the raft?
In addition to the clothes you plan to wear during the rafting tour, the only other items you should bring to the river, which will be stored by the tour guide in a waterproof container, are a high SPF waterproof sunscreen (we recommend 60+) and any medication you may need to take throughout the course of the day. Your tour guide will inform you where you should leave your other belongings, such as your towel and change of dry clothes/footwear, while you are on the river.
Is there an option to buy rafting photos or videos from the day as a tour souvenir?
In most cases, yes. Usually a photographer (sometimes called the tour’s paparazzi) will accompany the rafting group down the river, typically in a kayak, and capture photos and/or videos of the day’s tour. Access to photos and/or videos is available for purchase at the end of most rafting tours. Although the cost varies across tour operators, photo and/or video souvenirs typically range in price from $20.00 to $50.00.
Is it possible to use Costa Rica rafting tours as a means of transportation between cities?
Yes! As we describe in our related post Costa Rica Tour Transportation: How To Use Tours To Travel Between Destinations, some Costa Rica rafting tours include complimentary transportation between two different Costa Rican cities. For a complete list of our recommended Costa Rica rafting tour options that include a pick-up in one city before the tour and a drop-off in another city after the tour, please visit our article linked to above.
I plan to use the rafting tour as a means of traveling between two destinations; what do I do with my luggage while I participate in the rafting tour?
Your luggage will be safely secured while you raft; however, where your luggage is stowed depends on the river you plan to visit and the tour operator running the rafting tour. In most cases, luggage is stored in lockers (large enough to contain multiple suitcases) at the rafting tour operator’s operation center (i.e., headquarters), but for some remote river trips, luggage is stored in the tour operator’s transportation vehicle, which is locked and guarded by the tour operator’s driver while you raft.
What happens to my city-to-city transportation service if my Costa Rica rafting tour reservation is canceled?
The transportation service is still provided. Since many travelers rely on city-to-city transportation-inclusive tours as a way of traveling between destinations, the transportation portion of the rafting tour is provided regardless of whether the rafting trip is canceled. For example, if you plan to use a Pacuare River rafting tour to get from San Jose to La Fortuna, and the river trip is canceled the day of your tour, you will still be transported between San Jose and La Fortuna, you just won’t have an opportunity to go rafting. When a rafting tour is canceled and an alternative river cannot be run in its place, but a city-to-city transportation service is provided, the rafting tour is charged at a discounted rate; the partial payment covers the cost of the transportation service as well as the cost of any meals provided by the tour operator.
Are meals included with Costa Rica rafting tours?
In most cases, yes. The majority of Costa Rica rafting tours are 3/4-day or full-day excursions that include lunch. In some cases, breakfast is also included. There are a few half-day rafting trips that do not include a meal, but they typically provide rafters with a snack, such as fresh fruit and/or cookies, as well as a beverage.
Do I tip my Costa Rica rafting tour guide? How much do I tip my Costa Rica rafting tour guide?
Tips are expected by tour guides who offer valuable service that’s worthy of appreciation. For tipping amount recommendations (assuming your rafting tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, fair, safe, and contributed to your enjoyment of the Costa Rica rafting experience), please see the dollar amounts cited in our related blog post What To Know About Tipping In Costa Rica.
How long does it take to get to the river?
It depends on which river you raft and which destination you depart from. Since river trips can depart from nearly every popular city in the country, the drive time could be anywhere from ten minutes to three hours long.
Can I drive myself to and from the river?
In some cases yes and in other cases no. For many Costa Rica rafting tours, the tour operator has a public meeting spot (i.e., an operations center, clubhouse, or other form of headquarters) and you can drive yourself to the meeting spot if you’d rather not use the tour operator’s hotel pick-up/drop-off service. Free, secure parking is typically available on-site. From the meeting spot, the rafting tour operator provides transportation to the river put-in site (i.e., the riverside location where you board the raft). It is not possible to drive yourself directly to the river put-in site.
Pura vida!
Do you have questions about white-water rafting in Costa Rica, want to know which white-water rafting tour is the best for you based on the experience you want to have, or need help determining how to incorporate a particular rafting tour into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Summary
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Your Costa Rica Rafting Tour Questions Answered!
Description
We have rafted in Costa Rica 2000+ times; read our answers to popular Costa Rica rafting tour questions, plus tips and need-to-know info!
The comment section of this article has moved! If you have a question or comment about our article above or Costa Rica travel in general, please post it in our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, our sister website, where you can also access our private Costa Rica recommendations, our Costa Rica Destination Tool, and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map. See you there, amigos! 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment! We’re glad to know that our answers to some of the most popular Costa Rica rafting tour questions helped you out, especially the charts. 🙂 If you have any other questions regarding your trip, don’t hesitate to leave us another comment to let us know how we can help.
Sorry for the confusion! Our sister site that processes discount requests for Costa Rica day tours (Pura Vida! eh? Inc.) was closed temporarily for part of the pandemic. It’s up and running again, and the checkout page is now active so you shouldn’t experience the issue again. 🙂
I’m happy to answer your question but I don’t quite understand what you mean. Are you asking about the river trip itself, meaning what you should expect from a rafting trip taken during the dry season? Or are you more interested in learning about rafting trips that are available to/from the Arenal region?
Hi Nikki- My wife and I are headed to NW CR later this month for our 15th anniversary. We are planning to spend a day rafting with a tour company, and are considering which trip to do between the SARAPIQUI RIVER and Upper TENORIO. We are looking for a Class III/IV experience at minimum. We both have quite a bit of whitewater experience growing up, and I guided for a few summers in my early 20s. We’re ready to book the day trip. Given the current season and how rainfall has been this year, which river would you recommend we run, and why? Thank you in advance.
It’s always great to connect with fellow members of the international rafting community. Whereabouts did you used to guide?
Quick question before I get to which river I’d recommend you visit… whereabouts in the northwest are you planning to visit? I ask only because some people mean the true northwest and plan to stay up near Nicaragua, some people call the Guanacaste province (the northern Pacific coast) the northwest, and others consider La Fortuna to be the northwest since it sits northwest of the capital city of San Jose.
If you’re planning to stay at a beach town along the northern Pacific coast, or anywhere in the Guanacaste province including the Rincon de la Vieja area, I’d recommend going with the Tenorio River option simply because of convenience. Though we love the Sarapiqui River, it will require an additional 3-hour drive (roughly) beyond where you’d meet for the Tenorio River option, which would require an additional 6 hours of driving in total. Unless there was something specific you wanted to experience the Sarapiqui River for, I’d recommend sticking with Tenorio.
If you plan to stay in La Fortuna (or someplace in the northern inland region), from a distance standpoint, you could go with either river. It takes a little over an hour to get to the Sarapiqui River from La Fortuna, and about 2 hours to get to the Tenorio River from La Fortuna, so either is doable.
From a scenery perspective, both rivers are beautiful, but if we had to go with one over the other, we’d select the Sarapiqui River. This river is set in rainforest that nears the Braulio Carrillo National Park and it tends to be lusher than the Tenorio River’s setting, which is part rainforest and part dry forest. The dry forest does tend to be lush and green during the rainy season, though, which is when you plan to visit, so this point may not factor much in your particular case.
From a rapid perspective, both rivers are class III/IV. You’ll get about 40 rapids on the Sarapiqui River versus about 20 rapids on the Tenorio River. To help make up for its fewer rapids, the Tenorio River provides an opportunity to raft over a fun 12-foot drop.
From a logistics/value standpoint, you’ll get similar inclusions either way, including transportation to/from the river, equipment, a snack, and lunch.
With respect to your specific question about the rain, this is a tough one to answer as one night’s rainfall can impact (and potentially cancel) the next day’s tour. In general, the Guanacaste province receives less rain overall than any other province, so in theory, you’d be less likely to run into a tour cancelation if you went with Tenorio. The tour operators of the white-water rafting tours run on class III/IV sections of the Sarapiqui River and the Tenorio River also run safari float tours on class II/III sections of the Sarapiqui River and the Tenorio River, so it may be an option to experience either one of those tours as a fallback option if your white-water rafting tour happens to be canceled due to rain (assuming the safari float section is still safe to run).
In proceeding from here, I fear I may have only confused you more since there is no obvious/easy answer here. 🙁 To sum up, if you plan to stay along the northern Pacific coast, we’d go with Tenorio. If you plan to stay in La Fortuna, and rain isn’t a concern, we’d go with Sarapiqui. Since there’s no way to know if rain will or will not cause a rafting tour cancelation on the day of your tour, you can either take your chances with a tour on Sarapiqui and hope for the best or else go with a tour on Tenorio which, statistically, would be less likely to be canceled due to rain.
Very helpful response, actually. Since we have multiple night stays in both regions, I think given the setting in the rainforest, lush/scenic location near National Park, and the 20 more rapids on the Sarapiqui, that your recommendation is the right one 🙂 I’m from Oregon, and guided on the Deschutes River…but have quite a bit of experience running the Rogue, White Salmon, North Santiam and McKenzie Rivers as well.
We’re jealous! Perhaps one day we will make it to Oregon and will call on you for your expertise. 🙂
Re: Sarapiqui vs. Tenorio. Sounds good! Glad we could help make your decision a little clearer.
Pura vida!
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Tagged: adrenaline, balsa river, chirripo river, colorado river, corobici river, costa rica, costa rica travel tips, naranjo river, pacuare river, pejibeye river, rafting, reventazon river, sarapiqui river, savegre river, tenorio river, toro river, tourism, tours, travel, travel guide, white water rafting