Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande
Pick your date
Highlighted days have spots open. Grey days are sold out or not running.
September 2026
Loading live availability
Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 247 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande worth booking?
Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande is a 7.5-hour experience in Big Bend National Park, United States, from $155 per person. It scores 74 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 247 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 74 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (247)
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- From
- $155 per person
Descend into the many canyons of the Rio Grande by boat. Float through the spectacular scenery of the international boundary. The water level determines which canyon we float through and whether we float in canoes, kayak
What you get
About this experience
Descend into the many canyons of the Rio Grande by boat. Float through the spectacular scenery of the international boundary. The water level determines which canyon we float through and whether we float in canoes, kayaks, or rafts. This scenic float is great for all ages. Come explore the Chihuahuan Desert and learn about the geology, plants, and history. This is a full day trip, you will be responsible for bringing your lunch, and we have the coolers to pack your lunch in.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- All equipment to float the river will be provided: boats, PFD- personal floatation device, paddle, and a dry bag to keep your valuables in
- All Fees and Taxes
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Terlingua Ghost Town
The tour starts in Terlingua, TX. As we ride in vans to the river learn about the cultural history, geology, flora and fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert. Once at the river we will get outfitted in PFD's (personal floatation devices) and pack cameras and other valuables into dry bags. We will do a safety briefing and paddling instruction talk. After several hours of floating we will stop on the side of the river for a picnic and swim. You are responsible to pack a lunch and water bottle, we will have water to refill your bottles and coolers for your food. Alcoholic beverages are allowed in cans. We will continue our float down the international boundary.We typically return to Terlingua around 4:30 p.m.
420 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Big Bend National Park
We will meet at our office 53570 Firestation Road,Terlingua. It is located on Hwy 118, 3 blocks North (towards Alpine) of the junction of Hwy 118 & Hwy 170 (gas station).The meet up time is 9 a.m. Central Time Zone, watch your clocks to make sure you are in the right time zone as they can change!
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
We will meet at our office 53570 Firestation Road,Terlingua. It is located on Hwy 118, 3 blocks North (towards Alpine) of the junction of Hwy 118 & Hwy 170 (gas station).The meet up time is 9 a.m. Central Time Zone, watch your clocks to make sure you are in the right time zone as they can change!
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Big Bend Boating and Hiking Company
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 228 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
228 verified traveler reviews for Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Rio Grande River Tour!
Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande River was an amazing trip. Our guide Nester was very knowledgeable. We had a lot of fun. I even caught a fish with my hand. I was wondering why the water was very muddy?
via Tripadvisor
Great Experience
Guides were awesome! Very nice and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
via Tripadvisor
Kind, accommodating, and awesome tour guides
AWESOME. As a solo traveler I was having trouble finding an outfitter to take me on the Rio Grande during my trip to Big Bend. Not only did they take me on the trip, Erin opened a time slot just to work with my schedule. They said they'd have to refund if no one else booked, but they were optimistic. Two weeks later, we had a group of 12+ and I had an amazing afternoon kayaking down the Rio Grande. My tour guides Andrew and Amanda were amazing, super knowledgeable about the wildlife, the water shed, the town history, the local food, and everything else about the area. Sincerely thank you. I will highly recommend this outfitter to my friends and family
Response from the operator: I definitely started marketing to add folks to this trip! So glad you had a good time paddling the Rio with us.
via Tripadvisor
Beware- absolutely no refunds!
Unfortunately, I have to rate this company lower because of their ABSOLUTELY no refunds policy. We woke up and got ready for our tour and came out to a completely flat tire. With no time to spare and no cell service, we sent the rest of the group on their way and dealt with the tire. The closest tire company was 70 miles north and we were on back country roads. We called the owner of the company later and she was not tolerant of any excuse for cancellation. That was very disappointing to hear considering we would be out $170 for 2 people. She told me her Dad taught her to change a tire when she was 16 and said, what you don't know how? Then she told me to get out my calculator so I could add up how much money she would be losing by refunding me. Our conversation was disappointing. I understood her point, but it seemed a little unreasonable to me to not have a better solution. There's gotta be a better, more professional way to handle issues when they arise.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your review. I guess I don’t understand why you didn’t ride in with the rest of your group and deal with the flat tire later in the day? The reason our cancellation policy is that within 48 hours there is no refund is because we still pay our guide staff and drivers. This is fair to our employees. We do not think it is fair for your problems to be passed along to our staff and them penalized. Most business have a cancellation policy for this reason for example airlines nor would it be fair to hold up the rest of the guest on a tour for several hours waiting on you to fix a flat. If you do not agree with the policy then I would not book the tour. Our staff have bills to pay and rely on their job for this. As a company we are only allowed so many people per day on a river trip as per park regulations. Therefore, if you cancel the morning of the trip it is impossible to rebook your spots. It is unfortunate that you got a flat tire, but that is not our problem nor will we take the blame for it. Thank you for understanding our side of the situation. Maybe this is an opportunity for you to learn maybe you tube it as being able to change a tire in a remote location is a life skill. Lucky you weren’t out in the middle of the park with no cell service when this happened. Our staff are kind on the phone until they get badgered by someone who refuses to understand both sides of the story therefore she had to break it down to you like I just did. Our guide staff do an amazing job and we are going to support them 100% of the time, even if that means we get a 3 star review, which we appreciate so other people can read it and learn from your mistakes.
via Tripadvisor
Hannah and Ernesto were...
Hannah and Ernesto were amazing guides that took us through the hot springs and we even got to swim in the canyon! An amazing experience amidst the sweltering heat. Best part of our Big Bend trip.
Response from the operator: We are so glad that you had a good experience with Big Bend Boating and Hiking Company while boating on the Rio Grande. And it is always nice to hear kind words about out guides. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 86
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 74
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Big Bend National Park.
How much does Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande cost?
+
Prices start at $155 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Big Bend National Park usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande take?
+
Plan for about 7.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Big Bend National Park is not rushed.
Is Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 74 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 247 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Big Bend National Park, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande?
+
No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande?
+
Around 86 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Big Bend National Park can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Big Bend National Park and add a light layer if any part of the 7.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Big Bend National Park within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Big Bend National Park?
+
On Outty we rank every Big Bend National Park experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Big Bend National Park Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour, Hot Springs Canyon Full Day, Big Bend National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Big Bend National Park?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Big Bend National Park?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Float the Canyons of the Rio Grande.
Pick your date
