
Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1,996 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica worth booking?
Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica is a 5-hour experience in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, from $85 per person. It scores 95 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1,996 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 95 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1,996)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $85 per person
The balsa river is the best white water rafting choice in the northern area of Costa Rica this great class 3 &4 on the upper part, Balsa River for an adventure you won’t forget anytime soon! Stop along the way to rest a bit, do a little swimming, and enjoy some fresh Costa Rica fruit. After white water rafting, you will get a clean towel and a water bottle, and we’ll take you to a local restaurant to have a Costa Rica style lunch Daily tours leave at 08:30 am from La Fortuna for our Class IV White Water Rafting Adventure on the Balsa River and includes round trip transportation from local La Fortuna hotels, all equipment, guides, fruit on the river, towels, water, & costarican lunch. We come back to La Fortuna town at 13:30. This tour is appropriate for anyone with 12 years and older.
What you get
About this experience
The balsa river is the best white water rafting choice in the northern area of Costa Rica this great class 3 &4 on the upper part, Balsa River for an adventure you won’t forget anytime soon! Stop along the way to rest a bit, do a little swimming, and enjoy some fresh Costa Rica fruit. After white water rafting, you will get a clean towel and a water bottle, and we’ll take you to a local restaurant to have a Costa Rica style lunch Daily tours leave at 08:30 am from La Fortuna for our Class IV White Water Rafting Adventure on the Balsa River and includes round trip transportation from local La Fortuna hotels, all equipment, guides, fruit on the river, towels, water, & costarican lunch. We come back to La Fortuna town at 13:30. This tour is appropriate for anyone with 12 years and older.
What's included
Included
- Fruits on the river
- Towel
- Bottled water
- Transportation from hotels located less than 6 km away from our main office
- Pick up time may vary up to 20 min depending on hotel's location.
- Lunch
Not included
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase) at the end of the tour.
- We do extra pickups in some hotels for a charge of $40
- Pick up service at hotels located over 6 km away from our main office
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
La Fortuna
If you do not need to pick up, you can get to our office at 9:15 am. We are located 100 meters north from the police station, avenue 333 street 460. You can find us on Waze or google maps as ARENAL RAFTING COMPANY.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
If you do not need to pick up, you can get to our office at 9:15 am. We are located 100 meters north from the police station, avenue 333 street 460. You can find us on Waze or google maps as ARENAL RAFTING COMPANY.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Arenal Rafting
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,996 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
1,996 verified traveler reviews for Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fun on the river
Upper Balsa rafting was amazing. It’s exhilarating and requires some effort. Saw sloths and lizards along the way which was a bonus. Julio our guide was informative and super fun. Lunch was superb back at their office. 10/10
via Viator
BEST EXPERIENCE IN LA FORTUNA EVER!!
White water rafting on the Balsa River was honestly one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip! We did Class III–IV rapids, and it was such a fun mix of adrenaline, excitement, and beautiful scenery. Our tour guide, Braulio, was AMAZING! He was so cool, knowledgeable, and made the entire adventure even more fun. One of my favorite parts was when they served us fresh Costa Rican fruit in the middle of the rafting excursion. Such a nice touch! And the experience got even better with a delicious, hot casado lunch included at the end. Everything was so good, but I HIGHLY recommend ordering the pork casado. SOOO GOOD! We also paid an extra $40 for the photos, which we split with our group, so it wasn’t bad at all. The pictures were great quality and definitely worth it to have these memories captured! If you’re visiting Costa Rica and looking for an adventure, you HAVE to try white water rafting on the Balsa River! Between the Class III–IV rapids, amazing guide, fresh fruit break, and delicious lunch, everything was a 10/10. Huge shoutout to Braulio for making this experience so memorable! Pura vida!
via Tripadvisor
Unique and exciting
A one hour drive in a bus takes you to a river put in under a bridge. From there you take off and quickly hit rapids; we had two fall in quickly. But we were able to get them in easily. The rapids seem to be man made with a few different channels/difficulties. You then float in a wide open river and get to relax before hitting some bigger waves. There were a few dicey moments which is what we wanted (we asked for 4/5). We did however feel safe the whole time; the river has large rapids follow by low flowing flat water; so if you fall in you pretty quickly would be safe. We had two great guides: Mauricio (?) and Jabir (?). Upon existing we had pineapple and watermelon; which hits the spot. Then drove over the bridge to a river fronting restaurant with decent food and good outdoor seating. The company and people were great. I bought a plastic cover for my phone thinking I would be able to take photos; but you are too busy paddling.
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Experience
Super fun - a really great activity for friends/family looking for something active, challenging, but safe and structured!
via Viator
All the guides for the...
All the guides for the rafting were great. The shuttle ride to the river went by a breeze with Yader spotting sloths and telling jokes. Our raft guide was Roberto and he did a great job making the activity as a whole feel very safe, secure and fun. At first we were a little worried as it was our first time rafting, but Roberto made sure we were ok and also enjoying ourselves. He was very good at spotting wildlife, stopping to show us poison dart frogs, toucans and sloths. One of the highlights was the fruit they served, which to date is the best pineapple we have had ever.
Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the entire experience, from the shuttle ride to the river adventure. We’re especially happy to hear that Yader kept the ride entertaining while spotting sloths along the way, and that Roberto helped you feel safe, comfortable, and confident during your first rafting experience. It’s great to know you also enjoyed discovering Costa Rica’s wildlife, from poison dart frogs and toucans to sloths! And we’re so happy the fresh pineapple was a highlight — we’ll gladly take the title of the best pineapple you’ve ever had! Thank you for choosing Arenal Rafting. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! Pura vida!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 699
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by Arenal Rafting, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 88.5 and 3 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Arenal Rafting runsWhy this scores 95
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for La Fortuna.
How much does Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica cost?
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Prices start at $85 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in La Fortuna usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica take?
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Plan for about 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 La Fortuna is not rushed.
Is Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 95 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1,996 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in La Fortuna, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica?
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Around 699 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 La Fortuna 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?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in La Fortuna and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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On Outty we rank every La Fortuna experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include White Water Rafting Class II and III, Authentic Coffee and Chocolate Tour at North Fields, Canyoning Adventure Rappelling Waterfalls in Arenal Volcano. 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 La Fortuna?
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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 La Fortuna?
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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?
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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.
What is included in Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica?
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Included: Fruits on the river; Towel; Bottled water; Transportation from hotels located less than 6 km away from our main office; and Pick up time may vary up to 20 min depending on hotel's location. Not included: Souvenir photos (available to purchase) at the end of the tour; We do extra pickups in some hotels for a charge of $40; and Pick up service at hotels located over 6 km away from our main office. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 58 listed pickup locations in and around La Fortuna. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica?
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Across 1,996 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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