Which Trip Is Right For Us?
Which Costa Rica rafting trip is right for us? You are coming to Costa Rica and have planned to spend a few days in the town of La Fortuna, and you want to go rafting! For a fun whitewater rafting trip in the Arenal Region of Costa Rica, you can choose between the Balsa River and the Sarapiquí River based on your level of adventure and the type of experience you want. . Both rivers are dam controlled, making the flows more consistent and stable when compared to the free-flowing rain fed rivers found in most other regions of Costa Rica. Both rivers offer different experiences, so here are some things to think about when making your choice.
The Balsa River whitewater section is 11-kilometers long with Class 3 rapids ideal for beginners and families. This is a morning trip leaving from La Fortuna with pickup times ranging between 9 AM to 10 AM. The Balsa River is famous for its beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano and its lush rainforest settings and beginner Class 3 rapids. The Balsa River is a great place to go rafting where you can enjoy the thrills of river rafting and experience classic Costa Rican natural beautiful scenery.
The rapids on the Balsa River are good for beginners and you do not need to know how to swim. This whitewater section has fairly continuous rapids for nearly half of the run so basic paddling is required. Younger children need not paddle and can simply hold on. The Balsa is a good choice if you’ve never been rafting before and want to experience fun Costa Rican rapids. Along with the fun rapids is the immersion into the local flora and fauna. There is a lot of wildlife along the Balsa River corridor, you might see birds, monkeys, and other animals while you’re there.
On this trip we will make a short stop to enjoy a fresh fruit snack, and lunch will be served after the trip. The trip ends with your drop off in La Fortuna between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM based on your pick up time. For more information or to book your trip on the Balsa please Click Here.
The Sarapiquí River with its Class 4 rapids has a higher level of adventure than the Balsa River. The rapids are steeper and more challenging requiring paddlers to be a lot more active. We run the 13 km Upper Sarapiquí section with the trip leaving La Fortuna at 8 AM and returning around 2:00 PM. The Sarapiquí River is a lot longer in duration due to a slightly longer drive time as well as rest stop between rapids. Active participation is necessary, so if you are an adventurous first-timer or an experienced rafter the Sarapiquí is a perfect river for you.
The area around the Sarapiquí River is thick with forest and lots of bird and animal life. There is a high likelihood of seeing quite a few animals as you raft down the river.
On this trip we will make a short stop to enjoy a fresh fruit snack and lunch will be served after the trip. The trip ends with your drop off in La Fortuna around 2:00 PM. For more information or to book your trip on the Sarapiquí please Click Here.
Overall, the Balsa River is a good choice if you are a beginner rafter, or family with younger children, wanting a scenic and mild rafting adventure. Let’s say you want bigger more challenging rapids with more activity and have been rafting before, then the Sarapiquí River will be a better choice for you. If you want a milder adventure, pick the Class 3 Balsa River Trip. If you want a high adventure trip, pick the Class 4 Sarapiquí River Trip. In the end, your Costa Rica rafting trip choice should depend on how active you are, how adventurous you want to be, and the scenery you want to see while you’re rafting.
