Florianópolis: Rio Cubatão Rafting Adventure & Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.94 (287 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration2h

GroupUp to 35

LanguagesEN · PT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Rafting Rio Cubatão with locals, teamwork and river energy

You’ll feel your pulse jump as you paddle through Rio Cubatão’s rapids with a local guide leading the way. Expect laughter, splashes, teamwork (sometimes clumsy!), plus moments when nature just hushes everything else out. Safety gear is included so you can focus on the ride — and maybe surprise yourself along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rafting adventure on Rio Cubatão

Meet specialized rafting instructor
Receive safety equipment
Learn rafting basics and teamwork
Raft down Rio Cubatão rapids

The Experience

I didn’t expect to feel my heart thumping before we even hit the water at Rio Cubatão — but there it was, a mix of nerves and excitement as we squeezed into our life jackets under the trees near Apuama. Our guide, Rafael (he’s got this sun-faded cap and easy laugh), cracked a joke about “beginner paddlers” which made us all relax a bit. The river looked calm from the bank, but you could hear the rapids further down — that kind of low, rushing sound that makes you want to see what’s around the bend.

We clambered into the raft, paddles in hand, and honestly I was just hoping not to fall out right away. The first splash of cold water hit my arm — sharper than I expected — and then we were off, bouncing over little waves. Rafael kept shouting directions in Portuguese and English (sometimes both at once), so nobody really had time to overthink it. At one point I tried yelling “pra esquerda!” like he did — probably butchered it because he laughed so hard he nearly dropped his paddle.

The best part? Somewhere between two rapids, everything went quiet for a second except for birds calling from the trees above us. The air smelled like wet earth and leaves, sort of sweet but heavy too after last night’s rain. We all looked at each other — grinning like idiots — and I thought, yeah, this is why people come out here for a day trip from Florianópolis. Not just for adrenaline or photos but for that weird sense of being part of something bigger than yourself, even if it’s just a raft full of strangers trying not to tip over.

What’s included

Your day includes guidance from an experienced local instructor plus all required safety equipment—just show up ready to get splashed and paddle together through some of Greater Florianópolis’ most lively river stretches before heading back with new stories (and probably soggy shoes).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Apuama Rafting