Rio Claro floating tour: waterfall hike and river float

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Free cancellation

1/5

Duration5h

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Spot monkeys and sloths gliding past as you drift through Costa Rica’s wild waterways

A floating tour from Drake Bay combines a one-hour hike to a waterfall in the mountains, a one-hour float down Rio Claro, and a coastal walk, finishing with lunch. The tour runs five hours total and requires moderate fitness; lifejackets, private transport and a guide in English or Spanish are included. Travelers should expect the river to be physically demanding—bruises are possible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Floating tour with hike and lunch

Car ride to mountain start point
Hike to waterfall for 1 hour
Swim and enjoy waterfall
Float down Rio Claro river for 1 hour
Walk along the beach coast for 45 minutes
Car ride to lunch location
Have lunch and finish tour

The Experience

The day starts with a 30-minute drive inland from Drake Bay into the mountains. Once you reach the trailhead, you hike for about an hour through the forest to a waterfall, where you'll have time to swim before the float begins. This opening stretch sets the pace: the terrain is real, the climb is steady, and the waterfall itself is the payoff that justifies the effort.

From the waterfall, you transition straight into the float down Rio Claro. The river carries you for roughly an hour from the mountain down toward the coast, and this is where the tour earns its name—you're moving with the current, navigating the water in a way that feels more active than passive. Wildlife appears along the banks: monkeys, sloths, tropical birds and lizards show up if conditions favor them, though sightings are never guaranteed. The river itself is the main event, and the float demands enough attention and balance that it counts as genuine adventure, not a drift.

Once you reach the beach, a 45-minute coastal walk follows before a car picks you up and takes you to lunch. The whole sequence—mountain, water, shore—covers distinct terrain in a single morning, and the five-hour window holds it all. Lifejackets are provided, and your guide speaks English or Spanish throughout. This tour is built for people in good physical condition; the combination of hiking, floating and walking means you're moving the entire time.

What’s included

Private transportation from Drake Bay to the trailhead and back to town.
lifejackets for the river float.
a guide in English or Spanish.
lunch after the coastal walk.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Pacheco Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Drake Bay without a car—included pickup and return transport lets you reach the mountain trailhead and coast in one morning.