Balsa River Rafting Class III & IV from La Fortuna

Run Class III and IV rapids, then harvest sugar cane the traditional way

White water rafting on the Balsa River's Class III and IV rapids near La Fortuna, guided by expert river guides and safety kayakers. The six-hour trip includes pickup and drop-off in La Fortuna, a lunch of authentic Costa Rican organic food, fresh tropical fruits, and a stop where you extract sugar cane by hand and drink the juice. Live guides speak English or Spanish.

The experience

Six hours on the Balsa River means you spend the morning and early afternoon in the water, running Class III and IV rapids through the grandest canyon the river cuts. Expert river guides and safety kayakers stay with you the whole way, and the current keeps moving. You're paddling, not watching. Wildlife is thick here: sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys and tropical birds move through the canopy above the water, so there is something to watch between the rapids.

The day breaks for lunch at a farm stop where you eat authentic Costa Rican organic food and fresh locally grown tropical fruits. Before you eat, your guide walks you through how sugar cane grows, gets harvested and turns into juice, and then you extract it yourself the traditional way: using the same method locals have used for generations. You drink a glass of pure sugar cane juice straight after. The guide also teaches you about chocolate, medical plants and other crops grown in the region, so the lunch stop is not just a meal break.

Pickup and drop-off happen in La Fortuna, so you do not arrange your own transport to the river. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the group stays small enough that everyone hears the instruction and safety briefing clearly. The river does the work of moving you downstream. The guide's job is to read the water, call the paddle strokes and watch for wildlife.

What’s included

• Rafting on Class III and IV rapids of the Balsa River with expert river guides and safety kayakers.
• pickup and drop-off in La Fortuna.
• fresh locally grown tropical fruits.
• authentic Costa Rican organic lunch.
• instruction on growing, harvesting and producing chocolate, medical plants, fruits and sugar cane.
• traditional sugar cane extraction and fresh sugar cane juice.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (7 to 70 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Via 702, 500 meter south from the Catholic Church of La Fortuna, next to Supermarket "Super Rosvil", 21007, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, Costa Rica”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Costa Rica Descents

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language you are most comfortable hearing instruction and wildlife commentary in. The six-hour trip demands a moderate level of physical fitness and involves paddling hard through Class III and IV rapids, so it suits someone ready for an active morning and early afternoon on the water rather than a scenic float.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What are Class III and IV rapids like for someone who has never rafted before?

Class III and IV rapids on the Balsa River are exciting and physical (you will paddle hard and get wet), but expert guides lead the whole trip and safety kayakers stay with the group. The operator requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and children must be accompanied by an adult, but first-time rafters do this run regularly.

How much of the six hours is actually spent on the water versus stops?

Most of the six hours is on the river running rapids. The lunch and farm stop break up the day partway through, and you spend time learning about sugar cane and other crops before eating, but the core of the trip is the whitewater itself.

What happens at the sugar cane stop?

At the farm stop, your guide shows you how sugar cane is grown and harvested, then you extract juice yourself using traditional methods. You drink a glass of fresh sugar cane juice right after. The guide also teaches you about chocolate, medical plants and other crops grown in the region before you eat lunch.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Pickup and drop-off in La Fortuna are included in the price. You do not need to arrange your own transport to the river.

What wildlife might I see on the Balsa River?

The Balsa River canyon is home to sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys and a wide variety of tropical birds. Your guide watches for them as you paddle, so you have chances to spot wildlife between the rapids.