La Fortuna: Canyoning & White Water Rafting Combo Tour

Summary

La Fortuna adventure day with canyoning waterfalls and river rafting

You’ll start your day near La Fortuna rappelling down waterfalls in Pure Trek’s rainforest canyon before heading to the Balsa River for white water rafting through lush scenery. Expect laughter, splashes, and real Costa Rican food shared with new friends—all guided by locals who know every rock and rapid. It’s sweaty, thrilling fun you’ll remember long after you dry off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Canyoning and white water rafting adventure

• Pick up from hotel
• Transfer to 4x4 trucks
• Drive to remote ranch house
• Receive gear and safety instructions
• Rappel down waterfalls and rock climb
• Participate in Monkey drop zip line and rappel
• Hike out of canyon
• Drive to Balsa River
• Enjoy 2 hours of white water rafting
• Stop for drinks, snacks, and swim
• Finish rafting and head to local restaurant

Top questions

How long does the La Fortuna canyoning & rafting tour last?

The combined activities take most of a day including transfers—expect several hours for both canyoning and rafting plus travel time between locations.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included from selected hotels in La Fortuna.

What class are the rapids on the Balsa River?

The Balsa River features class II-III rapids suitable for beginners with some adventurous spirit.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

Yes, a traditional Costa Rican lunch is included at a local restaurant after rafting.

Are photos included in the price?

A photographer takes pictures during canyoning; photos are available for purchase separately.

Can children join this combo tour?

Children can participate if accompanied by an adult; check age requirements directly before booking.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet, sturdy shoes (not flip-flops), sunscreen, and maybe a dry change for lunch.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from select La Fortuna hotels, all activity equipment for both canyoning and white water rafting on the Balsa River, guidance from professional local staff throughout each adventure section, snacks along the way plus drinks during breaks, photography service available for purchase during canyoning moments—and wraps up with a hearty Costa Rican lunch before heading back to town.

What’s the experience like?

"Don’t look down," our guide Marco grinned at me, but of course I did—straight into a curtain of water pouring off the rocks. The air smelled like wet leaves and something sweet I couldn’t name. We’d left La Fortuna just after sunrise, still a bit groggy, bumping along in a 4x4 up to Pure Trek’s canyon. The gear felt awkward at first—harness digging into my hip—but once we started rappelling down that first waterfall, all I could think about was how cold the spray was and how loud everyone’s laughter echoed off the stone.

I didn’t expect to enjoy the Monkey Drop as much as I did. It’s basically a zipline that ends in a rappel, and it sounds scarier than it is (though my knees definitely knocked together when Marco clipped me in). There was this moment mid-air where everything went quiet except for birds somewhere above us. After scrambling up slick rocks—my shoes squelched with every step—we hiked out of the canyon for snacks and some awkward attempts at Spanish with Li, who kept joking about my helmet hair.

The drive to the Balsa River took maybe 45 minutes? Hard to tell—I dozed off for part of it. The rafting itself was wilder than I’d pictured. Rapids tossed us around but there were calm stretches too, where you could just float and watch blue butterflies flicker over the water. At one point we stopped for drinks by a sandy bank; someone handed out pineapple slices so fresh they stung my tongue. Our group ended up soaked and sunburned but smiling like idiots by lunchtime at a little roadside spot—rice, beans, chicken, nothing fancy but somehow perfect after all that adrenaline. Still think about that view upriver sometimes.