Tenorio River Rafting: Class III-IV rapids with lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration10h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Twelve kilometers of whitewater, a waterfall, and lunch back at base

Whitewater rafting on the Tenorio River near Tamarindo covers 12 kilometers of Class III-IV rapids, including over 22 named rapids and a 12-foot drop at Cascabel Falls, with hotel pickup, transport, lunch and a guide included. The full day runs about 10 hours from pickup to return. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and the activity suits travelers with moderate fitness; those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy should not book.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Whitewater rafting adventure and lunch

Hotel pick up in Tamarindo area
Drive 30 minutes to Tenorio River launch
Raft 12 km on Tenorio River
Navigate 22 class III-IV rapids
Spot tropical birds, monkeys, iguanas
Experience 12-foot Cascabel Falls drop
Hike to 4x4 vehicle at river exit
Drive back to tour base in Canas
Enjoy Costa Rica style Casado lunch
Use changing rooms before departure

The Experience

Hotel pickup starts at 6:50 am, and the drive to Canas takes you inland toward the Tenorio River launch point. A 30-minute 4x4 ride from the base gets you to the water's edge, where you'll meet your guide and get fitted for gear. The Tenorio River section you're rafting runs through sections of Tenorio Volcano National Park, and the rapids dominate the first stretches—over 22 Class III-IV rapids in all, the kind that demand active paddling and quick reactions but don't require prior experience.

Between the harder sections, the river slows enough to look around. The forested banks hold iguanas, monkeys and tropical birds in the canopy, and the guide points them out during the calmer water. The run builds toward Cascabel Falls, a 12-foot drop that closes out the rafting itself—the final push before you pull out at the private river exit. From there, a short hike gets you back to the 4x4 for the drive out of the isolated region and back to the tour base in Canas.

Lunch is a Costa Rican casado—rice, beans, salad, plantains and a choice of protein—served at the base after you've changed. Dietary restrictions are accommodated if you note them at booking. The whole day wraps by early afternoon, leaving time to get back to your hotel before sunset.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off.
air-conditioned minivan transport to and from the river.
lunch (a Costa Rican casado with rice, beans, salad, plantains and choice of protein, with dietary accommodations available).
live guide in English or Spanish.

Good to know

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

Operated by Native's Way Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Choose shared transportation if you're comfortable meeting other rafters and want the standard option; book private transport if you're traveling with a group and prefer to start and finish on your own schedule. Self-drive works if you have a rental car and want to meet the group at the launch point instead.