White Water River Rafting Class III-IV from La Fortuna-Arenal
Description
Jump start your Costa Rica holidays with White Water Rafting Class III & IV from La Fortuna. Costa Rica is known for world-class rafting and the Class II & IV of the Sarapiqui River won’t disappoint. Your Costa Rica rafting adventure tour begins with a 1-hour scenic drive that winds through plantations of papaya, pineapple, and yucca at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Once you reach the “put-in” spot, Wave Expedition’s skillful, trained guides will go over the safety procedure and rules to prepare you for your paddling responsibilities. Once you know the rules and show you are familiar with the commands – you are ready to start your Costa Rica tour. Your rafting trip with Wave Expeditions is sure to be one of the highlights of your Costa Rica tour. Pura Vida!
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotels outside of the normal route may have an extra transportation charge. o Arenal Lodge o Lost Iguana o Luna Nueva o Bosque de Chachagua o Chachagua Rainforest o Tilajari o Leaves and Lizards o Observatory Lodge o La Mansion o El Castillo o Rancho Margot. o Nuevo Arenal Hotels o Termales el Bosque o El Tucano o Lands in Love o La Garza
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult (Min Age 12)
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Weather dependent. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is flooding or other government river closure. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- Participants will get wet, please dress ready to raft in bathing suit and shoes that will stay on feet. No flipflops allowed
- Not responsible for items lost or damaged on river, please do not take anything on the river that you are not willing to lose
- Tour requires 1 adult minimum to book
Reviews(154)
Had a blast! Great team and perfect river. Was myself, wife and two boys 15 and 17. One of the highlights of the trip. Thanks guys!
Thank you for coming out on the river with Wave Expeditions. We love hearing that your family had such a great time—especially with teens, this is exactly the kind of trip that can become a real highlight. We appreciate you choosing to raft with us in La Fortuna/Arenal, and we’d be glad to welcome you back anytime for another Costa Rica rafting day.
Guides are amazing. We took our younger kids 13 and 12 and it was intense but we felt safe the entire time. I recommend water shoes and a waterproof bag with towel so you can dry off for the bus ride back to the launch site. You top half way and enjoy some fruit and a beer. It was amazing!
Thank you for rafting with Wave Expeditions and for sharing your experience. We’re glad your family had such a great time and that our guides helped you feel supported throughout the trip. Your tips about water shoes and bringing a towel for the ride back are very helpful for future guests, and we’re happy you enjoyed the mid-river break with fresh fruit and a cold drink. We’d love to welcome you back the next time you’re in La Fortuna/Arenal.
Diego was an excellent rafting guide and birder that seamlessly shifted between giving rowing instructions and pointing out birds, iguanas, and sloths - a great trip!
That’s such a great way to describe the day—thank you. Diego has a real talent for balancing solid rafting instruction with spotting the details around you, and we’re glad you got to see birds, iguanas, and even sloths along the way. We’d love to take you back out on the river with Wave Expeditions next time you’re in La Fortuna/Arenal.
We had gone on a class 3/4 before and this one was awesome. They were funny and informative on the way there. Our boat guide Ruper was very good and our boat only had 4 rowers but we rocked on the river! It is scary to start but even some of the guests on the other boats that went into the water had fun. The break for fruit was good and the dinner at the end was excellent. I don’t swim and I recommend this to all!
Love that you came in with Class 3/4 experience and still had an awesome time with us—thank you. The ride over should feel like part of the fun, and I’m glad the team kept it light and informative. Ruper will be proud to hear your raft “rocked” the river, especially with a smaller crew of paddlers. It’s also really helpful that you mentioned being nervous at the start and not being a swimmer—many guests feel the same way. Hearing that you still enjoyed it and would recommend it will give a lot of people confidence. Thanks again for joining Wave Expeditions in La Fortuna/Arenal, and we hope we get to take you back on the river.
We did yesterday the Rafting Tour - It was really exhilerating & lot‘s of fun!!! We had great safety instrutions and felt absolutely fine!! Great guides during the whole day! We are a Family with teenagers (15 and 17) , it was the Perfect Adventure for them (likewise for us)!! Great experience, absolutely recomendable!!!
Wow! Thank you so much for paddling with us and for sharing your adventure! We’re thrilled to hear that your family (teens included!) had such an exhilarating and fun day on the river. Our certified guides put a big focus on safety and good vibes, so it’s awesome to know you felt confident and cared for from start to finish. Rafting in La Fortuna really is the perfect mix of adrenaline, jungle scenery, and family bonding, and we’re so glad it was the right fit for your crew. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more pura vida adventures soon!
What an amazing day. A huge thank you to Alonso, Carlos and Antonio who really made the day for us. Lots of fantastic memories and photos to take home with us.
Thank you for this kind review! We’re so glad Alonso, Carlos, and Antonio made your day unforgettable. From laughs on the river to photos worth framing, it sounds like the full Wave Rafting experience delivered big! Come back anytime, the rainforest (and your next adventure) will be waiting.
So much fun. Fox was an absolute superstar and made sure we had a wild ride!!! Marvin fought off a bunch of ninjas while we were on the River and kept my Red Bull safe on the bus. He’s a real Costa Rico hero.
Thank you for the fantastic (and hilarious) review. We’re thrilled to hear you had such a wild and memorable ride with us. Fox is a superstar on the river, equal parts adrenaline and expert guide. And Marvin... well, protecting Red Bulls and defeating invisible ninja threats is all part of the Wave service. We’ll be sure to pass along the hero status. It’s moments like these that make our tours unforgettable, and we’re grateful you chose to share them. We hope to welcome you back to La Fortuna for round two.
Our white water adventure trip with Wave Expeditions was the highlight of our trip. Our guide, Brandon, and photographer, Jose, were amazing! The hour car ride was pleasant as our driver was great and Brandon talked to us about the area and things we were seeing along the drive. The rafting was fantastic! Not too hard but steady and adventurous! After rafting we had a great meal at a local place as well.
Thank you for this amazing review! We're so happy to hear your whitewater adventure with Brandon and José was the highlight of your trip. From the scenic drive and local insights to the perfect mix of fun and adventure on the river, we’re glad every moment hit the mark. And nothing beats a delicious meal to wrap up the day! Hope to see you again for another unforgettable Costa Rica experience. The Wave Rafting Team
I had an amazing experience with Yude our White water guide! You made my experience very special! Lots of fun and I had to consume lots of Pina Colada’s after this adventure. Many thanks.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear Yude made your whitewater adventure so special—he’ll love knowing he helped create such a fun and memorable day. Sounds like those well-earned Piña Coladas were the perfect way to celebrate! Hope to welcome you back for round two soon! The Wave Rafting Team
This was our second time rafting in Costa Rica and we had a fantastic time. We rafted the class IV and III rapids. Our guide, Justin, was excellent and did an outstanding job navigating us through some narrow areas. From the booking experience, to check-in, to the safety briefing, to our time on the water, we had nothing but a positive experience with everyone at Wave Rafting. We would absolutely recommend them.
Thank you for choosing Wave Rafting for your second Costa Rica rafting adventure! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time tackling the Class III & IV rapids and that Justin guided you safely through those narrow sections like a pro. It means a lot to know that every part of your experience—from booking to check-in, safety briefing, and the trip itself—was smooth and positive. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again for round three! Pura Vida!
