LA FORTUNA, COSTA RICA · SINCE 2005

The Best White Water Rafting in
Costa Rica

Rafting for the thrill-seekers. Safari Float in La Fortuna for the wildlife-lovers. Both come with bilingual guides and a real Costa Rican lunch.

20+

Years of Experience

3,321+

5-Star Reviews

4.9

Rating Google & Tripadvisor

100%

Locally owned and operated

Our TOP RAFTING TOURS

Something for everyone. Half & full day trips

Kids Friendly

Balsa River Rafting Class II–III

Enjoy Class II–III rapids, perfect for first-timers and families with kids ages 8+. Hotel pickup, fresh fruit on the river, and a delicious Costa Rican lunch included.

Rafting

$83

/pp

View & BOOK

Best Seller

Sarapiquí River Rafting Class III–IV

A full day of Class III–IV white water on the Sarapiquí River for paddlers who want the big rapids, ages 12 and up. Safety kayaker on every trip, lunch after the take-out, pickup from your hotel.

Rafting

$99

/pp

View & BOOK

Balsa VS Sarapiquí – Which River?

Two rivers, two vibes — easy family fun on the Balsa or full white-water adrenaline on the Sarapiquí.

Balsa River

$89/pp

Difficulty

Class II-III

Best for

Families · First-timers

Min age

8 years

Book Balsa

Sarapiqui River

$99/pp

Difficulty

Class III-IV

Best for

Thrill seekers

Min age

12 years

Book Sarapiqui
Read full comparison guide

Rafting Connection – Travel + Raft in One Trip

Class II–III rapids on the Balsa River, built into your transfer. One stop, no extra day needed.

Why Wave Expeditions?

Two decades on these rivers, family-run, and trusted by thousands of travelers.

Safety First

Certified bilingual guides, top-tier gear (NRS, AIRE), and safety kayakers on every run.

Safety First

Family-owned since 2006, CST-certified for sustainable tourism.

Proven Track Record

4.9 stars from 3,321+ Tripadvisor reviews — real trips, real travelers.

Two Rivers, One Team

Balsa and Sarapiquí, regular, private, and VIP options, all run by the same expert crew.

What 25,000 Adventurers say

4.9 stars on Google & TripAdvisor

Posted on Google Google
ANNA VENTURA TIRON profile picture
ANNA VENTURA TIRON
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Recomiendo esta actividad 100%. Fuimos en familia, con tres hijos de 15, 12 y 10 años. Disfrutaron mucho. Hicimos por el rio Balsa. Nuestro guía Erik un 10. Muy profesional, pero a la vez hizo que la actividad fuera muy divertida. Siempre con seguridad. La organización fue perfecta. Luego te llevan a comer. Vale la pena disfrutar de esta aventura.
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Allen Jones profile picture
Allen Jones
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Wonderful time for my son 12 years old. Alonzo was a great guide and very professional. Highly recommend
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Racquel Welch profile picture
Racquel Welch
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These guys were great! We had a large group, 25 people. They were very efficient and the guides were hilarious. We had Steven and you could tell he was extremely experienced.
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Patel Aayush profile picture
Patel Aayush
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Amazing adventure. We did class 3&4 and it was so much fun. Hanis our boat guide is great and professional. They serve freshly cut juicy fruits in between the rafting tour. Lunch at the end is so tasty. Definitely great experience.
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Sharon Forbes profile picture
Sharon Forbes
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One of the scariest & most exhilarating things I've ever done! I had never rafted white water before & the Balsa level 11 -111 river doesn't kid around. We are both 80 years old & this afternoon was attempted after a morning of Canyoning! We were in a large group (about 80?) but handled expertly by dividing us into separate rafts of 4 - 6, each with an experience Pro. Our fearless leader was Ronald & we spent the whole time following his expert instructions & laughing until we almost fell out. He was fabulous!! Unbelievable experience that you have just got to try! - if you dare:)
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Susan Roepke profile picture
Susan Roepke
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Our rafting trip with WAVE was absolutely thrilling. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel to the afternoon drop off. We took the combo tour beginning with the sloth walk. Our guide Stefan was fantastic and before we left we had seen and taken photos of three sloths. One with a baby, one stretched out lounging on a branch and another curled up in a ball. In addition we spotted some monkeys, saw many poison dart frogs and beautiful flowers. We were picked up again and while driving our guide Enzo went over all of the safety information we needed for the raft. As it turned out we had Enzo on our boat and he was amazing and so professional. The stop for a snack of fresh pineapple and watermelon at the half way mark really hit the spot. The buffet lunch was delicious. It was a wonderful way to wrap up a perfect day. I booked directly and spoke to Jonathan twice and met him while checking in at their office. He answered any questions I had and greeted me personally at check in. From beginning to end this was a perfect day and exceeded all expectations. Wave is a fantastic company with friendly and knowledgeable people. This trip for us was a girl trip with my daughter and two granddaughters. It’s an adventure we’ll never forget.
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Jill Hartsock profile picture
Jill Hartsock
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We’ve used Wave Rafting many times with our middle school students, parent chaperones and Tatiana and always have the best experiences! Thanks to Momo, Mariano, Justin, Christopher, and all the other guides who provide fun conversation and special “extras” like floating and riding the bull. Brandon takes exceptional professional photos of our travelers. Rafting with Wave is always a favorite activity among our students and parents! Muchas gracias, Wave! 🍉🍍🌊
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Mela Muñoz profile picture
Mela Muñoz
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Solo puedo decir: ¡impresionante! 100% recomendado. Si tienes la oportunidad, debes hacer el rafting. Nuestro guía, Gorjani, fue excelente; además de ser muy profesional y amable, nos mostró muchos animales durante el recorrido y compartió información
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Valeria. Sevilla Torres. profile picture
Valeria. Sevilla Torres.
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Mi experiencia haciendo rafting fue super divertida cabe recalcar que el guía yorhani fue excelente y muy atento además del resto de colaboradores como la chofer que nos esperaba al final del tour con bebidas 20/10
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Aleksander Gras-Ozimek profile picture
Aleksander Gras-Ozimek
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Korzystaliśmy z wycieczki Canyoning + Rafting - super organizacja, świetna zabawa na łonie natury. Ekipa pracowników mega sympatyczna, towarzyska. Jeśli szukasz aktywności sportowej z nutą adrenaliny - to świetne miejsce :)

Frequently Asked Questions

Wave Expeditions is your go-to crew for unforgettable adventure tours in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. We specialize in white water rafting and combo experiences around the Arenal Volcano, all led by certified bilingual guides who are big on fun and even bigger on safety.

We ride the wild in the Arenal region, with rafting tours on two of Costa Rica’s best rivers: the Balsa (Class II–III) for easy thrills, and the Sarapiquí (Class III–IV) for high-adrenaline adventurers. Both offer jungle views, wildlife moments, and pure pura vida energy.

Yes! Our Balsa River tour (Class II–III) is designed for families and first-timers, starting at age 8. It’s the perfect mix of gentle thrills, jungle scenery, and wildlife spotting — all with certified guides and top-tier safety gear.

Your safety is our top priority. All tours are led by certified guides, supported by safety kayakers, and start with a full safety briefing and paddle practice. We’re trusted by families, thrill-seekers, and first-timers alike

Ready to feel the rush?

Two rivers, real guides, and a lunch you’ll actually remember your Costa Rica adventure is one click away.