Family White Water Rafting Río Balsa (Class 2 & 3)

“That was so cool, Dad!” My 10-year old daughter thought this was the best day of our vacation, hands down! I got tons of brownie points for taking her on the Río Balsa white-water rafting tour. I think she might be hooked.

So what does it mean when people say it is a Class 2-3 white water rafting trip? Class 2 rivers have wide, clear channels and fairly straightforward rapids. You may need to maneuver around a few rocks or medium sized waves, but they are pretty easy to avoid with an experienced guide. Maneuvering Class 3 rapids requires a bit more finesse as you work your way around boulders and narrower passageways. The white-water rapids on rivers with Class 2-3 rapids can be a lot of fun when you go with an experienced guide who knows the river well. Anyone age 8 or older can enjoy white-water rafting on the Río Balsa, which is considered Class 2-3 white-water rafting.

On this COSTA RICA FOR KIDS Río Balsa White Water Rafting tour, you start the day on a fun bus trip. Your guide will tell you lots of cool stories about the area and the history of the area. Once you get to the river, you and the other members of the team that will be in your raft will help carry the oars, life vests and other gear to the river bank. Listen up, because the guide will now teach you rafting commands, like “Left Side High” and “Right Side Back.” You will get a few minutes to practice your newly acquired skills before pushing off from the shore.

Just a couple of light rapids into the trip and you will be paddling with confidence. As you paddle along, there are plenty of spots between rapids to look around for monkeys and sloths. And, by the time you get to “Dredges” and “Magnetic Rock” your team will be more than ready to navigate those thrilling, fun rapids with ease. Your crew will stop mid-river, so the guides can prepare some thirst-quenching fresh pineapple and other snacks. While they are getting things ready you can jump off the side of the bank and cool off if you like.

At the take out point, you will have an icy cold beverage while your crew loads the equipment onto the bus. Then it’s off to enjoy a hot Tico lunch and a cultural experience before heading back to your hotel. Professional photo package is available for purchase. You are sure to share on social media outlets and have something great to frame when you get home. This is sure to be one of your family’s favorite adventures of your trip to Costa Rica!

What families love about this tour! – Great team activity promotes family bonding. The meal and cultural experience after the tour will be something you will remember long after you leave Costa Rica.

We offer free transportation to and from select hotels in the Fortuna area. If you would like to include transportation to your Multi-Adventure Package, please contact us to coordinate the available tour combinations, pick up time and location.

Tour Duration: Approx 6 hours