My Unfiltered Review of the Arenal Rafting & Zipline Adventure (2025)

So, there’s just something about waking up in La Fortuna that really gets you going. You know, you pull back the curtains, and bam, the Arenal Volcano is just sort of right there, a huge green giant often wearing a little cloud hat. Actually, seeing it makes you want to do something big with your day. That is exactly why my friends and I decided on a combination tour; frankly, we were a little short on time but very big on wanting some excitement. I mean, the choice between rafting and ziplining was honestly kind of impossible for us to make. So, when we found an option that mashed them both into one awesome day, it was a pretty easy decision, to be honest. Basically, the plan was to get splashed on the river and then go flying through the rainforest canopy. What’s really not to love about that idea, right?

I mean, booking things online can sometimes feel like a bit of a coin toss, you know? You read some descriptions, look at some polished pictures, and just kind of hope for the best. Frankly, we were looking for an experience that felt genuine, not like some cookie-cutter tourist thing. We really wanted guides who were passionate and a day that felt like a real Costa Rican adventure. Anyway, this tour seemed to have really good feedback, so we took a chance. We were, sort of, counting on it to be the highlight of our stay in the Arenal area. And just to give you a little spoiler, it pretty much was. The anticipation that morning was absolutely electric; we were just so ready to go.

The Day Begins: Pick-up and the Journey to the River

You know, the morning kicked off in a very low-stress way, which was a huge plus for us. A comfortable, air-conditioned van pulled up to our hotel right on schedule, so we didn’t have to worry about finding some random meeting spot. Actually, the driver greeted us with a massive smile, and that pretty much set the tone for the entire day. We picked up a few other small groups from nearby hotels, and frankly, the vibe in the van was immediately cheerful and excited. It was a really nice mix of families, couples, and other small groups of friends, all, you know, just buzzing with anticipation for the day ahead. Honestly, that shared feeling of looking forward to something cool is a great way to start.

Anyway, the drive itself turned out to be more or less part of the tour. Our main guide for the day, a super friendly guy named Carlos, basically used the 45-minute journey to the Balsa River as an opportunity to tell us all sorts of interesting stuff. Seriously, he pointed out toucans sitting in the trees, explained how a certain farm grew pineapples, and gave us a little history of the whole Arenal region. I mean, it wasn’t just a boring shuttle ride; it was actually a really engaging introduction to the local environment and culture. He had a way of storytelling that was so natural and funny, you just kind of hung on every word. He made us feel like we were just a bunch of friends heading out for a fun day on the river, you know?

Upon arriving at the river put-in point, frankly, things were incredibly well-organized. It wasn’t some chaotic free-for-all, which you sometimes worry about with these tours. Instead, we were guided to a clean facility with restrooms where we could change and stash our dry clothes for later. The guides then handed out all the safety equipment—life vests, helmets, and paddles—and seriously took their time making sure everything fit each person correctly. Actually, this part was very reassuring. Carlos and the other river guides gave a really clear and comprehensive safety briefing, so everyone knew exactly what to do. They used a lot of humor to make the instructions stick, which I thought was a really smart move, you know? By the time we walked down to the rafts, any little bits of nervousness in the group had pretty much melted away into pure excitement. You could just tell these guys were total professionals who had safety down to a science.

Getting Our Feet Wet: The Rafting Experience on the Balsa River

Alright, so pushing off from the riverbank and feeling the raft start to move with the current is a pretty cool moment. The Balsa River is, you know, just gorgeous. Its water is clear and the banks are lined with this incredibly dense, green rainforest that just buzzes with life. Carlos, our guide in the raft, was amazing. I mean, he was an absolute pro at reading the water. He’d tell us “Okay team, paddle forward now!” or “Left side back paddle!” and somehow, you know, we’d magically slip right past a big rock or hit a wave just perfectly. The Class II and III rapids were honestly the perfect mix. They were exciting enough to get your heart rate up and get you completely soaked with a big, splashy wave, but frankly, never so intense that you felt scared. It was just pure, laugh-out-loud fun.

You know, one of the best parts was how we sort of came together as a team in the raft. At the start, we were basically a group of strangers. But after navigating a few rapids together, following Carlos’s commands and high-fiving with our paddles after a particularly fun section, we really started to feel like a proper crew. The teamwork is actually a huge part of the experience. It’s almost like a dance where the guide calls the steps and everyone has to move together. It’s a very satisfying feeling when you all paddle in sync and power through a wave.

But the rafting wasn’t just about the fast parts, you know? There were these wonderfully calm stretches where the river would slow down, and we’d just float along. In these moments, Carlos would tell us to put our paddles down and just look around. Seriously, this is when the magic of the rainforest really hits you. We saw a sloth chilling in a tree, completely unbothered by us floating by below. Monkeys were chattering and crashing through the branches on the riverbank, and we spotted so many different kinds of colorful birds. He even pointed out some iguanas sunbathing on rocks, which were so well camouflaged we would have completely missed them. As a matter of fact, these quiet moments were just as special as the wild rapids. We even got to hop out of the raft in one super calm section and just float in the cool, refreshing water for a bit. It was, honestly, just bliss.

Frankly, Carlos said something that really stuck with me. He told us, “The river has two voices: the loud one in the rapids that gets your heart pumping, and the quiet one in the calm pools that speaks to your soul. You have to listen to both.” That really, you know, summed up the whole experience perfectly.

Soaring Above the Canopy: The Zipline Thrills

So after our river adventure, a quick towel-off and change, we hopped back in the van for a short drive to the ziplining location. The energy was still very high, with everyone laughing and sharing stories about their favorite rapids. I mean, arriving at the zipline park was another ‘wow’ moment. It’s located on this huge private reserve with just spectacular views of the volcano. The setup was again, really professional and safety-focused. The zipline guides were super upbeat and did a fantastic job of explaining all the gear—the harness, the helmet, the gloves, and stuff. They did a little practice run on a very short, low cable so everyone could get the hang of braking with their gloved hand and feeling comfortable with the equipment, you know?

I’ve got to be honest, standing on that first platform, high up in a tree and looking out across the vast green canopy, is a little bit nerve-wracking. Your mind is like, “You want me to step off of what now?”. But the guides were so reassuring and their confidence was really infectious. Once you hear that ‘zip’ sound of the pulley on the cable and take that first leap, any fear you had just instantly turns into pure adrenaline and excitement. I mean, the feeling of flying through the air, with the rainforest rushing below you and the wind in your face, is just absolutely incredible. Seriously, you feel like a bird. You get this completely different perspective of the jungle from up there, seeing the tops of these giant trees and getting glimpses of the landscape all the way out to the horizon.

What I really liked about this particular course was the variety in the cables. It wasn’t just the same ride over and over, you know? Some lines were super long, letting you really pick up speed and just soar across a massive valley for what feels like forever. Others were shorter and faster, zipping you between platforms deep inside the forest canopy. One of the cables was even called the “Superman,” which frankly sounded a bit intense, but it was just so much fun. On that one, you are attached from your back so you fly horizontally. At the end of the day, there were something like eight different cables, and each one offered a slightly different kind of thrill. The guides at each platform were always there to greet you with a smile and help you get ready for your next flight, which just made the whole thing feel really seamless and fun.

What You Should Really Know Before You Book

Alright, so if you’re thinking about doing this tour, here’s some stuff you probably want to know to have the best day possible. Basically, being prepared makes a huge difference. First off, what to wear is a really big one. You are definitely going to get completely soaked on the raft, so don’t wear anything that you don’t want wet, like cotton. Honestly, quick-drying athletic clothes are your best friend here—like a swimsuit underneath board shorts and a rash guard or a synthetic t-shirt. For your feet, you just cannot wear flip-flops. They will come off and float away, I promise you. You need shoes that will stay on your feet, like secure river sandals, water shoes, or even an old pair of sneakers you don’t mind getting soaked. For the ziplining part, you just need to be in clothes you can move in, and you must have closed-toed shoes for that activity. Many of us just kept our wet sneakers on, which was totally fine, you know?

As a matter of fact, you don’t have to be some kind of super athlete to do this tour, but a basic level of fitness is pretty helpful. For rafting, you’ll need to be able to paddle for periods of time, but there are plenty of breaks, so it’s not too strenuous. For the ziplining, you’ll be doing a little bit of walking between the platforms, sometimes up slight inclines, so just be prepared for that. The main thing is being able to climb a few flights of stairs up the towers. I mean, the guides are there to help, but you should just be comfortable with some light activity. People of all ages were on our tour and doing just fine, so don’t overthink it too much.

Here are a few other little tips I think are super useful:

Sunscreen is a must. I mean, even on a cloudy day, the sun in Costa Rica is really strong. Slather it on before you leave your hotel, because frankly, you’ll be too busy having fun to reapply much.
Bring a change of clothes. Basically, there’s nothing better than putting on warm, dry clothes after a day on the river. You can leave a small bag with your dry stuff in the locked van, which is very convenient.
Think about your camera. You’ll want pictures, right? A waterproof camera like a GoPro is obviously the best option for the rafting part. For ziplining, you might be able to use your phone if you have a very secure strap or a zipped pocket, but honestly, it’s a little risky. The tour operator usually has a professional photographer who takes amazing shots during both activities, which you can purchase at the end. We ended up just buying their photo package, and frankly, the pictures were way better than anything we could have taken.
Bug spray is a good idea too. You know, you are in a rainforest, after all. Just a little spray before you head out can make you more comfortable, especially in the more jungle-like areas around the zipline platforms.

The Food and Final Thoughts: A True Taste of Costa Rica

So, after all that paddling and flying, we had worked up a serious appetite. The tour concluded at a lovely open-air restaurant on a local farm, which was a really perfect way to wind down. They served us a traditional Costa Rican lunch called a ‘Casado’. To be honest, this was one of the best meals we had on our trip. A Casado, which means ‘married man’, is sort of a perfect plate of food. It typically has rice, black beans, a salad, fried plantains, and a choice of protein like chicken, fish, or pork. Our meal was served with some fresh fruit juice that was just so refreshing. I mean, after a day of adventure, sitting down to a hearty, delicious, home-cooked meal like that just feels incredibly satisfying.

What I really loved about this final part of the day was the chance to just sit and chat with everyone. We shared a big table with some of the other people from our raft and our guides, Carlos included. We were all just laughing about who screamed the loudest on the zipline and who got hit by the biggest wave on the river. This, you know, is what makes a great tour. It’s not just the activities themselves, but the shared experience and the connections you make. Eating together, sharing stories, and just enjoying the ‘Pura Vida’ atmosphere of the farm was honestly the perfect ending. It really felt less like the end of a tour and more like having lunch with a bunch of new friends. Actually, it just cemented the whole day as a genuinely top-notch experience.

To be honest, the whole day felt like a perfect snapshot of what Costa Rica is all about. You get a little bit of thrilling adventure, a huge dose of spectacular nature, and a very warm welcome from some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. It’s really more than just a tour; it’s a memory you’ll be smiling about for a long, long time.

Key Takeaways from the Day

The tour is extremely well-organized from the very beginning, with punctual pickups and really clear communication.
The guides are not only professional and safety-conscious but also really fun, friendly, and knowledgeable about the local area.
The rafting on the Balsa River is a perfect balance of exciting Class II-III rapids and calm floating sections for wildlife viewing.
The ziplining provides a completely different kind of thrill with some truly breathtaking views of the rainforest and volcano.
The day ends with a delicious and authentic Costa Rican meal, which is a really great cultural touch.
You don’t need to be an expert adventurer; it’s really suitable for most people with a basic level of fitness who are looking for a fun day out.

Read our full review: 2025 Rafting & Zipline Tour Review and Details

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