Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River, Arenal/La Fortuna

4.6 (25 reviews)
Float down Peñas Blancas River, wildlife-watching with a naturalist guide to spy monkeys, sloths, iguanas and waterbirds

Overview

Float slowly down the wildlife-rich Peñas Blancas River and experience the tranquility of the rainforest on a family-friendly boating excursion. This rafting trip is a golden opportunity to observe many species of wildlife, such as monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, and alligators, as well as different types of birds like herons, cormorants, American darters, and passerines. Your naturalist guide will point out various flora and fauna, from picturesque trees to rare reptiles, as you make your way down the river.

Highlights

  • Float down the lush Peñas Blancas River on a raft
  • Spot monkeys and sloths in the trees along the riverbanks
  • Look for a rare lizard capable of walking on water
  • See a wide range of flora and fauna while enjoying a relaxing boat ride

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
4 years old & up
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
A snack is included

What you'll do

Enjoy a relaxing morning or afternoon wildlife viewing excursion on this quiet rafting trip down the Peñas Blancas River. You'll transfer to the starting point on the river, where you'll put on a life jacket and hear a safety overview from your naturalist guide. 

Both 4-person and 6-person rafts are available. As you push off into the water and begin your float down the river, keep your eyes open for monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, caimans, and a wide variety of birds, including herons, cormorants, American darters, and passerines. With some luck, you might spot the rare basilisk lizard, capable of walking on water.

Your guide will also point out some interesting vegetation, including dense branches of ficus, luehea, and kapok trees full of lianas and epiphytic plants. The foliage leans in and intersects from both sides of the river, forming magical and mysterious water tunnels full of fantastic shapes where very little sunlight gets through.

This tour is perfect for those who'd like to observe and photograph natural scenery and wildlife without doing a lot of walking. The light, buoyant raft, designed not to disturb the river floor or the plants and animals around it, makes for a quiet and peaceful trip. You'll only need to paddle occasionally to avoid an obstacle. If you'd prefer not to paddle at all, it's possible to just ride on the raft.

You'll transfer back to La Fortuna at the end of the journey.

Start times

  • Daily
    8:00 am, 2:00 pm

What's included

  • Transportation
  • Bilingual guide
  • Lifevest
  • Boat
  • Snacks
  • Bottle water
  • Entrance fees

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Traveler reviews

25 total ratings, 21 with reviews
4.6
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.8
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.9
Transport
5.0
Catherine
Catherine H.
Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024
Wonderful guides, beautiful relaxed float on the river. Great snacks at the end. Read more

Wonderful guides, beautiful relaxed float on the river. Great snacks at the end.

Tips for future travelers

Small waterproof bag for a phone would be helpful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knew the animals and plants so answered all our questions. Generally informed regarding the ecology of the area.
Transport
Picked us up on time
Milan
Milan Š.
Czechia | Reviewed on Mar 30, 2024
It was interesting experience, but due to rainy weather we didn't enjoy it as much as we could in case of good weather - but as our guide said - this is a rain forest and rain is good for nature :-)
Because of weather, I also think we have not seen so many animals as we could see under different weather conditions.
At the end of the tour there is half an hour session about the chocolate production with chocolate tasting. Since we have been visiting chocolate plantation already with really...
Read more

It was interesting experience, but due to rainy weather we didn't enjoy it as much as we could in case of good weather - but as our guide said - this is a rain forest and rain is good for nature :-)
Because of weather, I also think we have not seen so many animals as we could see under different weather conditions.
At the end of the tour there is half an hour session about the chocolate production with chocolate tasting. Since we have been visiting chocolate plantation already with really dedicated guided tour including tasting, this half an hour could not compete with proper chocolate tour, which we highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Margaret
Margaret C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2024
SOOOO much fun! I cant even being to count the number of animals we saw. Read more

SOOOO much fun! I cant even being to count the number of animals we saw.

Tips for future travelers

Sunscreen!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nikki
Nikki S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2024

Too long on the raft; overall too long.

T
Therese B.
Greenacres City, FL | Reviewed on Jan 14, 2024
My husband and I did the Safari Float on the Penas Blancas River. It was a rainy day, but still enjoyed the trip. Saw some Cayman, Howler Monkeys, a tree porcupine and many birds. Be prepared to paddle, not just float! After the tour, we were surprised with a snack, some moonshine and then followed up with an education about chocolate farming. Enjoyed it! Read more

My husband and I did the Safari Float on the Penas Blancas River. It was a rainy day, but still enjoyed the trip. Saw some Cayman, Howler Monkeys, a tree porcupine and many birds. Be prepared to paddle, not just float! After the tour, we were surprised with a snack, some moonshine and then followed up with an education about chocolate farming. Enjoyed it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
G
Guillermo T.
West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023
Very relaxing, saw lots of wild life. Mariano and Diego were great. A surprise snack was lovely.
Would recommend especially if you don't want to do rapids but want to be on the water.
Read more

Very relaxing, saw lots of wild life. Mariano and Diego were great. A surprise snack was lovely.
Would recommend especially if you don't want to do rapids but want to be on the water.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you take water shoes of some time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wanda
Wanda H.
Lake Elsinore, CA | Reviewed on May 28, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised to be the only one on the raft with the guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, pointing out things along the way I never would've seen. He also went into detail about these sights. At the end of the very relaxing float he took me to an eco farm for snacks made entirely from ingredients from the farm. Read more

I was pleasantly surprised to be the only one on the raft with the guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, pointing out things along the way I never would've seen. He also went into detail about these sights. At the end of the very relaxing float he took me to an eco farm for snacks made entirely from ingredients from the farm.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
C
Chakrapani S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on May 18, 2023
Ceaser, our guide and paddle boat operator was so engrossed in helping us appreciate the experience and uniqueness and history of the area. Helped us spot many wonderful wild life Read more

Ceaser, our guide and paddle boat operator was so engrossed in helping us appreciate the experience and uniqueness and history of the area. Helped us spot many wonderful wild life

Quality of Experience
Calming experience to close out our trip
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Marilyn
Marilyn F.
Inglewood, CA | Reviewed on May 05, 2023
Absolutely exciting! I was a little afraid but glad I did it. I wanted to see a big 🐊 we saw a baby one. Read more

Absolutely exciting! I was a little afraid but glad I did it. I wanted to see a big 🐊 we saw a baby one.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
They stuffed to many people in the van.
M
marlyn C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2023
The local term for jip-bo-Jip - means land to water to land; Fortuna to the lake to Monteverdi; delightful ride, with the sailor stopping at interesting points to show us more birds and fauna Read more

The local term for jip-bo-Jip - means land to water to land; Fortuna to the lake to Monteverdi; delightful ride, with the sailor stopping at interesting points to show us more birds and fauna

Tips for future travelers

Go for the nice surprises and enjoy the ride

Quality of Experience
Fun, refreshing and great sight seeing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendliness and points out interesting sighting along the way, birds
Transport
On time , clean and friendly have extra water for passengers

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Itineraries with Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River