---
title: White Water Rafting in Guanacaste
description: Just a short drive from Guanacaste is the Tenorio River, with rapids ranging up to Class IV for a lively family trip into the interior
image: https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/White%20Water%20Rafting%20in%20Guanacaste-1.jpeg
---

# White Water Rafting in Guanacaste

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### December 31, 2019

October rains across the country bring with them full rushing rivers, elevating mild rapids in the country to healthy levels and turning the more active rapids in the country into truly thrilling rides.

Costa Rica has 14 raftable rivers that originate in the country, which drain into the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and the San Juan river in Nicaragua, and offer a wide range of rapids that reach from class I to class IV on the [International Scale of White Water Difficulty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_scale_of_river_difficulty).

From the gentle, slow moving class I and IIs in places like Peñas Blancas at the very northern border of Guanacaste, down to the class III and class IV rapids of the Pacuare River at the heart of the country, there is rafting to find all around Costa Rica.

Departing from Las Catalinas, the nearest white water rafting is on the Tenorio River, which features a mix of class I, class III, and a single class IV rapid on a stretch through the rainforests of Tenorio Volcano National Park.

 

### White Water Rafting on the Tenorio River

The white water rafting section on the upper Tenorio River is a little less than a two hour drive from Las Catalinas, and offers a healthy mix of difficulties for older kids and adults. Tours depart from base camps and head upriver by bus before arriving at put-ins on the North Tenorio. From there, the trip starts slow, with a mix of class I and class II rapids as teams get comfortable in their boats and learn to handle their craft on the water.

 

![](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/White%20Water%20Rafting%20in%20Guanacaste.jpeg)

Class I Rapids | PC: Commons

 

As the trip continues, there are hidden waterfalls to swim in and wildlife to encounter in the trees, including rare sightings of sloths, which tend to be active this time of the year.

The rapids increase in size and excitement towards the end of the trip, especially with the October rains. This section has a few class III rapids building to one final, class IV waterfall that makes for a spectacular drop, a memorable photo, and a thrilling end to the trip. Afterwards, rafts make their way to the put-out for snacks and refreshments, before heading back to base camp for lunch.

 

![](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/White%20Water%20Rafting%20in%20Guanacaste-2.jpeg)

 

Going Down Rapids in Costa Rica | PC Commons

 

### Make the Day Trip from Las Catalinas

For a full day trip, transportation can be booked to depart from town in the morning and head straight to base camp with one of a few rafting companies, where equipment, gear, and reservations are all handled ahead of time. From there, trips head through the grasslands and down into the river basin to tackle the rapids, with lunch and a ride back home waiting afterward.

Concierge can book full day trips with transportation there and back, or handle reserving gear and a trip for those looking to drive themselves. Either way, rafting the Tenorio is an adventurous day out on the water, and this time of the year the experience has just a touch more thrill.

[![Reach out to Concierge](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4917861/35a4c06c-f48d-485b-b5f8-868464231654.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4917861/35a4c06c-f48d-485b-b5f8-868464231654)

## See related posts

<https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0>

## [A New Perspective on Sustainable Travel: The Car-Free Movement](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0)

[ Costa Rica is one of the hubs for sustainable travel in the world, the birthplace of ecotourism and of some of the first ecolodges in Tropical America, a world leader in conservation, and a country on the leading edge of sustainable energy, decarbonization, and combating climate change. ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0)

[Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0)

<https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/coast-magazine-las-catalinas>

## [Coast Magazine Takes a Look at Ecoluxury in Las Catalinas](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/coast-magazine-las-catalinas)

[ Coast Magazine’s Jordan Riefe explored Las Catalinas and the nearly 950 acres of natural landscape surrounding town in Guanacaste’s tropical dry forest zone for an article titled “Costa Rica Luxe,” which focused on the many interesting facets of life in and around town. ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/coast-magazine-las-catalinas)

[Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/coast-magazine-las-catalinas)

<https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0>

## [Best Homes in Las Catalinas to Train and Recover](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0)

<https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0>

[Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0)

<https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/the-mountain-biking-trails-for-the-reto>

## [The Mountain Biking Trails for the Reto](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/the-mountain-biking-trails-for-the-reto)

[ The Las Catalinas Reto began in September 2019, and will be a year-long competition that will take place over 22km of town’s mountain biking trails, joining the Las Catalinas TRI as one of town’s two major mountain biking competitions. There are divisions for both local and non-local riders (living ... ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/the-mountain-biking-trails-for-the-reto)

[Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/the-mountain-biking-trails-for-the-reto)

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