pure nature safari float

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Costa Rica Travel Information

Pure Nature Rio Frio Safari Float – Peaceful Wildlife Watching from Arenal

May 16, 2018 By Sammi 45 Comments

The Rio Frio safari float was by far, the most enchanting and peaceful boat rides I’ve ever done in Costa Rica. This 2 hour pure nature safari ride quickly climbed to the top of my list of things to do in La Fortuna and Arenal after I had an incredible day floating down a gorgeous river surrounded by nothing but nature.

There are Amazon affiliate links in this post.

Rio Frio Safari Float (Cold River)

The Rio Frio is a slow moving river in the Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve, stretching from the hills of Los Chiles near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela to Guatuso, about an hour drive from La Fortuna . The Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve is considered to be one of the most bio-diverse areas in Costa Rica. This is an unspoiled area in the country that only few people get a chance to visit!

If you’re looking for an unique wildlife watching experience out of Arenal or La Fortuna, put this one high on your list!

Pure Nature Safari Float

We arrived in Guatuso for the start of the rafting trip in the backyard of a local’s home, which sits on the bank of Rio Frio. I went with a family of four so our group was small. It was just the five of us plus our guide so we had the best attention.

The first time I did a morning tour in November, the second time we did an afternoon in May. We had wonderful weather both times (cloudy but no rain). The afternoon tour was a bit noisier (there are some houses along the river) but we saw lots of wildlife both times. I would recommend the morning over the afternoon though, we saw more animals in the morning.

Start of the Safari Tour

This nature safari isn’t like others, it’s on a raft instead of a boat with an engine and we were the only ones on the river . Our guide did the majority of the paddling, navigating the calm waters to get us as close as possible to the wildlife. With engines, animals scare easily and you can’t get into the tight corners as you would with a small raft.

So there we were, the 6 of us on a raft, floating down this small but peaceful river when no more than 2 minutes after we pushed off, our guide pointed to the trees for our first wildlife encounter.

This juvenile three toed sloth was climbing down a tree right above our heads! Our guide got us into the right position so we could see him in full view as he clambered down.

As sloths only touch ground to go potty once a week, we caught him right in the act. We watched him climb down until he disappeared out of view into the bushes.

We hadn’t even been on the river for more than 5 minutes and we already saw one of my favorite animals in Costa Rica! From that point and on, I couldn’t wait to see what other exciting wildlife encounters we’d have.

We floated down the river, quietly admiring its natural beauty and wondering what other animals called these waters home. And we found out soon enough.

Wildlife on the River

We saw adult, baby and juvenile Jesus Christ lizards scampering on the water, male green iguanas in orange breeding colorations, a huge troop of white face and howler monkeys flying from tree to tree, an otter slyly slinking into the water, a caiman sunbathing and tons of birds including kingfishers, trogons and anhingas.

No matter how boat rides I’ve done before, Costa Rica still awes and impresses me!

Great Tour for Families

The little girls on the boat were having a blast and by the end, they were even pointing out monkeys and iguanas! Although we had to be as quiet as possible on the river as not to disturb the animals, I could tell they were having trouble keeping their excitement inside.

It made me happy to see the younger generation having a wonderful time learning about nature and being outside. They kept asking what everything was and would listen intently to our guide as he explained to them about each animal and their special characteristics. By the end of the boat ride, they kept chattering about that awesome monkey next to them and the ginormous iguana in the tree and it continued on all the way back.

At the end of the safari float, they took us to a local’s house not too far away to give us fruit juice and snacks, a nice way to end the day before we headed back to La Fortuna.

La Fortuna safari float video

You can watch a video of the pure nature safari float we did in May 2018 below.

What to know about the La Fortuna safari float

• You can bring a small backpack on the raft, preferably waterproof in the rainy season
• Bring a good zoom lens for your camera!
• It is really hot in this area so bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
• I wore long hiking pants to ward off mosquitoes and KEEN sandals , but definitely bring mosquito repellent if you’re wearing shorts.
• The tour company provides water on the bus.
• They run two tours, one in the morning (8 AM) and one in the afternoon (1 PM).
• You won’t get wet in the raft so no need to bring a change of clothes.
• Snacks and drinks are provided after the rafting.

Tour Company and Discount

Our tour operator partner in La Fortuna is the only company that operates the safari float on this specific section of the river. They actually  operate this tour in 3 different sections of the Rio Frio with 1 boat per section.

We have a partnership with our partner to give our readers 7% off this tour. Note that this tour is called Pure Nature Safari Float. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Los Chiles boat tour is another tour on the same river but on a covered motor boat and from a different “put in” spot. The safari float is on a raft with no motors.

If you’re in Manuel Antonio and would like to do a similar boat tour, check out the Damas Island Mangrove . You can go on a boat or kayak through the mangroves to see wildlife.

Read about other things to do in La Fortuna below!

La Fortuna waterfall :  Beautiful waterfall in the rainforest. Easily accessible though requires over 400 steps to get to the bottom.

Horseback riding La Fortuna :  Ride through valleys and rainforests for beautiful views.

Arenal Combo tour : 4 in 1 combination tour. Includes hanging bridges, La Fortuna waterfall, volcano hike and hot springs.

Balsa River rafting :  Easy Class 2 and 3 white water rafting, only 30 minutes from Fortuna.

Penas Blancas safari float (similar to this one but closer to La Fortuna)

Reader Interactions

Sharon says

March 18, 2024

Hi Sammy, Thank you very much for the great website and comprehensive information. How long is the Pure Nature Safari Float? Thank you in advance Sharon

March 25, 2024

Hi Sharon, it’s little over a half day tour

Shu Dong says

January 3, 2024

Hi, Sammi, Thank you for the great website. I am trying to choose between boat tour and safari float. Which one can see more animals? Are there other tours good for watching wildlife with kids?

January 4, 2024

I would recommend the safari float because it’s quieter and the raft can get closer to animals.

December 30, 2023

We loved this float tour. At the end of our two weeks in Costa Rica, all four family members agreed that this activity was the best thing we did, by far, on our trip (and we did many A+ activities!). César was our guide and he was, perhaps, the best tour guide we’ve ever had for any tour anywhere. He was superb. On the drive from La Fortuna to the river, he stopped along the road because he saw a sloth climbing to the top of a tree and we all got to see it. On the river, we saw all of the animals we hoped to see, and César would “stop” the raft so we could get a long look and some photos. Lunch at Wendy’s was wonderful. Our tour was during the first week of December, 2023, and we had great weather…no rain, warm, but not hot sun, and a gentle breeze. We were the only ones on the tour perhaps because it was still low season.

Hi Patti, thanks for your feedback and comment. We are glad you had a good time on the tour and got to see why we love it!

Lorna Foster says

November 21, 2023

We booked the Pure Nature Safari Tour through My Tanned Feet and it was perfect from start to finish. We were met at our hotel by Moses our driver and Cesar our river guide. Cesar was extremely knowledgeable about the river and we saw every animal shown in the photos shown above! We were also taken to a delightful home cooked authentic Costa Rican lunch at “Wendy’s place”. Delicious! Thank you Cesar and Moses for a memorable fabulous day! Totally recommend this tour!

November 22, 2023

Hi Lorna, thank you for your comment and we’re glad you enjoyed the tour and experienced it first hand why we love it! Thank you for booking through us and for leaving your feedback

Colleen says

March 4, 2023

Saludos from Seattle! . I notice this post was created in 2018. Just wondering if all is the same with this Pure Nature Rio Frio tour in 2023? Also because we’ll be there end of July/beginning August (rainy season), is it possible to book this tour just a day or two in advance for a party of 4 – when we know the weather forecast? How far in advance does this tour fill at this time of year? Muchas gracias!

March 14, 2023

Hi Colleen, we sent you an email last week with more information

Krista says

February 26, 2023

Wondering if there’s the possibility to see crocs/alligators or snakes on this tour? We’ll be going to crocodile bridge, so if not, it’s not a big deal, just wondering. Thanks!

February 27, 2023

There can be caimans or crocodiles. We don’t have alligators in Costa Rica.

Alisa harris says

January 10, 2023

Hi, will be taking the river float trip in February with Jacamar. What is customary and how much USD would be appropriate for the guide?

January 11, 2023

Hi Alisa, if you’re asking for tip, the standard is 10% and you can tip in USD or CRC

SClayton says

January 2, 2023

We will be traveling with three children, ages 2 years, 4 years and 5 years. Do you know of your for Rio Frio or Penas Blanca(?) that can accommodate the children’s ages? There will be 6 adults as well.

January 3, 2023

Unfortunately the 2 year old is too young for their minimum age requirement for both tours, but you can request the tour as private and they can run it with the 2 year old

January 4, 2023

June 26, 2022

Hi Sammi, Trying to decide between Rio Frio and Penas Blancas. Traveling as a family with 8yo and 10yo in mid-August, our goal is to see as much wildlife as possible. In which of the two spots are we more likely to see more wildlife or is it about the same? I assumed more wildlife in Rio Frio since it’s more secluded but based on some answers above seems the opposite to me. Could you please clarify? Thank you.

June 27, 2022

Both rivers offer similar wildlife watching opportunities, the main difference between the two is that Rio Frio is exclusive to one operator only so there will only be one boat down the river during your tour so it’s much quieter and more of an exclusive experience, it can offer more wildlife viewing opportunities since it’s quieter with less people

Many companies operate the float down Penas Blancas river, so sometimes there can be like 10 boats at a time depending on how busy it is

As it is nature and wildlife, we can’t guarantee better sightings over another since nature will do what it does, I personally saw more wildlife on Rio Frio

Daniela says

February 28, 2020

Hi- Such an awesome website! We booked our Adobe rental car through you. 🙂 My husband and I are going to travel to CR for the first time in the end of April and would love your recommendations on a couple of things. We have 2 weeks in country and are going to start with 3 nights in Arenal, 2 nights in Bijagua, 3 nights in Ocotal/ Guanacaste and 4 nights in Puerto Viejo (Limon).

We would love to go on a river float to see wildlife (sloths etc.). Where would you recommend we do that? We’re not adrenaline junkies and would prefer something slow with lots of wildlife to something fast and motorized.

Where would you split up the 8 hr drive between Guanacaste/ Ocotal and Puerto Viejo (Limon)? We plan to drive via Cano Negro rather than through San Jose.

I’m into natural healing, healthy foods etc. and would love to visit an indigenous village that perhaps has a curandera or where they grow their own medicinal herbs. Would a visit to the BriBri be recommendable?

Are you aware of any tours that might visit a school or other social institution?

Thanks so much!

March 4, 2020

Arenal/La Fortuna has great river safari floats (like this Pure Nature post), it’s my favorite actually.

You can check out Sarapiqui , it’s not right in the middle but you could stay there to break u pthe drive.

I’d definitely arrange a visit to BriBri when you’re in Puerto Viejo, that would be a nice experience.

January 5, 2020

Will be in Arenal next week 1/8 – 1/10! First-timers to CR w/husband+17 yo daughter. Can we drive ourselves to Rio Frio and meet the guide there? Our hotel said 2 hrs ea way for Cano Negro tour, felt too much for us. Yr post says 1 hr drive and small tour, how can we confirm that? Is Rio Frio much more interesting/wildlife/scenic vs Pena Blanca float (sounds a bit boring/less wildlife per reviews). Muchas Gracias for this amazing blog, rented our car thru yr link!

Hi Robin, if you want to do Rio Frio, it is best to meet at the tour office and take their shuttle because the start of the tour is at a local’s house and hard to find on your own. It is not quite inside the Caño Negro wildlife refuge itself and the Caño Negro boat tour starts at a different place on the river.

Both Rio Frio and Peñas Blancas are nice river safari floats but Rio Frio is an exclusive tour so way less people.

Brian Welte says

April 17, 2020

Sammi and Yeison,

I’m glad I found this comment and learn that it’s best to meet at the Jacamar office rather than trying to drive ourselves to the local’s house near the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The Jacamar office is in La Fortuna, correct?

We plan to book this tour (through MyTanFeet of course!). After the tour we plan to drive to Bijagua de Upala. Is it OK to meet at the Jacamar office and then follow the bus to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge so we can continue on to Bijagua from there rather than going all the way back to La fortuna?

Hi Brian, yes you can do that 🙂

June 29, 2019

You’re very welcome 🙂 And yes they can certainly do a 1968 and Penas Blancas in one day. You can pay with credit card at their office the day before the tour.

We are actually currently in the process of finalizing a partnership in Manuel Antonio with a tour operator there so when you send us the email, let us know what you’re interested to do there too.

June 28, 2019

Hi Sammi, Your info is amazingly helpful, thanks! We will be in Arenal area for 3 full days in August. Two Adults and our 12 year old son. Here’s our itinerary draft: Day 1: Proyecto Asis Volunteer in the morning, Bogarin Trail in the afternoon Day 2: Safari on the Penas Blanca River in the morning, Arenal Volcano hike in the afternoon (1968 trail) Day 3: Mistico Hanging Bridge Birding Guided Tour morning, Don Olivio Chocolate Tour afternoon We are not renting a car so we will rely on tours and shuttle service. (after Arenal we’re off to Manual Antonio) I know zip lining is spectacular – for various reasons we are skipping it this trip and we have been to waterfalls on other trips. We are staying at a hotel with hot springs on site so we are covered with the hot springs experience. We want some down time to relax at the hotel. In your experience and opinion – would you recommend swapping the Penas Blancas Safari Tour with the Pure Nature Rio Frio Safari Float – and possibly skipping the 1968 Trail hike due to time. Or is there something else you recommend we cut out so we do the Rio Frio in place of the Penas Blancas? Thanks!

I would personally do the Penas Blancas morning and Volcano hike in the afternoon, the hike is pretty nice and the Penas Bancas river offers the same wildlife watching experience as Rio Frio. Rio Frio is if you reallllly want something more exclusive and personal since there aren’t other boats or companies on that part of the river, Penas Blancas you will see more.

Susan Davis says

Appreciate your input, thanks!! We’d like to use Jacamar. Think they would do a combo tour with Penas Blancas + 1968 Trail? Do you know if they are they taking credit cards or pay pal only (we don’t use pay pal) Also – do you have a partnerships with a tour company serving Manual Antonio? Thanks so much!

Rachel says

April 21, 2019

Thanks for all your awesome information! We are planning a trip for next winter and hoped to spend time in the Arenal area and probably at the coast near Jaco or Samara. I read your great articles on both. I’m wondering how you would recommend splitting the time? 5 day Jaco, 5 day La Fortuna? Etc. We will be there for 10-11 days and are traveling with 4 adults and 2 kids (9&12) who love nature and hiking and also love a good chill beach. Thanks much for your thoughts!! ❤️

Hi Rachel, if you’re flying in and out of San Jose, the easiest beach would be Jaco/Manuel Antonio. I personally wouldn’t recommend 5 days in Jaco, I’d split it in between Jaco and Manuel Antonio. If you’re renting a car, there are a lot of other chill beaches in between though which are less touristy like Esterillos Oeste ad Playa Bejuco

You could definitely do 5 days in Arenal, there is a ton of things to do in that area and you can see a lot of the area.

Norman says

February 5, 2019

Hi Interested in the Rio Frio safari tour. We are (4) at the Arenal Paraiso Hotel in March and have a free day. – Would we have to make our own way to the tour destination? – How long would it take as we would prefer the morning tour? Thanks for any info Norman

Hi Norman, roundtrip transportation is included in the tour so you don’t have to drive to the river. The drive from la Fortuna to the Rio Frio river start is around 1 hour, and pick up is around 7-730 AM (will confirm the time when the reservation is made).

March 1, 2018

Hi Nicole, the drive from Tabacon to the tour is about 1 hour. It’s not really windy or bumpy, from what I remember it was mostly on a paved road.

Nicole Cook says

February 28, 2018

How far away is this excursion from Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa? Is the road there windy and bumpy? Thanks!

February 18, 2018

My wife and I are in our early 60’s, active, enjoy hiking, swimming and kayaking, but have never gone white water rafting. Although the safari float sounds wonderful, we were thinking that we would like to try white water rafting instead. We would also book it thru Jacamar. Can you help us decide which excursion would be best for us?

February 19, 2018

Hi Marc, if you haven’t done white water rafting before, the one from Arenal is really nice! Not super crazy but crazy enough 🙂 Jacamar made a video of the white water rafting Class 2 and 3 rapids you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMag2Og4zVw

Yeison did that one last year and he had a lot of fun. I think that’d be a great tour for you guys to do since you haven’t done rafting before and the scenery is really nice.

January 29, 2018

Super interested in the Rio Frio safari tour, but wondering if minimum age is still 8 yrs. old for this. We are traveling to Arenal area in 2 weeks with a 6 year old who would love this safari, but obviously will not book if age limit is 8. Thank you in advance!

January 30, 2018

Hi Julia! The minimum age is 5 so you can definitely go with your 6 year old, they will love it!

January 16, 2018

Rio Frio is not listed as an option. Does it go by another name?

Hi Peter! Yes they call the tour “Pure Nature Safari” 🙂

Jeremy says

May 20, 2017

Do you think it would be safe to bring a DSLR camera on this tour? I don’t plan on jumping in.

Hi Jeremy, yup bring it! I took the photos in the post with my DSLR and you don’t get wet at all. Don’t miss the awesome wildlife shots and bring your DSLR

Ryan Biddulph says

November 18, 2015

Love that sloth! We’re arriving by Puerto Viejo in 10 days. Living in Buena Vista on a house sit for 2 months in an off the grid setting. I look forward to seeing toucans and Howler monkeys and all of these fab creatures as our neighbors. Neat change up from the more suburban life of here in Granada, Nicaragua.

Cool 🙂 I’m sure you will see plenty of wildlife in PV. Hope you enjoy your time in Nicaragua and CR!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Exclusive deals

Pure Nature Safari Float

• Combination Tours
• Hiking Tours
• Adrenaline Tours
• Water Tours & Wildlife
• Senior Friendly
• Wheelchair Accessible
• Family Friendly
• Gastronomy and Culture

Keep in touch

• [email protected]
• (506) 2479-9767
• 1-800-7196377
• TripAdvisor

Jacamar Naturalist Tours © 2024. All rights reserved. Site Map

Pure Nature Rio Frio Safari Float: Class I-II

Home » Tours » Pure Nature Rio Frio Safari Float: Class I-II

This tour is for nature lovers who want to explore further away from the main Arenal tourist areas. You will transfer by ground approximately 1 ½ hours by ground to the Frío River, an important area for much of Costa Rica’s wildlife. Float down the river peacefully as you try to spot monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, caimans, and birds in this special eco-environment. After, enjoy homemade snacks at a Costa Rican family farm and practice your Spanish skills with the owners before heading back to Arenal.

• Minimum Age: 5 years
• Passenger Minimum: 2
• Duration: 3/4 day, departs in the morning, and returns in time for a later lunch
• Difficulty: easy/moderate
• Includes: transfers, guide, equipment, snack
• What to Bring: secure shoes, comfortable clothing, sunscreen, hat or bandana, light jacket or sweater
• Tour Type: nature, active

YOU DESERVE A VACATION PLANNED BY EXPERTS.

Us headquarters, costa rica office.

Barrio La California, Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, Ed #2798 Oficina #8 San Jose, Costa Rica 10104

READ OUR REVIEWS

Dreaming of cooler weather?

• DESTINATIONS
• THINGS TO DO
• PLAN YOUR TRIP

Privacy Overview

This is a necessary category.

Pure Nature Safari Float - La Fortuna - With Reviews & Ratings

• La Fortuna Tours
• Water Sports
• Paddleboarding
• Pure Nature Safari Float

Pure Nature Safari Float - La Fortuna

• See more images

Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Hotel pickup Available
• Duration: 4 Hrs
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 7:30 AM Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 - 60 minutes prior to this time, exact pickup time will be advised on reconfirmation.
• Return Details : We recommend bring ponchos or rain jacket during rainy season.
• Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Know More about this tour

This river protects a good portion of the forest on its banks, connected through its tributaries with dozens of small patches of forest, creating a highway for several species of animals. They use the ground, water, and branches to move daily through the river in search of food and other needs. It is easy to observe monkeys, sloths, iguanas, turtles, caiman, and numerous species of birds, as well as dense vegetation of coastal trees that support the soil and prevent erosion and floods.A quiet tour to enjoy the peace and sounds of the forest. We will use our senses of sight, hearing, and smell to locate animals. The boat captain is also an experienced naturalist guide with great knowledge to interpret the ecosystem and provide interesting information about it. At the end, we will share an unforgettable experience, visiting a Costa Rican family on their farm, and enjoying homemade snacks.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Professional guide
• Bottled water

Additional Info

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

Please send an email to () with the age of children under 12 years old, in order to organize the special seats for kids.

You Might Also Like

• Bus & Minivan Tours
• Half-day Tours
• Culture & Theme Based Tours
• Food & Nightlife Tours
• Outdoor & Nature Tours
• Classes & Workshops Tours
• Tickets & Passes
• Transfers & Transportation
• Family Friendly Tours
• Luxury & Special Occasions Tours
• Shore Excursions
• Day Trips & Excursions
• Multi Day & Extended Tours
• Private & Custom Tours
• Theme Parks
• Walking & Biking Tours
• What to do in La Fortuna
• Best time of year to visit La Fortuna
• How to reach La Fortuna
• Restaurants in La Fortuna
• City Map of La Fortuna
• La Fortuna Itineraries
• La Fortuna Hotels
• Itinerary Planner

Traveler Reviews

Extremely relaxing and scenic, with plenty of birds and wildlife. Gustavo was an excellent guide - highly knowledgeable and friendly. We stocked stopped for snacks after the rafting and it was delicious. Highly recommend this activity if you are in La Fortuna.

We started with an incredible fresh homemade lunch of fresh fish and gallo pinto from Tia Wwndy, then to the river with her husband and our guide from Jacamar, Jose. We sat under the trees and watched the monkeys play! Our guide knew how to call them and they would respond! We were the only ones on the river and also saw iguanas, Caymens, rare birds and bats!

Great tour guide with knowledge and passion. The entire trip was well planned out and we all had a great time, from the grandparents to the kids. Saw tons of animals and ate great, local food as well.

The whole experience was amazing, we can't recommend it enough! We had an appointment with the driver, Roberto, who was fantastic. He explained to us the stops of the tour and he told us so many things about the places we passed by. And driving felt very safe! The guide of the tour was a young boy, Eddi, who was so enthusiastic with every animal and bird we saw (and we saw a lot!), cappuccino and howler monkeys, different birds, caimans, he informed us about the history of the places around the river. After the tour, we had a small rest and brunch at this fantastic lady' s place that gives a small experience of traditional food and coffee. Finally, Roberto took us back and he was there for any tips we needed for the rest of the day. highly recommended experience and the sweetest people!

Diego with Jacamar tours was an amazing guide. We were picked up at Downtown Inn La Fortuna (Jacamar office is next door) by Diego and his driver. My husband & I were the only ones so we enjoyed a private tour. The van was new and AC worked well. The raft was on top. It took about an hour to get to river. They offered us cold bottled water for the drive. There was a bathroom to use just before we entered the river. Everything in the raft stays dry, don’t worry about phone or camera. Your shoes may get muddy. Bring sunscreen and a camera. The float lasted 2 hours and Diego paddled us up close (no motor, just quiet floating) to every animal and held there until we got great photos. We saw only one other person fishing on this area of Rio Frio. Diego was super knowledgeable and got the howler monkeys all riled up, it was amazingly loud. We saw more animals on this tour than anywhere else during our week. In addition, he stopped a couple times on the return trip for more animal sightings. We stopped for lunch provided by an amazing cook Wendy on our return. It is a 1.5 hour return drive and the first 30 minutes is VERY slow and bumpy. We were picked up at 8am and returned to hotel at 230pm. Worth every minute! Highly recommended.

What an amazing day!!! Ronald (our guide) and Roberto (our driver) went out of their way to make this an extraordinary experience. Just cruising down the river alone is a perfect way to spend a day bit add to that … bonus! Ronald was so knowledgeable of the flora and fauna of the area and shared so much with us (and Roberto too). The wildlife did not disappoint us either. So grateful! Highly recommend this particular event as well as this tour company. Most pics on my brothers camera that I have not yet downloaded but here are a few. Just book it!!! A day on the water is enough on its own🙏

Ronaldo our guide and Roberto our driver were superb! The moment we were picked up at the office in La Fortuna we felt welcomed. The level of knowledge Ronaldo has along with his “Eagle eye” is impressive. We left the tour with hope we can be better stewards of the land.

Loved it! Our group ranged from 21-72 year olds and everyone had a great time. Carlos, Reyder, and Miguel were fantastic. They provided information regarding Costa Rica and its culture on the drive there, then worked well as a team while out on the river to spot the wildlife. We had great weather and saw iguanas, monkeys, the Jesus Christ lizard, caimans, sloths, bats, and several types of birds. After the trip down the river, they drive you to Wendy's house, a local who shows you how to make tortillas and provides a light lunch with tortillas, buffalo cheese, beans, plantain chips, dessert, and coffee. If we hadn't already booked the rafting trip with them for the next day, this would have convinced us to do so. 10/10 recommend Tips - bring binoculars. Not necessary but can be helpful - wear shoes that can get wet. You are in rafts with mesh slits on the bottom (since the rafts are also used for white water rafting) - it was a very leisurely trip so no need to worry about having to paddle or getting wet

Okay so I want to be clear that the safari float was amazing and the tour guide was great. We saw a ton of wildlife, above and beyond our expectations. The stop for food after was great as well. Great value for money. HOWEVER, there was a very, very awkward incident as we began the tour. As we were backing up, a chihuahua walked behind our van. I noticed, told the driver, who acknowledged by laughing. He didn't stop the car. I said "STOP THE CAR" because the chihuahua wasn't moving. He again didn't stop the car. Instead, he just drove over the dog. He didn't RUN OVER the dog, because it was so small. However, he could have killed it had the dog ran any direction. We were so lucky the dog just stayed still, so then it popped out in front of us. It was NOT a great way to start the trip and could have ruined the entire day tbh. I ask the tour operator to please please please be more considerate....especially on a tour all about animals. My only other complaint was that we returned much later than anticipated, which would have been fine except we had made plans. We were told we'd return around 6:30, so I made a reservation for 8. We didn't return to 8.

This was by far the best tour we took. We got to it from mytanfeet blog (which I highly recommend reading before booking anything in Costa Rica. They have discounts to many tours and amazing service). Our guide was simply amazing and spotted so much wild life that we were shocked. We saw many sloths, monkeys, caimans, iguanas, birds and eve one owl. Don't miss

or with email

• Costa Rica >
• La Fortuna >

Pure Nature Exclusive Safari Float Adventure

Why People Love It

Description

Complimentary Options

Meeting Location

Requirements

About the operator, tours you may like, other activities around la fortuna, costa rica.

Sightseeing

Transportation

White Water Rafting

Hot Springs

Generating PDF...

Select Account Type

Sign-up with

Almost there!

Find booking.

How should we contact you?

Thank you! We'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Click here to register and track your question!

If you would like to follow up with us:

+1 (855) 782-3006

Forgot your password?

Enter your email address below and we'll send you a reset link:

Two Weeks in Costa Rica

Travel and Moving Blog

A Safari River Float in La Fortuna/Arenal

• Jenn and Matt

56 Comments

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

A unique way to see some of Costa Rica’s best wildlife is on a river float tour. Many animals are attracted to water sources. Gently coasting down the river lets you sneak up on them in their natural habitat. In this post, we’ll tell you all about a fun safari river float trip we took in La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano. It goes down a long section of the Penas Blancas River. We’ll also share how you can plan an excursion like this for yourself.

We did this tour while staying near downtown La Fortuna in Costa Rica’s Northern Highlands. This area is famous for the cone-shaped Arenal Volcano, but also has many other activities like hiking, hanging bridges , adventure tours, and even cultural tours.

La Fortuna is about 2.5 hours from both of Costa Rica’s international airports, SJO near San Jose and LIR in Liberia.

For the river float tour, we headed east from La Fortuna. It was just a short drive (about 30 minutes) to a river called the Penas Blancas.

This river flows north, merging with the Fortuna River, and its waters eventually flow into Nicaragua.

The safari float tour travels along 5.6 miles (9 km) of the Penas Blancas River and just a half mile (about one km) of the Fortuna River.

Setting Off

On the ride to the river put in, we passed large agricultural fields of pineapple, papaya, and yucca. Our guide, Fauricio, told us some cool facts about each crop.

After a little time to use the restroom and get on our life jackets, it was time to push off the rocks and head down the river.

With a short safety talk from Fauricio, we felt at ease about our responsibilities. We would be on a large inflatable raft, with the guide leading the way. We would be asked to paddle occasionally, but mostly we could enjoy the ride along the calm, yet swift, river. 

Our raft and paddles were the same type used in more extreme whitewater rafting tours. Although we wouldn’t be getting jolted around on this river, we still put some of our belongings in the company’s dry bags, just in case.

Tip: There are definitely some things you’ll want to bring on this tour to make yourself more comfortable. See our list at the end of this post.

The Beautiful Penas Blancas River

Setting off from the bank, the first thing you’ll notice during the safari float are the beautiful surrounds.

The Penas Blancas River has many lofty trees hanging over the water. The thick canopy filters the sunlight and creates almost a tunnel of jungle around you. There are birds calling in the trees, and smaller streams trickling into the larger river.

The size of the river varies, but overall is about 40-60 feet (12-18 meters) wide. Our guide, Fauricio, also told us that it can be anywhere from five to 25 feet (1.5-7.6 meters) deep, depending on water levels. With more rain, the river runs faster, but is still not very rough. This makes is a great spot for a gentle float tour.

What You’ll See

As we floated down the water, Fauricio pointed out different things. Many were easy to spot like ducks, kingfishers, and iguanas. But he had a great eye for some harder to spot things as well.

At one point, he asked us to paddle backwards and slow the boat to a stop. Then he said, “Look right above you.”

We had to squint to understand what we were looking at. But sure enough, on the underside of a branch, was a family of small bats. They were very camouflaged, blending into the brown background almost perfectly. Fauricio explained that these were long-nosed bats and that they are important for the ecosystem because they eat a lot of mosquitoes!

In addition to wildlife, we learned about the surrounding environment. Fauricio told us about many of the tree species along the river, including the balsa and rubber. We also learned about some interesting plants like the broad-leafed tabacon and various types of banana.

Wildlife Highlights

Although it was really interesting to learn about the plants, local weather patterns, and indigenous groups of Costa Rica, most people take the safari float trip for the wildlife viewing. And for this, it did not disappoint.

Some highlights were seeing several families of howler monkeys, a mother sloth and her baby really close up (picture above), and crocodiles on four different occasions.

One crocodile was at least eight feet (2.4 meters) long, while the rest were smaller. Our son (five-years old at the time) was very happy to see these and even happier that they were shy and scared of us.

Interesting birds we saw included the Anhinga, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Whistling Ducks, Buff-rumped Warbler, and many Mangrove Swallows.   

Agricultural Demonstrations

After a couple of hours on the Penas Blancas River, we drifted into the Fortuna River. At this point, the river was wider and had less of a canopy, but was still very similar.

Shortly after, we came to the spot where we’d get off the boat.

Here, we climbed a set of steps to find a small farm and outdoor dining room. Once Faurico and the driver hauled up the raft, he joined us again to teach us about some traditional crops.

The first thing we learned was how to juice raw sugar cane using an old-fashioned hand-crank press.

Our son had a great time turning the handle as we all watched the sugary water pour out. We then got to taste it. The adults in the group tried it along with some guaro, a local spirit made from sugar cane.

Fauricio taught us a traditional drinking chant, in Spanish, as a way to say cheers!

Next, we were shown some cacao plants growing in the yard. Fauricio took one of the strange looking pods off the small tree and briefly explained how chocolate is made from the seeds.

We then got to grind some of the dried cacao and mix it into a traditional drink. This drink was reserved for only the most important indigenous leaders at one time.

Traditional Snack

Finally, we got to sit down for a traditional snack of handmade tortillas, cheese, and roasted plantains. These tasted great after building up an appetite on the river. We also enjoyed some local coffee and fruit juice.

One of the highlights of the snack was the fact that the chickens, ducks, and turkeys in the yard apparently love the plantain skins. Our son Sam had the time of his life flinging scraps to them on the other side of the fence.

Booking a Safari Float Tour in La Fortuna

Several tour operators in La Fortuna offer river float trips to see wildlife. You can usually go in the morning or later in the afternoon when it starts to cool off. Both times are great for wildlife viewing because that is when animals are most active.

Below are all the tour details. If you’d like to book a tour through the company we used and often send clients to, please use the booking links below. You won’t pay until the reservation is confirmed, and we’ll email you as part of the process. Booking through us costs the same and helps support our website! 

Safari Float on Penas Blancas River (Group Tour) – From La Fortuna

Safari float on penas blancas river by raft (private tour) – from la fortuna, times offered.

7:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.

Tour Length

Approximately 4-5 hours (including driving time)

Price ( 2024)

Group Tour: $64 per person adults, $38 per person children (ages 3-11). Rates plus 13% tax.

Private Tour (only your family/group): $105 per person adults, $53 per person children (ages 3-11). Rates plus 13% tax.

What’s Included

Round-trip transportation from La Fortuna-area hotels and vacation rental homes, bilingual naturalist guide, all equipment, water, and a stop for snacks, juice, and coffee.

Minimum Age

Children need to be at least 3-years old.

If you have children younger than 3, we recommend the Cano Negro boat tour . This is on a larger, sturdy pontoon boat.

What to Bring

It can be sunny along the river. We recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, sandals or sneakers, and quick-dry clothing. Binoculars also would be handy to see high up in the canopy, especially if you’re interesting in bird watching.

You don’t need a bathing suit since you won’t be swimming.

Our biggest question was if it was okay to bring our large (expensive) SLR camera. It turns out it was completely fine; we just made sure to keep it strapped around our neck the whole time. We also used our cell phone to take pictures and videos.

We have been to La Fortuna many times during our years living in Costa Rica, and the safari float tour along the Penas Blancas River was one of our family’s all-time favorite activities. Not only is it a great way to see some amazing wildlife, but the boat ride along the river is fun and not stressful at all. If you are planning activities in La Fortuna, we would highly recommend it.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

<< Previous page

Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

Shopping Cart Items: 0 Cart Total: 0,00 € place your order

Price pdf version

student - 2,75 € individual - 3,00 € institutional - 7,00 €

Copyright В© 1999-2022. Stratum Publishing House

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Saturn Stadium