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Spend a private day rafting Class II–III rapids on the Sarapiquí River and then switching to a guided horseback ride through tropical forest at Hacienda Pozo Azul. This full-day combo—hotel pickup from San José included—pairs adrenaline with slow trail time and local food.
Spend a private day rafting Class II–III rapids on the Sarapiquí River and then switching to a guided horseback ride through tropical forest at Hacienda Pozo Azul. This full-day combo—hotel pickup from San José included—pairs adrenaline with slow trail time and local food.
The bus eases out of San José before dawn and the city’s chatter dissolves into a green that seems to move. By the time the van crosses into the Caribbean slope and the road cuts through Braulio Carrillo National Park, the air smells of wet earth and flowering vines. At Hacienda Pozo Azul the group descends to the river: a wide, clear channel that tugs at your hands like a playful current. Guides brief the raft, tighten helmets, and the river answers every question with a rapid.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours · San José, San José
The bus eases out of San José before dawn and the city’s chatter dissolves into a green that seems to move. By the time the van crosses into the Caribbean slope and the road cuts through Braulio Carrillo National Park, the air smells of wet earth and flowering vines. At Hacienda Pozo Azul the group descends to the river: a wide, clear channel that tugs at your hands like a playful current. Guides brief the raft, tighten helmets, and the river answers every question with a rapid.
The day is divided cleanly: a 2–3 hour Class II–III rafting section on the Sarapiquí River followed by a guided hacienda horseback ride through secondary rainforest. The raft stretches adrenaline across a sequence of moderate rapids—stirring water that obliges focus but leaves room to laugh when a rapid tips spray into your face. Midway there’s a calm eddy for a swim and fresh tropical fruit offered by the guides.
Sarapiquí sits on the Caribbean flank of Costa Rica’s central volcanic range. The drainage here helped shape both modern farms and the old trade routes that linked inland valleys to the Atlantic coast. Braulio Carrillo National Park, which the transfer traverses, is geologically young: steep slopes, volcanic soils, and quick drainage create the dramatic rivers that make rafting possible.
After lunch—a local plate with rice, beans, chicken and fruit—guests mount horses trained for trail work. The ride is deliberately measured: narrow tracks, occasional creek crossings and glimpses of birdsong-heavy canopy. Guides explain agro-forestry at the hacienda and point out cacao and banana plots, a useful reminder that ecotourism and agriculture are intertwined here.
Practicalities are simple. This private-full-day tour runs about nine hours with hotel pickup in San José (roughly 90 minutes each way). Physical demand is moderate: you should be comfortable paddling for a couple hours and able to mount a horse; basic swimming ability is required for rafting. The operators provide life jackets, helmets, and a professional naturalist guide. Expect tropical weather—sudden showers in the wet season, strong sun in the dry months.
For photographers, the river’s rapids and the hacienda trails offer contrasting frames: fast-moving water against slow, sunlit understory. Hydration, a secure dry bag for your phone, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet will shape the day more than technical gear. If you want fewer people on the river, book early in the morning or seek a private-solo departure—the dynamics change when the tour is truly private.
In short: this combo is a packed, well-paced Costa Rican day that balances adrenaline and landscape, and gives a practical cross-section of the wet lowlands that made Sarapiquí a destination for both nature and adventure.
moderate.
8–9 hours.
Moderate fitness; you should be able to paddle for 1–2 hours and mount a horse; some agility for slippery steps is helpful.
Pickup from central San José hotels is about 90 minutes each way depending on traffic; the full tour runs roughly 8–9 hours.
The rafting is Class II–III—suitable for beginners with a basic swimming ability and for anyone comfortable following guide commands.
Yes—horses are trained for trail riding and guides match mounts to rider experience, but notify operators in advance if you have no riding experience.
Yes—snacks and a full lunch are included, typically a local-style plate with protein, rice, beans and fresh fruit.
This listing is a 100% private tour, so the experience runs for your party only; that helps with pacing between activities.
Take preventative measures like ginger or medication before departure; inform your guide so they can position you toward calmer raft sections if needed.
The Sarapiquí corridor was historically a trade route from the Central Valley to the Caribbean and later became important for banana and cacao agriculture, shaping local hacienda culture.
Operators work with local guides and small haciendas to support sustainable visitor numbers; visitors are encouraged to carry out waste and avoid single-use plastics.
Greenway Nature Day Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The bus eases out of San José before dawn and the city’s chatter dissolves into a green that seems to move. By the time the van crosses into the Caribbean slope and the road cuts through Braulio Carrillo National Park, the air smells of wet earth and flowering vines. At Hacienda Pozo Azul the group descends to the river: a wide, clear channel that tugs at your hands like a playful current. Guides brief the raft, tighten helmets, and the river answers every question with a rapid.
The bus eases out of San José before dawn and the city’s chatter dissolves into a green that seems to move. By the time the van crosses into the Caribbean slope and the road cuts through Braulio Carrillo National Park, the air smells of wet earth and flowering vines. At Hacienda Pozo Azul the group descends to the river: a wide, clear channel that tugs at your hands like a playful current. Guides brief the raft, tighten helmets, and the river answers every question with a rapid.
The day is divided cleanly: a 2–3 hour Class II–III rafting section on the Sarapiquí River followed by a guided hacienda horseback ride through secondary rainforest. The raft stretches adrenaline across a sequence of moderate rapids—stirring water that obliges focus but leaves room to laugh when a rapid tips spray into your face. Midway there’s a calm eddy for a swim and fresh tropical fruit offered by the guides.
Sarapiquí sits on the Caribbean flank of Costa Rica’s central volcanic range. The drainage here helped shape both modern farms and the old trade routes that linked inland valleys to the Atlantic coast. Braulio Carrillo National Park, which the transfer traverses, is geologically young: steep slopes, volcanic soils, and quick drainage create the dramatic rivers that make rafting possible.
After lunch—a local plate with rice, beans, chicken and fruit—guests mount horses trained for trail work. The ride is deliberately measured: narrow tracks, occasional creek crossings and glimpses of birdsong-heavy canopy. Guides explain agro-forestry at the hacienda and point out cacao and banana plots, a useful reminder that ecotourism and agriculture are intertwined here.
Practicalities are simple. This private-full-day tour runs about nine hours with hotel pickup in San José (roughly 90 minutes each way). Physical demand is moderate: you should be comfortable paddling for a couple hours and able to mount a horse; basic swimming ability is required for rafting. The operators provide life jackets, helmets, and a professional naturalist guide. Expect tropical weather—sudden showers in the wet season, strong sun in the dry months.
For photographers, the river’s rapids and the hacienda trails offer contrasting frames: fast-moving water against slow, sunlit understory. Hydration, a secure dry bag for your phone, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet will shape the day more than technical gear. If you want fewer people on the river, book early in the morning or seek a private-solo departure—the dynamics change when the tour is truly private.
In short: this combo is a packed, well-paced Costa Rican day that balances adrenaline and landscape, and gives a practical cross-section of the wet lowlands that made Sarapiquí a destination for both nature and adventure.