The sound of the birds was the only thing we could hear. The thin white clouds hovered above while the canopies of trees hugged on one another. We floated in silence in the Claro river, tucked somewhere deep inside a rainforest in the Osa Peninsula, near Drake Bay, one of the wildest parts of Costa Rica. The Rio Claro floating tour was a great relaxing experience which we chanced upon, towards the end of our 7 kilometer hike on the San Josecito beach trail.
Ricardo, a local fellow from Drake, runs a sea turtle conservation project and has his shop near the confluence of the Rio Claro and the Pacific Ocean, near the San Josecito beach. He offers this tour which is an experience in itself and also helps support his cause.
Floating in Rio Claro: The Tour Experience
In short, you need to float in the Rio Claro river. The guide (in our case it was Gerardo) takes you up the river in a canoe. You will then embark in the river and float along with the current.
Start with a Jump!
The tour begins with a plunge into the Rio Claro river from a short cliff at the riverside. The height was just a few meters and the depth of the river below made it safe to jump. However, it is optional and if avoided, it does not take away anything from the main activity of the tour.
We decided to jump and Gerardo, our guide, picked us up in the canoe. We think that this jump was a wonderful fun addition to the otherwise calm tour.
Canoeing through the Tranquil Rainforest
Gerardo paddled the boat upstream. Few minutes later, I offered to help in rowing as there was an extra oar in the boat. Soon we turned into a section that was hidden from the sun except some rays trickling through the rainforest foliage. The boat cut through the river creating ripples on the green reflection. Gerardo controlled the turns and steered our way over the shallow parts. In 15 minutes we reached our first destination. It was a shallow point in the river where it was not possible to navigate further.
Floating in Rio Claro: Relaxing in the River
Gerardo stopped rowing, adjusted the boat for return and asked us to get into the water. We were bit unsure how the activity would work. Can the current take us back to the beach? Since we had the life jacket on, we plunged into the unknown.
Initially we moved our arms and legs to move in the water, but soon realized that it was not required. The current was strong enough to drift us along. We just needed to choose our posture. So most of the times we were on our back looking up at the sky and the leaning canopies on either side.
We had given our phone to Gerardo who took some great photos and videos throughout our floating experience as we just indulged into ‘doing nothing’.
Jump Again!
There was an intermediate stop to climb a tiny cliff, from where you can try another optional jump into the river. This one was higher than the first one and bit more difficult. The height and the slopes can be slightly tricky, so be cautious and go for it only if you are absolutely sure. After a momentary doubt, I did dive in and it turned out to be another fun little adventure.
Rio Claro Waterfall
The last stop before we hit the shore, was the Rio Claro waterfall. It is not visible from the river. Gerardo showed us the place where we hopped on to the river bank. We then climbed up some rocks, walked on a hanging wooden plank and swam across a small pool to reach the waterfall.
It is a small waterfall but the setting against a rock in the middle of the jungle is inviting. We spent some time at this waterfall, enjoying the cold water splashing on our bare shoulders.
Wildlife Encounters during the Floating Tour
There were some encounters with wildlife during our floating tour. While we floated on our back, we found a couple of macaws flying above the canopy. Also, a kingfisher flew away from the bank near us. We saw a river turtle sunbathing on a submerged branch.
Rio Claro Floating Tour: Booking Process, Costs, Duration
The tour takes between 2 hours to 2.5 hours. It costs 25 USD per person. The price also includes some coffee and cookies at the end of the tour.
The board also advertises tours of additional hours. A 3 hours tour costs 35 USD per person and 4 hours tour costs 40 USD per person.
As mentioned before, we chanced upon this tour while walking on the Drake Bay hiking trail. But to help you plan Rio Claro Floating Tour in advance, we noted the contact details mentioned on the board at the site. So, book directly like us or enquire at their contact number or email.
- rioclaroaventuras@gmail.com
- +506 8717 5393
If your are looking for an organized tour that includes transport from and to Drake Bay, you can check with the local tour companies in town if they arrange for this tour.
Rio Claro Floating: What to Carry and What to Pack?
You do not need to carry anything for Rio Claro Floating Tour. In fact, you will need to leave all your belongings in a locker before getting into the boat. All you need is just your swimsuit. They provide the water shoes and life jackets, both of which are mandatory for the river activity.
You would also want the floating adventure memories to be captured on camera. So take one mobile and/or Go Pro or similar action camera. You need a dry bag to keep that equipment safe. Since ours was an unplanned tour, Ricardo provided us with a dry bag which we used to keep a mobile and the locker key. However, we would suggest to carry your own dry bag.
For the hiking part, wear comfortable walking shoes, dry-fit clothes and carry plenty of drinking water.
Final Thoughts
Drake Bay is a destination where your days are filled with activities and adventures, hiking and swimming, snorkeling or diving. Amidst all these activities, Rio Claro Floating Tour stands out due to its calming nature. It is the most relaxing nature activity we did at Drake. Just let go and float!
Check out our travel guides to other aqua relaxing experiences and waterfalls of Costa Rica:
Eco Termales Hot Springs, La Fortuna
Rio Negro Waterfalls and Hot Springs
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