River Tubing + Hot Springs and Mud Bath (+ Optional Lunch)
$90.00
Upon booking you will receive a detailed booking confirmation via email with information on where to arrive (Google Maps and Waze Link Included) what to bring and photos of the parking lot or the main entrance.
Fresh food. Cold drinks. Good vibes after your adventure.
Guests who select “Reserve a Table” will receive a follow-up message from our team with the option to pre-order meals and drinks in advance.
This allows our kitchen to begin preparing your order before the tour ends, helping provide faster service and a smoother experience upon arrival to the restaurant.
🍽 Food Menu
Costa Rican casados, burgers, pasta, vegetarian options, snacks, and more.
Splash through impressive volcanic river canyons on a Rincon de la Vieja tubing tour, then relax in natural hot springs and enjoy a volcanic mud bath, surrounded by tropical forest.
Our river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs combo offers the perfect mix of action packed adventure and relaxation while exploring the stunning landscapes of Rincon de la Vieja.
See what our river tubing and hot springs tour is like and secure your spot today!
Why Combine River Tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs?
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✔️ Adventure & Relaxation
Drift through exciting Class I, II and III rapids and float through scenic river sections, then relax in natural thermal pools afterward.
✔️ Perfect Day Trip from Liberia
Close to Liberia and Guanacaste Airport (LIR), this combo is an easy way to experience two popular Rincon de la Vieja attractions in one day.
✔️ Experience Nature up Close
Explore impressive volcanic river canyons on the tubing adventure, then enjoy natural hot springs and a volcanic mud bath surrounded by tropical vegetation.
✔️ Best Value
Save time and money by combining two popular Rincon de la Vieja activities in one combo package.
River Tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs – Location
The Rincon de la Vieja Tubing Tour starts at our tour base in the small village of Curubandé, just 20 minutes from Liberia in Guanacaste. After the Colorado River tubing, you can have lunch at our on-site La Leona Restaurant and take some time to refresh before continuing to Rio Negro Hot Springs. Showers, changing rooms, shoe-washing stations and bathrooms are available at our tour base.
The Rio Negro Hot Springs are located about 20 minutes from our reception, near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. If you booked a self-drive tour, you can get there in your own vehicle. If you booked the tour with transportation, your driver will take you there, wait for you, and drive you back to your hotel afterward. No guide is required at the hot springs and you can stay as long as you like during opening hours (9am – 5pm).
Rincon de la Vieja Tours and TransportationLocation
Entrance to Rincon de la Vieja Tours and Transportation
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River Tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs – Booking Options
Book river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs as a self-drive trip or with transportation included.
💡Please note: The river tubing adventure included in this combo package is offered as a group tour with other travelers.
🚗
Self-Drive Tour
Meet at Tour Starting Point
Best if you have your own car or prefer to travel independently
Free and secure parking is available at our tour office in Curubandé and at Rio Negro Hot Springs.
⭐ Most convenient option – we take care of everything
Our driver will pick you up at your hotel, Airbnb, or preferred location, take you to our tour office and the hot springs, wait for you, and drive you back afterward.
⚠️ All tours have to be reserved in advance. If you arrive without a reservation, you may have to wait several hours for a guide or may not be able to join a tour that day.
River Tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs – Itinerary
See what to expect on your river tubing and hot springs day trip in Rincon de la Vieja.
Rincon de la Vieja River Tubing
⏱ About 1.5 Hours
🌊Class I, II & III Rapids
📍ColoradoRiver
Get ready with a life jacket and helmet before taking a 5-minute 4×4 ride and a short walk to the Colorado River.
Your guides will give you a safety briefing, and then it’s time to get in the water!
Splash through 3 km (2 miles) of exciting rapids and paddle through scenic calmer sections, surrounded by impressive volcanic canyon walls and tropical forest.
A team of experienced guides will accompany you throughout the tubing tour, positioning themselves at every faster rapid to help you pass through safely.
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💡As you’ll get wet during the tour, we highly recommend bringing a towel. Towels are provided at Rio Negro Hot Springs, but not for the river tubing.
Short Break
After your tubing adventure, you’ll have time to refresh at our tour base and get ready for the Rio Negro Hot Springs.
Optional: Enjoy lunch, a snack or a refreshing drink at our on-site ➡️La Leona Restaurant.
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Rio Negro Hot Springs and Mud Bath
⏱ About 1.5-2 Hrs
♨️ 10 Hot Spring Pools
🌋 Volcanic Mud Bath
Pick up your towels at the reception and cross the first hanging bridge. A short walk through the forest takes you to the hot springs, with changing rooms available along the way.
Soon you’ll reach 10 natural hot spring pools with different temperatures(35°C–45°C / 95°F–113°F) on both sides of the Rio Negro River, connected by two hanging bridges with scenic views.
Choose the pools with the best temperature for you, enjoy the tropical surroundings, and cool off in the Rio Negro River between the thermal pools.
For the volcanic mud bath, apply the mud to your skin, let it dry, and then rinse it off in the river or under the showers.
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See what our guests say about river tubing in Rincon de la Vieja.
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Rob Friend · Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This was an amazing tubing experience! It was so fun! Many different sets of rapids. Enough speed to get your adrenaline going but still safe. Our guide Jeremy and his crew were outstanding. They expertly guided us down the river and also made sure to have fun with us!! Best tubing experience ever!!“
“The river tubing was a big fear of mine and many of others in our 40 group excursion; the guides were absolutely phenomenal. They worked so well together and kept us safe while also having fun. They were genuinely kind and I would recommend this company to anyone!”
The Rincon de la Vieja river tubing and hot springs combo is beginner-friendly and a great adventure for families with kids, but may not be ideal for everyone.
Who is the river tubing NOT suitable for?
❌ Not suitable for people with knee, ankle, walking or mobility limitations
❌ Children under 6 are not allowed
❌ Not suitable during pregnancy
🏊 Don’t know how to swim? No problem!
Swimming is not required during the river tubing tour, as you stay in your tube the entire time. Life jackets are provided and mandatory for all participants, so if you fall into the water, you can simply float and a guide will help you immediately.
🛡️ Safety on the river tubing tour
✔️ Life jackets and helmets are mandatory
✔️ Controlled rapid entry– wait at safety ropes and enter the rapids one by one
✔️ Experienced team of guides accompanying you throughout the tour
✔️ All guides carry emergency equipment & radios
✔️ Dedicated guide for young kids
✔️ River conditions are monitored closely and tours only operate when water levels are safe
ℹ️ No prior river tubing experience is needed, but a basic level of fitness is required.
⚠️ Use caution at the hot springs if you have high blood pressure or heart conditions. Don’t put your head under the water in the thermal pools.
Practical Information
📍 How to Get to the Tour
You can get to our tour office and to Rio Negro Hot Springs with your own or a rental car or by choosing the option with transportation included.
Directions from Liberia
💡 You don’t need a4×4 vehicle to get to our tour office and Rio Negro Hot Springs, but drive carefully as parts of the road may have potholes.
1️⃣ From Liberia, drive about 5 km north on Highway 1.
2️⃣ Turn right when you see signs pointing to Rincon de la Vieja National Park and continue for about 15 minutes.
3️⃣ Reach the village of Curubandé and continue straight, passing by the church.
4️⃣ After about 300 m you will find our tour office on your left, clearly marked with large signs.
After finishing the river tubing, our reception staff will give you exact directions to Rio Negro Hot Springs.
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Rincon de la Vieja Tours and Transportation Entrance and parking.
If you don’t have a car available, or simply prefer the most convenient option, you can book the river tubing and hot springs tour with transportation included.
🚐 Why Choose Transportation Included?
✔️ Hotel Pickup throughout Guanacaste
✔️ Flexible transfers: include the tour as a stop between two destinations
✔️ Get the best price by booking transportation together with your tour
✔️ Optional stops along the way for food or souvenirs
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Enjoy convenient shuttle service throughout Guanacaste.
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⬆️ Click to open Overview
💡 At Rio Negro Hot Springs, you’ll also find free parking, bathrooms and changing rooms.
River Tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs – FAQ
Can children join the river tubing and hot springs tour?
Yes, river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs are great activities for active families with kids ages 6 and older.
On the river tubing tour, your group will be accompanied by a team of experienced guides throughout the experience. Young kids are assigned a dedicated guide who holds onto their tube to minimize the chance of flipping or falling out. Kids usually have a lot of fun riding through the rapids and paddling along the river.
At Rio Negro Hot Springs, kids can enjoy crossing the hanging bridges, exploring the surrounding trails, and applying the volcanic mud. Most pools are shallow and suitable for younger children when accompanied by their parents.
Is lunch included in the river tubing and hot springs tour?
Lunch is not included in the tour price, but during the break between river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs, you can choose to enjoy a meal, snack or refreshing drink from the varied menu at our on-site ➡️ La Leona Restaurant. We recommend reserving a table in advance during booking.
Is transportation included between the river tubing and hot springs?
Transportation from your accommodation to our tour office and from our tour office to Rio Negro Hot Springs is not included in the tour price. You can add it during booking for an additional cost by choosing the option ➡️ with transportation.
4×4 transportation from our tour reception to the tubing starting point is included and takes about 5 minutes.
Do I need to know how to swim for the river tubing?
Swimming is not required during the river tubing tour, as you stay in your tube the entire time. Life jackets are provided and mandatory for all participants, so if you fall into the water, you can simply float and a guide will help you immediately.
What should I wear for river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs?
For the river tubing, we recommend light, fast-drying sports clothes and closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps. Flip-flops are not allowed on the tubing adventure, but they are useful afterward at the hot springs. After the tubing, you can shower and change before having lunch or continuing to Rio Negro Hot Springs.
At the hot springs, wear a swimsuit and remove any silver jewelry, as the volcanic minerals may change its color. Towels are provided at Rio Negro Hot Springs.
How far are Rio Negro Hot Springs from the river tubing?
The drive from our tour office to Rio Negro Hot Springs takes about 20 minutes. Both attractions are easy to reach and make a perfect Rincon de la Vieja day trip from Liberia.
Are Rio Negro Hot Springs tickets included in the tour?
Yes, the Rio Negro Hot Springs entrance fee is included in the price of the river tubing and hot springs combo tour.
How long does the river tubing and Rio Negro Hot Springs tour take?
The whole combo tour typically takes about 3.5–4.5 hours, depending on how long you’d like to stay at the hot springs. The river tubing tour takes about 1.5 hours. After a short break at our tour base, where you can have lunch, you’ll drive about 20 minutes to Rio Negro Hot Springs, where most guests spend around 1.5–2 hours.
What are the Rio Negro Hot Springs opening hours?
Rio Negro Hot Springs are open daily from 9am to 5pm. Our river tubing and Hot Springs combo tours start at 8am or 9am, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the thermal pools after the river tubing.
Is river tubing in Rincon de la Vieja safe?
Yes, white water river tubing in Rincon de la Vieja is safe when operated with an official guided tour that follows proper safety standards. At El Rincon Tours and Transportation, we check river levels multiple times a day and only operate when conditions are safe.
Every tour is accompanied by a team of experienced guides who position themselves at the stronger rapids to help you navigate through safely. Helmets and life jackets are mandatory, and all guides carry emergency equipment and radios. Young children are accompanied by a dedicated guide who holds onto their tube throughout the tour.
