What to wear
Wear closed walking shoes with grip; the rainforest stays damp and the trail can be slick.
Lagoon add-on · Tenorio Rainforest, Costa Rica
Rainforest Lagoon Float — drift, don't paddle
A slow raft across a still lagoon inside a private reserve — herons on the edges, the forest mirrored in the water.
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Quick answer
The Rainforest Lagoon Float drifts you across a still lagoon inside a private reserve in the Tenorio rainforest, north of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, on a slow raft with nothing to paddle: your naturalist guide eases you over the water while herons, kingfishers and the rare boat-billed heron work the edges. Ask us to add it to your Tenorio rainforest day — from $130 per private group of 2.
Calm waterNothing to paddlePrivate reserveNaturalist guideAdd-on from $130
Last verified September 2026 by Miller Contreras, naturalist guide
Duration
1.5 hours
Group
100% private
Guide
Certified naturalist
Level
Easy
Type
Add-on
Water
Still & calm
Nature · Tenorio Rainforest, Costa Rica
A Still Lagoon in the Tenorio Rainforest, Costa Rica
Hidden inside a private reserve in the Tenorio rainforest, a still lagoon lies mirror-flat at the heart of the rainforest — and from a slow raft, you drift right across it. There's nothing to paddle and nowhere to rush: your naturalist guide eases you over the water while herons stalk the shallows, kingfishers dart the surface and the rare boat-billed and night herons watch from the edges. Then the float gives way to a short, easy walk on forest trails, where the guide reads the canopy for sloths, toucans, woodpeckers and owls — the smaller wonders most visitors pass right by. It's the rainforest at its calmest — water, then trail, at the pace of the wildlife itself.
Part of a private day
See the day →
Where does it fit in your day?
The lagoon float isn't sold on its own — it's an add-on to our private day in the Tenorio rainforest. Transport and your guide are already covered by that day.
Sloth & Waterfall Rainforest Combo
The full private rainforest day — add a slow drift across the lagoon to it.
+ from $130 / group of 2
See the day →
“Group of 2” is a minimum, not a cap — each extra guest is added at a reduced per-person rate. Taxes included. Tell us your group size and where you're staying — we confirm the exact quote on WhatsApp.
Real photographs from our days
Photos from the lagoon
A private reserve in the Tenorio rainforest, Costa Rica. Drag to explore.
From aboveThe raft on the still lagoon
Under the canopyThe raft on the calm lagoon
Binoculars upBirding from the raft
Night heronWatching from the edge
Tenorio in viewFrom the middle of the lagoon
Mirror-flatThe forest reflected in the water
On the trailA three-toed sloth in the canopy
With your guideThe scope on the forest trail
CapuchinsIn the forest around the lagoon
Why book with us
Book direct with the operator
- We run these tours ourselves. No middleman, no reseller.
- Private from two people on most experiences — no strangers in your van.
- The price you see is the price you pay: taxes and door-to-door pickup included.
On the water
What will you see on the lagoon float?
Still water, patient birds, and a short walk into the forest.
The lagoon
Mirror-flat
A still lagoon at the heart of the rainforest, inside a private reserve.
The water birds
Herons & kingfishers
Herons, kingfishers, gallinules and the rare boat-billed and night herons.
The trail
Short and easy
Eyes up for sloths, toucans, woodpeckers and owls.
The raft
Nothing to paddle
Your naturalist guide eases you over the water at the pace of the wildlife.
On the float
- Drift across a still rainforest lagoon by raft — no paddling, no rush, just you and the water
- Glide with a private naturalist guide who reads both the lagoon and the forest around it
- Watch the water come alive — herons, kingfishers, gallinules and the rare boat-billed and night herons
- Step onto forest trails for a short, easy walk, eyes up for sloths, toucans, woodpeckers and owls
- Experience the rainforest from a private reserve in the Tenorio rainforest
Three floats and one rafting trip share this corridor and they get mixed up constantly. This one is the still rainforest lagoon, slow and short. The Tenorio rafting is the opposite end: Class III–IV, three hours, a full day out. Different days, easy to book the wrong one. See the white water rafting experience →
Before you go
What should you know before you go?
Duration
About 1.5 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Style
Private
Type
Add-on
Water
Flat & calm
What to bring
Bring a light rain layer, water and your camera — this is rainforest, so a passing shower is part of it.
Age & fitness
Easy and calm — flat lagoon water and gentle forest trail, comfortable for most ages and fitness levels.
Included
This is an add-on to your rainforest combo — transport, your guide and everything else are already covered by the parent experience. About 1.5 hours total: roughly an hour on the lagoon, plus a short trail walk.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
In a private nature reserve in the Tenorio rainforest, near the town of Bijagua in northern Costa Rica, on a still lagoon set inside the forest.
The river float drifts open rivers through dry forest; this one crosses a calm lagoon deep in the rainforest — different water, different forest, plus a short trail walk for sloths and birds.
About 1.5 hours total — roughly an hour on the raft plus a short, easy walk. Flat water and gentle trail, comfortable for most fitness levels.
Yes — a private, naturalist-guided experience, so the pace and attention are entirely yours.
No — it's an add-on to your Sloth & Waterfall Rainforest Combo, woven into that experience with everything already included.
Twenty-four hours before your tour begins, counted from the start time and not the day. Cancel before that and you get a full refund.
More than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor
Ready to drift the lagoon?
Tell us your dates and we'll build your private rainforest experience — or pair it with Llanos de Cortés — around your group. Our guides’ eBird lists are public — you can read them before you write.
Prefer a form? Write to us here → · Part of our Nature Experiences · Featured in the Sloth & Waterfall Rainforest Combo Experience
By the Guanadreams team
Led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide, born and raised in Guanacaste, Costa Rica · 30+ years in tourism and 20+ years guiding
Led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide, born and raised in Guanacaste, Costa Rica · 30+ years in tourism and 20+ years guiding