Pacuare 1 Day

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Trip Length

1 Day

River time

3.5 - 5 Hours

Rapid Class

III-IV

minimum Age

12 yo (Dec - May)
14 yo (Jun – Nov)

Distance

26 km (18 miles)

IMPORTANT

We operate this tour with a minimum of 2 people arriving at our operations center in Siquirres. If there are 3 or 4 people, an additional charge of ($60) is applied in total per transfer, per way. If there are five people or more, this charge does not apply and we provide the free Multi-destination service leaving at the following points: San José, La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Itinerary

The Pacuare River has been rated one of the top rivers in the world, an amazing Costa Rica day trip full of Excitement and Adventure that connect you with the rainforest in Costa Rica.

Rafting on the Pacuare River – rated one of the top rivers in the world – is an amazing Costa Rica day trip. You’ll raft through the incredible rainforest on 18 miles of Class III-IV whitewater.

We will transport you from your San José, La Fortuna de San Carlos or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca area hotels.

After a trip of about two hours to reach our meeting point in the Siquirres area where our staff will be waiting to welcome you and enjoy a delicious typical Costa Rican breakfast. We change our clothes and prepare with everything necessary for an adventure day. We will drive for 45 minutes until we reach one of the most beautiful rivers. The Pacuare River is considered the best rafting in Costa Rica.

Here, our professional, certified rafting guides will outfit you with all necessary equipment, give you a comprehensive rafting safety talk, and instruct you on paddling basics, complying with the regulations established by Rios Adventure Travel and the International Rafting Federation.

Then, you and your group will launch your raft and begin to paddle deep into the heart of one of Costa Rica’s most impressive primary rainforests. It’s an adrenaline-packed day running the Pacuare’s renowned rapids.

Starting a route that will be 18 Milles (26 kilometers) with different levels of intensity ranging from class III and IV where you can put your skills into practice by paddling through its waters full of an incredible biodiversity of Flora and fauna, surrounded by a tropical forest Virgin that will amaze you with its great natural beauty.

Somewhere along the river, we will stop at one of the beautiful beaches on the banks of the Pacuare River for a little break; meanwhile our guides will prepare a delicious lunch for you.

After lunch, we will start again the final route of 1 hour 30 minutes but not without taking the experience of swimming in the beautiful canyon of Dos Montañas. We will continue downstream to the takeaway point.

At the end we move for 15 minutes back to our first meeting point in the morning where if you like you can shower and change clothes, again and then have a coffee, natural juice and some snacks then leave for your next destination.

Rates

Foreigners: $95

National & residents: $70

ALL RATES + IVA

Book Now

EXCELLENT rating
Based on 14 reviews
An amazing journey guided by passionate brothers! Our recent river rafting trip with Rios Adventure Travel was a dream come true! As four older women - three sisters and a best friend - we set out on a one-night adventure down the magnificent Pacuare River in Costa Rica. Led by Johnny, one of the passionate brothers who own this incredible company, our experience was nothing short of extraordinary.As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed warmly, treating us like family and ensuring that every aspect of our trip was meticulously planned. We had been stuck in a horrendous traffic jam on the way to our adventure and Johnny was so so kind to wait for us to get on the river and start our journey. Our river rafting adventure down the Pacuare River was truly an exhilarating experience. The rushing rapids and breathtaking scenery were awe-inspiring, providing a perfect blend of adventure and natural beauty. Johnny, our guide, proved to be an exceptional leader, demonstrating expert knowledge of the river and its surroundings. His passion for the region and his guidance and support throughout the journey made us feel safe and inspired.We stopped for the night at the remote Rios Lodge and were incredibly fortunate to have the entire lodge to ourselves. Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of the rushing river, it felt like a truly immersive experience. The lodge's rustic charm, coupled with its modern amenities, provided the perfect balance of comfort and authenticity.One of the most memorable moments of our trip was when the brothers prepared a fabulous lunch for us on their own property. As we chatted with Albert, David and Johnny, we couldn't help but admire their dedication and passion to create a lodge of their own and we felt incredibly privileged to be a part of their journey. It was evident that the five brothers poured their hearts and souls into their business. We were not just customers; we were treated like cherished guests, which made our experience truly unforgettable.We wholeheartedly recommend Rios Adventure Travel to anyone seeking a remarkable adventure in Costa Rica. Whether you're a group of women, a family, or solo travelers, this trip will exceed your expectations in every way. We feel incredibly grateful to have embarked on this journey and look forward to seeing the brothers' dream of building their own lodge become a reality.
sharon r
sharon r
2023-05-21
Best day rafting the Pacuare! We had a blast doing the 1 day whitewater rafting trip on the Pacuare with pick up in San José. It is a bit of a trek (2-2.5 hours each way) but they pick up at your hotel which ese great. After a stop for breakfast and to change, we went to the river. We left most of our stuff in the car with the driver and had a blast! Our guides Johnny and David were so much fun. The rapids were great (level 3-4) and we even got to do “surfing” and paddled backward down a rapid. It’s about 2 hours of rafting, a break for lunch, followed by another 1.5 hours. Lunch was delicious and there is a bathroom where you stop.Things to keep in mind for the day trip: wish we had brought sunscreen to reapply at the lunch break. Also, unlike some of the bigger companies, there isn’t a photographer taking photos. We brought a dry case for one of our phone and Johnny was a very accommodating and took several pictures/videos of us after kayaking ahead. There also are some helmets that appeared to have a fitting for a GoPro, though we did not bring one. After rafting, they bring you to a stop about 10 minutes away for a snack and to rinse off. The shower was cold unfortunately but it was good to clean up. Wish we would’ve had to time to do the 2 day trip - have stayed overnight at the Rios lodge previously and it was wonderful. Definitely a must do activity in Costa Rica!
Kaitlyn K
Kaitlyn K
2023-02-12
Book this trip! Don’t hesitate one minute. Book this trip. It is amazing! We are from Idaho and have experience on world class whitewater there. This trip compares. Rios Adventure company knows the river intimately and you will feel safe yet also have fun running the rapids. The lodge we stayed at is clean, welcoming and so relaxing! The food was expertly prepared by our guides, and we especially enjoyed the nightly cocktail and appetizers. The patacones are the best! We were in Costa Rica for two weeks and this was the highlight of our vacation! David, Walter and their brothers love this river and after a trip with them you will too. Pura Vida!
Whitney S
Whitney S
2023-01-08
Incredible experience and a must do in Costa Rica Me and my girlfriend made the 2 days Rafting Tour with one night at the beautiful Rios Lodge. Our very professional Guides were Jonny and Walther, they organized us the best trip we could have imagined. They prepared delicious food for us every day and took us to the most amazing places.Thank you so much for that great Action and the unforgettable experience! PURA VIDA
Dominik H
Dominik H
2022-12-22
Mejor imposible! Acabamos de realizar la "experiencia" de rafting por el rio Pacuere, durante 25 km. A las 9 AM vinieron a buscarnos al lugar donde estabamos alojados la noche anterior, nos dieron todo tipo de explicaciones para poder desarrollar la actividad sin ningun tipo de peligro, he de decir que era nuestra primera vez haciendo rafting. David nos guio literalmente todo el tiempo. Walyer, nuestro contacto estuvo pendiente desde un kayak par que no hubiera ningun problema. Nos ofrecieron un almuerzo a media mañana, y un cafe con una empanada al finalizar. Son amables, profesionales, se nota que han vivido en el rio toda la vida. Un 10!
Bombín
Bombín
2022-12-11
Together again after 23 years! Our experience on our honeymoon was so special that we wanted to bring our teenage children and mother-in-law to see what it was like. We were able to find and book the same lovely tree house partway down the river for overnight stay. How pleasantly surprised we were to arrive at the meeting spot and discover our same guide from 23 years before, Johnny! Of course, much had changed during those years, but they still embody the same core commitment to a celebration of this exquisite river ecosystem from the place of family heart. If anything, all had gotten even better - more days we could stay, years of wisdom, honed guiding, guest-friendly cooking (I had some food restrictions and wonderful David handled these so skillfully, making the food such a highlight for me!), and unforgettable memories. Johnny and David guided us to see and learn about a wide variety of creatures and plants. Then our experiences in the water brought teamwork and the thrill of the river. We had such a blast and would return in a heartbeat. This group is truly a precious gem of what it means to represent the wonders of Costa Rica.
Shaunna G
Shaunna G
2022-12-10
The guides are true expert with attention to safety. Lunch was perfect and our family of 5 loved the experience. Our family of five formed lifetime memories of mom and dad being dumped into class 4 rapids then quickly being scooped up and returned to safety by the expert guides. We recommend that only those comfortable in the water participate and be forewarned that those with back problems might consider sitting out the activity as you sit with your torso twisted, without lumbar support while paddling on and off for 4 hours. The mid way break for lunch was perfect although a bathroom would have been nice - it did appear as though if they were building one.
David R
David R
2022-12-10
Great Experience Great rapids and amazing experience from end to end. Our guides knew the river from beginning to end, and facilitated a safe trip while having a lot of fun. Highly recommend.
Pablo E
Pablo E
2022-11-07
Epic experience The entire experience from the beginning to the end was absolutely amazing. Professional, informative, and made it one of the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Johnny and Roy our guides were nothing but the best. When I go back Rios Adventures are 100% the company to go to. Highly recommended.
frankpluchino
frankpluchino
2022-11-06
Experiencia inmejorable El tour ha sido una pasada. ¡Mi favorito en Costa Rica!. El guia se sabe el rio como la palma de su mano y te va explicando todo, lo que hace que la experiencia sea muy segura a la vez que muy divertida y apasionante. Ofrecen, incluido en el precio, un desayuno abundante, una comida riquisima y un cafecito con pastas al llegar que sienta fenomenal al cuerpo. Recomiendo 100%
NoeQuiSa
NoeQuiSa
2022-09-26

TRANSPORTATION

All our trips are operated with a minimum of two people, we offer transportation service with an additional charge. We offer multi-destination services from San José, La Fortuna de San Carlos and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Limón.

Service rates:

2 pax $ 30 dollars
per person

4 pax $ 15 dollars
per person

Important

Price per person per way. From 5 pax there is no additional charge for transport Please contact us for more information!

Book Now

Rates

Foreigners: $95

National & residents: $70

ALL RATES + IVA

Book Now

TRANSPORTATION

All our trips are operated with a minimum of two people, we offer transportation service with an additional charge. We offer multi-destination services from San José, La Fortuna de San Carlos and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Limón.

Service rates:

2 pax $ 30 dollars
per person

4 pax $ 15 dollars
per person

Important

Price per person per way. From 5 pax there is no additional charge for transport Please contact us for more information!

Book Now

What's Included

What to bring

What is waiting for you at the Pacuare River