Pacuare Lodge
A jungle lodge on the Pacuare River with no road to its door, where most guests raft in through the canyon and every suite looks into the rainforest or over the river.
5-starView hotel
The Pacuare River
Class III and IV whitewater through a rainforest canyon on the Caribbean slope, about 125 km east of San José, with lodges on its banks that most guests reach by raft.
- Fly into
- SJO
- Then by road and by raft
- Best for rafting
- Nov to Aug
- Highest water in Sep and Oct
- The rapids
- Class III and IV
- A full day on the river, 5 to 7 hours
- Region
- Caribbean slope
- Beside the Talamanca Mountains
- Pairs with
- Puerto Viejo
- Raft out, then about 2 hours by road
Why go
A river canyon you arrive in by raft
The Pacuare runs down the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica beside the Talamanca Mountains, through a canyon that is mostly undeveloped, with rainforest and waterfalls on both sides. The stretch most often rafted, about 16 miles, has steady Class II to IV rapids, and experienced rafters can take on a shorter, more technical upper section. With so little of the canyon developed, wildlife comes close: howler and capuchin monkeys, sloths, toucans, macaws and kingfishers, and, for the lucky, river otters. The lodges on its banks have no road to the door, so most guests raft in and raft out.
WhitewaterClass III and IV, 5 to 7 hours
Raft-in lodgesNo road to the door
WildlifeMonkeys, sloths, toucans, otters
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
When to go
Rafted all year, highest in September and October
The Pacuare is rafted all year. From June to October the rapids run faster and harder, and in September and October, the peak of the rainy season, the river can run higher than usual, so first-time rafters do best in the other months. Most outfitters cancel a trip when the water is dangerously high or low.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Steadier waterPeak rains, higher waterSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
By road from San José, then by raft
From San José (SJO)about 125 kmBy road to the river with breakfast on the way, then rafting to your lodge
Out to the Caribbeanabout 2 hoursRaft out to Siquirres, then a private transfer to Puerto Viejo
Out to Arenal2 to 2.5 hoursRaft out to Siquirres, then a private transfer to La Fortuna
Where to go next
Where our clients go after Pacuare River
Good to know
Pacuare River questions we answer every week
Do I need rafting experience on the Pacuare?
No. The guides give a safety talk and practise the commands with you before you set off, and first-time rafters do best outside the high water of September and October. Rafting starts at age 12; at Pacuare Lodge, children aged 7 to 11 arrive by ground transfer instead.
How do I get to a lodge on the Pacuare?
There is no road to the door. Most guests drive from San José with breakfast on the way, then raft to the lodge. Pacuare Lodge can also be reached by a 4×4 transfer of about 45 minutes from Siquirres and the lodge's own river crossing, or by helicopter; Rios Lodge only on foot or by raft.
What should I bring for rafting?
A swimsuit and quick-dry clothes, shoes or sandals that strap on (no flip-flops), water-resistant sunscreen, a change of clothes and a towel, and a waterproof camera if you have one. Life jackets and helmets are provided.
What else is there to do on the Pacuare?
Your lodge can arrange early-morning bird walks, visits to nearby indigenous communities, hikes in its own forest or a zip-line canopy tour.
Where can I stay on the Pacuare River?
We book Pacuare Lodge, a jungle lodge whose suites open to the rainforest or the river, some with their own pools, and Rios Lodge, an off-grid, hydro-powered lodge in a 1,000 hectare private reserve.
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Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística