Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Cartago
Cartago
Things to do in Cartago
Pacuare River
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Pacuare River

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Pacuare River
5
About
This beautiful river runs from the Caribbean Coast inland almost to Cartago.
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5.0
149 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
7
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Russell
2 contributions
Excellent Experience
Aug 2023
The guide Roberto (Robby) was fantastic. Very skilled, knowledgeable, and professional. Was undoubtedly the highlight of my week around costa rica.
Written 16 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
readymom
Concord, NC66 contributions
Exploradores Outdoors Pacure rafting
Jul 2023 • Couples
One day rafting trip Pacure river. Were picked up in San Jose from our hotel. There is an accident so we were 40 minutes late leaving. Nothing they could control. Had breakfast prior to starting the rafting trip. Typical Costa Rican meal. Received safety information on the ride to the put in. All equipment was provided and in good repair. Our guide, carlos, was excellent. He provided good instructions. The trip was great. At the end we had a Costa Rican lunch. I would highly recommend. Safety is a top priority for me.
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SusanJoseph
Seattle, Washington23 contributions
River Rafters Heaven
Oct 2022
We took the river trip through the Pacuare Lodge. Our 2 guides were so competent. They guided us in a way in which we felt completely safe and cared for. The river was challenging and beautiful.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather D
Colorado1 contribution
Pacuare river rafting 15 out of 10!
Jul 2022 • Family
Exploradores 1 day rafting down the Pacuare river was absolutely amazing. Because our guide, Greivin, was so skilled, we managed class four rapids, with a boat full of novice paddlers perfectly and safely allowing us to fully enjoy the thrills of the rapids, with short calm stretches in between to awe over the jungle rising above us on both sides. I have seen a lot of beautiful scenery, but this was spectacular. If you are wondering if the long drive is worth it...it is!!! They picked us up in La Fortuna, and we enjoyed a thrilling drive Costa Rica style, fast...fast..fast. .
In the US, your river guides are usually college students working seasonally for a few years. Don't get me wrong, they can be great! Here, the guides are seriously professionals. Greivin has guided for 16 years. His instructions were clear and direct. He added to the enjoyment by sharing his knowledge of the local flora, fauna DNA history. The other guides also interacted with us to make it fun. Exploradores took safety seriously.
I cannot say enough about this experience. It was worth every penny. I also recommend using the discount voucher through pura Vida eh. It took a bit off the price, but the price is totally fair even without the discount. Raft the Pacuare!!!! Pura Vida!
Written 30 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penny C
berkshire21 contributions
absolutely beautiful
May 2022
Loved rafting down the river. just the right side of challenging. Very picturesque and with some lovely tranquil places to recover before the next set of rapids
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thepostie2010
Barnstaple, UK887 contributions
A must for your Costa Rican stay.
Mar 2022
Simply stunning experience. The scenery takes your breath away at times and rapids make you laugh with joy.
Written 28 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bhavesh m
1 contribution
Out of this world
Nov 2021 • Solo
The rafting in Rio Pacuare wwas amazing and really intense. Not for the afaint of heart. The tour guides were really entertaining and the pictures came out amazing. By the way, you get breakfast and lunch when you visit as well
Written 8 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine L.
Fresno, CA15 contributions
Adventure of a Lifetime!
Aug 2021
We did the two day trip down the Pacuare River with Tropical River Adventures and it was the highlight of our vacation. The rafting started with an exciting set of rapids welcoming us to the river. The river is super fast and had lots of Class 3 and Class 4 rapids. We jumped off a rock into the swift moving water - what a thrill! The rapids were amazing and the beauty from the river is indescribable.

(You could do this trip in one day if you are pressed for time, but I am so glad we stayed overnight at the Eco-Lodge! It allowed us time to relax, walk to a nearby waterfall, and really unwind.) The guides made amazing meals at the Eco-Lodge and on the river!

I'm pretty sure we had the best guide on the river - Giovanni from Tropical River Adventures! He kept us safe while having the time of our lives!

We also had the added bonus of having an amazing photographer - he kayaked ahead of the rafts and took amazing photos!
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rterrell568
Indianapolis19 contributions
Breathtaking
Jun 2021
River rafted from Pacuare Lodge all the way down. What a gorgeous rive. You feel like you are in the jungle and in a movie. Strongly recommend.
Written 26 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna T
4 contributions
A Blast!
May 2021
We spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica and our stay at Pacuare River Lodge was the highlight of our trip. We rafted in, spent one night and rafted out. Walter was our guide extraordinaire: he is a great white water guide and very knowledgeable about wildlife, nature and history of Costa Rica. We opted for a room with a private bath which was right outside the room. The grounds are beautiful and there are tons of hummingbirds and other tropical birds. Walter had his book of Costa Rican birds that he shared with me so I could look up what I was spotting. There is a covered common area overlooking the river where meals are prepared and served. We were served 4 delicious meals during our overnight stay. After we arrived and had lunch, Walter took us on a hike to several waterfalls with pools below them that we could swim in. Rafting the second day included some class III and IV rapids. It was very invigorating and the scenery was beautiful. When you book they send you a list of what you will need which is very helpful. One thing I would add is a small quick dry camping towel to dry off with after showering at the take out. I would say this is a must do to add to your bucket list for Costa Rica! Highly, highly recommend Pacuare River Lodge!
Written 21 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PACUARE RIVER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Pacuare River
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