Pacuare River Whitewater Rafting: Full-Day Adventure from San Jose
4.8
145 Ratings
Cartago
Embark on an exhilarating full-day whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River. Experience the thrill of navigating class 3 and 4 rapids, surrounded by stunning rainforest scenery. Suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers, this action-packed day trip is not to be missed!
Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pacuare River - During this trajectory you will enjoy a combination of enthusiasm and extreme adventure. The Pacuare River is recognized worldwide for its beauty flanked by its green canyons bathed on both sides by its lush waterfalls. Within its abundant flora and fauna in sight: sloth bears, toucans, parakeets, coatis, a colorful fan of butterflies and frogs, is not out of its exciting crystalline waters that make it an unforgettable adventure trip.
What's Included
  • Rafting equipment
  • Transportation from hotels in San Jos
  • Breakfast
  • Tour guide
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Embark on an exciting one-day journey filled with thrilling whitewater rafting, remarkable waterfalls, and magnificent rainforest views. The Pacuare’s class 3 and 4 rapids cater to both novice and seasoned rafters aged 12 and above who are keen on adventure and stay physically engaged throughout the day. Your day begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in San Jose area, followed by a drive to Cartago, the historic heart of Costa Rica, on to small towns and scenic countryside before reaching the rafting center of Turrialba. Here, we will halt for an included breakfast before proceeding to the Pacuare River for embarkation. Upon reaching, our guides will equip you with the necessary rafting gear and brief you on paddling instructions and safety measures. The adrenaline rush kicks off immediately as we paddle 18 miles downstream through class 3 and 4 rapids, navigating through “Huacas,” “Rodeo,” “Pinball,” “Cimarrones,” and “Dos Montañas.” We’ll take a break for a picnic lunch by the river. Post rafting, you can change into a dry outfit before returning to San Jose.

  • What to bring: Come with rafting clothes on (light shoes that will stay on, swimsuit, shorts, nylon shirt), sunscreen,water bottle, change of clothes, towel, insect repellent, some money for personal expenses.
  • Tour operate with a minimum of 2 people
  • Not persons under 12 years old
Location
Pacuare River
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(145 Ratings)
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Ronald_t
Jun 15, 2024
The Best Excursion in Costa Rica - This is the absolute must do excursion in Costa Rica. The river is ranked #1 in Central and South America and #5 in the world. There are level 3 and 4 on this excursion so be prepared. The staff does a great job of training if you are inexperienced and they have kayakers following for safety support. My teenage daughter went and although she was thrown around the raft, she didn’t go over. And she absolutely loved it. Stunning scenery, challenging rapids and an excellent , knowledgeable staff to guide you. Breakfast was at a restaurant and very good. Try the pancakes. We had lunch on the river consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, nachos and cookies. Simple but tasty. You will be in tune with nature. In closing, make sure you bring a towel and change of clothes. They have showers but no towels. You will get absolutely drenched. Also, invest in a pair of water shoes. We didn’t and our sneakers may never be the same.
Review provided by Viator
Kimberly_k
Jun 13, 2024
Book it! - I read so many reviews before selecting this excursion to ensure I felt comfortable. I cannot say enough good things about this tour. It was my first time white water rafting and I went in very fearful and nervous. Our guide Kay was absolutely amazing. He ensured we were safe the entire time and gave us a great safety training so we knew what to do when we hit some rough rapids. I suggest everyone try this at least once. As nervous as I was this was by far an unforgettable experience and wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Don’t hesitate just book it.
Review provided by Viator
Alma_b
Jun 12, 2024
Must do in Costa Rica! - This was so much fun!! Out your guide and driver were amazing. Was very prepared and the guide assisted our group the entire ride. A must do in Costa Rica! The views were amazing! Would definitely recommend. It’s worth it!
Review provided by Viator
Emerald_s
Jun 7, 2024
Will be back!!! - amazing experience!!!! Chris, Roberto, and Gravy were amazing guides!! Super funny and experts on the river!! they pointed out sloths on the way in the cloud forest! Everybody was very nice and I will be doing tours with them again!! Super beautiful scenery too!
Review provided by Viator
Jose_v
May 27, 2024
Adventure trip - Mario the tour guy was great and provide a lot of good information Also Ian the raft captain was awesome
Review provided by Viator
Ori_m
May 14, 2024
This was such a great... - This was such a great experience with excellent guides. My only thing I would want changed is if we had some way to clean our hands before eating, like wet wipes. I always like to clean my hands before eating and I couldn't do that during our lunch break.
Review provided by Viator
Teresa_p
May 12, 2024
Pacuare rafting paradise - Our guide Kay was welcoming, helpful, patient, and professional! His English is also outstanding. The driver was also friendly and kept us on time, yet safe. Pacuare River is absolutely stunning 🤩 and it’s exhilarating to raft its waters. It was nice to have a place to shower after the rafting BUT the place is too hot and humid and offers few refreshments. It’s not a comfortable changing experience.
Review provided by Viator
Alexandra_r
May 3, 2024
You must go if coming to Costa Rica - If you’re looking for adventure, this is the place to go! You can tell the guides are super passionate about their jobs. Rowing the raft was definitely a workout but the wildlife around was worth it. Super fun experience, will come again next time!
Review provided by Viator
Eric_l
Jun 23, 2024
Fun day - A fun day with lots of rapids good guide also good for meeting people and getting to know them I think it would be good for a team building exercise as well
Review provided by Viator
686merte
May 27, 2024
Magical trip - This trip is amazing. Itinerary is good, guides are good and fun for all day. Definetly recommend. The only thing that needs an upgrade is the equipment. The van we initially started was very crowded and old( they upgraded in the half way) But the rafts also seemed very old and our raft needed pumping through out the trip. Would be good to check water levels depending on your visit. Still it was a great trip,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1
Adult
June 2024
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