Pacuare River 2 Nights/3 Days
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Location: Pacuare River, Talamanca Mountains
Difficulty: Moderate (Class III rapids)
Age/Experience : Minimum age 12; basic swimming ability required; no rafting experience necessary
Seasonal Considerations: : Year-round, but water levels vary; May-November offers higher water and more challenging rapids
Included Services: Professional guides, rafting equipment, all meals, two nights at Tropical Rivers Lodge, optional activities, hot lunch upon completion, transportation
Experience the ultimate Costa Rican wilderness adventure with our three-day expedition through the pristine Pacuare River valley. This extended journey allows you to truly disconnect and immerse yourself in one of Central America's most biodiverse river ecosystems. The three-day format provides a more relaxed pace than our shorter options, with additional time for side hikes to hidden waterfalls, natural waterslides, and indigenous territory. Your home for two nights will be the comfortable Tropical Rivers Lodge, where you'll enjoy hot showers, excellent cuisine, and the incomparable experience of falling asleep to the sounds of the flowing river and awakening jungle. Each day brings new river sections to explore, with the perfect combination of exciting Class III rapids and calm stretches for swimming and wildlife spotting.
What You'll See @ Pacuare River 2 Nights/3 Days
As you journey deeper into the Pacuare wilderness than most travelers ever reach, you'll encounter untouched primary rainforest ecosystems with ancient trees draped in bromeliads, orchids, and moss. The extended format increases wildlife spotting opportunities, with frequent sightings of monkeys, sloths, toucans, and the brilliantly colored poison dart frogs native to this region. During side hikes, you'll discover hidden waterfalls with natural swimming pools, enormous buttress-rooted trees, and medicinal plants used by indigenous communities for generations. The river itself features over 52 rapids ranging from Class II-IV, interspersed with tranquil pools where you can spot freshwater fish and occasionally river otters. Early mornings at the lodge offer exceptional birdwatching, with over 300 species recorded in this vital biological corridor connecting the Caribbean lowlands with higher mountain ecosystems.
Itinerary
Day 1: Begin with morning pickup from San José hotels or meet at our operations center. After breakfast and orientation, travel to the river put-in point where your guides will provide comprehensive safety instructions and equipment. The first day features a gentle introduction to the river with Class II-III rapids and plenty of time to practice paddling techniques. Enjoy a riverside lunch before continuing downstream to Tropical Rivers Lodge, arriving mid-afternoon. Settle into your accommodations before choosing an optional activity: guided rainforest hike, natural waterslide experience, or relaxation time. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 2: After breakfast at the lodge, choose your full-day activity: continue rafting to new sections of the river, horseback riding through the rainforest, ziplining through the canopy, or guided hiking to indigenous territories. All options include a picnic lunch in memorable settings. Return to the lodge for afternoon relaxation time, with options for swimming, bird watching, or enjoying the lodge's amenities. Dinner and second night at the lodge.
Day 3: Early breakfast followed by the most exciting day of rafting, featuring the renowned Upper Gorge section with its Class III-IV rapids. Navigate through impressive canyons and pristine wilderness before reaching the take-out point. Hot lunch at our Operations Center followed by return transportation to San José, arriving by late afternoon.
Day 2: After breakfast at the lodge, choose your full-day activity: continue rafting to new sections of the river, horseback riding through the rainforest, ziplining through the canopy, or guided hiking to indigenous territories. All options include a picnic lunch in memorable settings. Return to the lodge for afternoon relaxation time, with options for swimming, bird watching, or enjoying the lodge's amenities. Dinner and second night at the lodge.
Day 3: Early breakfast followed by the most exciting day of rafting, featuring the renowned Upper Gorge section with its Class III-IV rapids. Navigate through impressive canyons and pristine wilderness before reaching the take-out point. Hot lunch at our Operations Center followed by return transportation to San José, arriving by late afternoon.
Highlights ofPacuare River 2 Nights/3 Days
As you journey deeper into the Pacuare wilderness than most travelers ever reach, you'll encounter untouched primary rainforest ecosystems with ancient trees draped in bromeliads, orchids, and moss. The extended format increases wildlife spotting opportunities, with frequent sightings of monkeys, sloths, toucans, and the brilliantly colored poison dart frogs native to this region. During side hikes, you'll discover hidden waterfalls with natural swimming pools, enormous buttress-rooted trees, and medicinal plants used by indigenous communities for generations. The river itself features over 52 rapids ranging from Class II-IV, interspersed with tranquil pools where you can spot freshwater fish and occasionally river otters. Early mornings at the lodge offer exceptional birdwatching, with over 300 species recorded in this vital biological corridor connecting the Caribbean lowlands with higher mountain ecosystems.
Meeting point:San José pickup available or designated meeting point near Turrialba
Tour Guide Expertise
Our multi-day expedition leaders bring diverse expertise that extends beyond river guiding to include wilderness medicine, tropical ecology, and cultural anthropology. Each expedition team includes at least one guide with indigenous heritage who can share authentic knowledge about traditional plant use and historical context of the region. With an average of 8+ years of experience on the Pacuare, these guides have developed an almost intuitive understanding of the river's personality across seasons and water levels. The extended format allows guides to share deeper knowledge about Costa Rica's conservation challenges and successes, creating a more educational experience than shorter trips permit. Lodge-based naturalist guides complement the river team, specializing in birdwatching, botany, and tracking elusive rainforest mammals. All guides maintain advanced first aid and swift water rescue certifications, with wilderness first responder training for remote expedition leadership.
"Our 8-day tour through Tortuguero, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio exceeded every expectation. The wildlife encounters were incredible—we saw sloths, toucans, and even a family of howler monkeys! Our guide Miguel's knowledge transformed what would have been a good vacation into an unforgettable experience."
Sarah Thompson
Chicago
The Pacuare River overnight expedition was the highlight of our Costa Rica trip. Professional guides, breathtaking scenery, and the perfect balance of thrilling rapids and peaceful floats. Staying at the riverside lodge was magical—falling asleep to jungle sounds is something we'll never forget.
Mark Davidson
ancouver
Volunteering at the Pacuare Reserve for sea turtle conservation changed my perspective on eco-tourism. Two weeks of meaningful work alongside dedicated conservationists was both humbling and inspiring. Explore Costa Rica handled all the logistics flawlessly.
Emma Chen
Sydney
After years of dreaming about moving to Costa Rica, Explore Costa Rica made it happen seamlessly. From finding our perfect home in Perez Zeledon to navigating residency paperwork, their team supported us every step of the way. Six months in, and we're living the life we imagined!
Robert and Linda Gonzalez
Former Arizona Residents
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