Tours/San Jose/Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience
Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience
4.8(17)San Jose1 day
VIATOR3.0(2)TRIPADVISOR5.0(15)
+12 photos
At a glance
Duration
1 day
Price from
$124 / person
Location
San Jose, Costa Rica
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 17 reviews
Languages
EN, ES
Group
Small group, up to 200
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Hotel pickup
Available
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Excitement Costa Rica
Description
This trip will take you through one of the most important and well-known rivers in the world for
its scenic beauty, rapids, waterfalls and crystal clear waters. This section of the river
It is suitable for beginners in rafting (low/medium difficulty).
After picking you up early in the morning at your hotel in San José we headed
to the first capital of the country, Cartago. After crossing through the center of this
province we will pass the towns of Paraíso, Cervantes, Juan Viñas and Turrialba, the
capital of rafting in Costa Rica. During this journey of approximately 2.5
hours we will have a typical breakfast before starting the adventure of the rapids
class III and IV.
Our team will be waiting for you at the well-known Finca 3X, where you will be given a
safety briefing on the riverbank before venturing out on the 18 miles that
They run along the Pacuare River. Passing the popular rapids of Huacas, Pele el Ojo and Cimarrones.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Next available
Wed, Oct 7
Adult (ages 12+)
$124
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
Transportation from San Jose
Duration: 1 day
Breakfast and Lunch.
Transport: Transportation from San Jose
Bilingual Guide, Full Team
Pickup included
What's included
Included
river guide
Private transportation
5 hours of rafting
Lunch
All Fees and Taxes
Breakfast
rafting equipment
safety kayaker
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup at these points would be at the following times:
Rostipollos Alajuela - 5:00am
Hampton Inn Airport 5:10am
Sheraton Hotel - 5:20am
Intercontinental Royal - 5:25am
Whyndam garden Escazú - 5.30am
Wyndham San José Herradura - 5:40am
Doubletree by Hilton Cariari - 5:45am
Irazu hotel & studios – 5:50am
Barcelo San Jose - 5:55am
Crowne Plaza Corobicí - 6:00am
Great hotel costa rica - 6:10am
Aurola holiday inn San Jose – 6:15am
Radisson San Jose-Costa Rica – 6:20am
Hyatt Place – 6:30 a.m.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
17 reviews
5
16
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
1
Important Information
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience take?
Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience lasts about 1 day.
How much does Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience cost?
Prices start at $124 per person for this San Jose experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day.
Can I cancel Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup at these points would be at the following times:
Rostipollos Alajuela - 5:00am
Hampton Inn Airport 5:10am
Sheraton Hotel - 5:20am
Intercontinental Royal - 5:25am
Whyndam garden Escazú - 5.30am
Wyndham San José Herradura - 5:40am
Doubletree by Hilton Cariari - 5:45am
Irazu hotel & studios – 5:50am
Barcelo San Jose - 5:55am
Crowne Plaza Corobicí - 6:00am
Great hotel costa rica - 6:10am
Aurola holiday inn San Jose – 6:15am
Radisson San Jose-Costa Rica – 6:20am
Hyatt Place – 6:30 a.m. Pickup points include Crowne Plaza San Jose La Sabana by IHG, Irazu Hotel & Studios.
What languages is Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 200 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Full Day Pacuare River Rafting Experience worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 17 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Excitement Costa Rica.
Reviews(17)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
S
Sallyr1213
August 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Best experience on our holiday in Costa Rica!!
My husband, daughter and I chose this experience because of the Class III and IV rapids. It was the best experience of our holiday in Costa Rica. We were in a raft with 2 others and our guide Keylor. I surprised myself by not falling out. Pickup was well arranged and prompt, in a very new bus, Everyone including the driver, photographer and especially Keylor took such good care of us. It’s rainy season and the river was fierce but at no time did I feel scared. Everything was well organised and well run and our safety was paramount. Such an exhilarating experience for a 69, 65 and 20 year old. Thank you so much…
E
EmmanuelSft
December 11, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great time on the water.
Very nice experience with this rafting company, friendly guide and very nice river.
We had a lot of fun.
Pura vida.
Pura vida.
Q
Q7747HPbenjamins
December 7, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Carlos is the best guide.
Carlos are guide was excellent. Very funny and knowledgeable. The safety of clients was good with kayak in the water if needed. Stunning scenery, and the lunch was perfect.
Operator response
Thank you very much for your comments. They help us grow day by day, and we will be sure to pass your feedback along to our guide. I’m sure it will make him feel very happy.
T
timothyolohan
November 30, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
This is a must do, while in Costa Rica!
This excursion was amazing! The river is incredibly beautiful and the guides are very professional. I haven’t done this before and our guide Carlos was so helpful with ensuring we made it through the rapid safely while having fun! I highly recommend this excursion to anyone that’s up for an adventure.
Carlos was the best!!!
K
Katherine V
July 27, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
THE BEST TEAM! EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS!
Excellent team! 💯. Both the guides of the rafts and those who go by kayac are very coordinated and are all very attentive to help in case someone falls into the water, as the guides of all the rafts wait and watch each other. That is, you don’t go alone with your group and guide, but everyone watches over everyone! They are very professional and expert! Loved it! I would repeat it again with Excitement Costa Rica! And for the record, I fell into the water, today Sunday, July 27, 2025, and whoever pulled me out and got on his raft, was another of the guides, but I don't know his name, thank you! Thanks to Moses, the guide of my raft and everyone else, THANK YOU! Very grateful!!!
Katherine Vega - Camuy, P.R.
27/July/2025
Operator response
Muchas gracias por sus palabras, esto nos hace crecer cada dia y seguir brindando un servicio de primera calidad.
2
208gradyb
April 25, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
A Can’t-Miss Experience for the Adventurous Traveller
A truly incredible journey down the Pacuare River with Esteban (Carson), Giovanni, and Chris, with transpo and logistics provided by Hugo. All were incredible professional, extremely knowledgable of the local flora and fauna, and masterful river guides. The river was challenging and exhilarating, but never once did we feel unsafe in their capable hands. An experience I will never forget.
Operator response
“Thank you very much for your kind words. We have a team fully committed to providing great experiences to all our clients, and we’re very happy to hear that you had a wonderful time. Greetings from the entire Excitement CR team.”
W
W4317VBjills
April 25, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing white water rafting adventure
Had an amazing time!! Tarzan, Estephan, Christopher, and Giovanni went out of the way to take us on an amazing adventure!!! I would definitely recommend.
Operator response
“Thank you very much for your kind words. Our mission was accomplished with you — for you to have a great experience with us. Greetings from Costa Rica!”
S
sashacushman
April 13, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
24km of wow!
I loved it! Texted early in the morning to see if they have a spot for one, they were very accommodating and gave clear directions. Our guide Carlos was excellent at navigating and great sense of humor too! We spotted lots of birds and had time to relax floating. The lunch was delicious too. Overall a fantastic experience 👌 would do it again! Only bring my own camera in a waterproof case. The nature sights are breathtaking! The pics their guy took had a good angle of our raft but some were blurry, and were not included in the price of the trip. No regrets tho!
Operator response
“What a great joy to hear that you had a good time with our entire team and, of course, on the tour. We are committed to providing amazing experiences to everyone who joins our tours.”
A
AiSdeAaZ
July 30, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic!
We had never rafted and had some apprehension. Once the security briefing was done we went up to 4 including our guide Ivan. He was a remarkable guide, a magician. He wields rafting to the centimetre and makes it go wherever he wants. This made the experience both intense and secure. The landscape, the primary forests, the fog, the waterfalls, the fog and also the rain gave us the feeling of being in a dream. A magical and yet very real atmosphere. The course is certainly grueling, but the 3 hours passed very quickly. To do absolutely. The agency is superb and the end meal very friendly and welcome. Shower too.
Operator response
Bonjour,
Merci d'avoir partagé votre expérience ! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié le rafting avec Ivan. La beauté du Pacuare rend chaque moment spécial. Nous espérons vous revoir pour une nouvelle aventure.
Cordialement,
L’équipe d’Excitement Costa Rica
P
Patrick_A
June 16, 2024 · via Viator
Not what we paid for
The best part wss the people on the trip. We got nothing that we paid for. We were not taken to Paquare, but some other river. We did not get a 5 hour rafting experience but a 2 hour experience. The food, both the breakfast and lunch was not as advertized. The reason given was that Paquare was high and not safe. While we appreciate safety. We should have been given a choice, A refund or reschedule. We felt were duped. It was very disappointing. That said the driver and tourguide were nicr and accomodating and tried to make the experience the best. I believed we are owed the experience ee actually paid for. I really cannot recommend this to anyone. But rather feel the need to caution them against this company.
Operator response
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet your expectations. We understand your concerns regarding the changes made during your tour, and we appreciate your understanding that these were due to safety considerations.
We are committed to ensuring that our guests have memorable experiences, and we invite you to contact us at info@excitementcostarica.com to discuss how we can make this right for you. We value your trust and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for an unforgettable adventure.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
The Excitement Costa Rica Team
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