White Water Rafting Pacuare River From San José
Description
Get ready for a full day of adventure as you paddle through the heart of Costa Rica’s lush rainforest on the world-renowned Pacuare River. This exhilarating journey features 18 miles of Class III and IV rapids, perfect for both first-time rafters and seasoned paddlers (ages 12+). Your day begins with an early hotel pickup in San José, followed by a scenic drive through Cartago and the countryside to Turrialba. Along the way, enjoy a delicious included breakfast before arriving at the river launch point. After a safety briefing and gear fitting by your expert guides, the adventure begins! Navigate thrilling rapids like Huacas, Rodeo, Pinball, and Dos Montañas, with breaks to admire cascading waterfalls and the stunning rainforest. Midway, refuel with a riverside picnic lunch surrounded by nature. At the end of your rafting journey, change into dry clothes and relax on the return drive to San José—tired, happy, and full of unforgettable memories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
1. Turrialba – Traditional Costa Rican Breakfast & Scenic Drive Duration: 1 hour • Admission Included Start your adventure with a scenic drive from San José to the beautiful Turrialba region, surrounded by rolling mountains, lush farmland, and tropical rainforest. On the way to the river, enjoy a hearty traditional Costa Rican breakfast featuring gallo pinto, eggs, fresh tropical fruit, tortillas, and locally brewed Costa Rican coffee. This stop provides the perfect opportunity to fuel up for an exciting day of rafting while taking in the peaceful countryside. Your guide will introduce you to the Pacuare River, explain the day's itinerary, and share fascinating insights about Costa Rica's biodiversity and river ecosystems.
2. Tres Equis – Safety Briefing & Rafting Base Duration: Approximately 2 hours • Admission Included Arrive at the rafting operations center where you'll meet your team of professionally certified bilingual rafting guides. Before launching onto the river, guests receive a comprehensive safety orientation covering paddling techniques, river commands, rescue procedures, and proper equipment use. Each participant is provided with professionally maintained rafting equipment including: ✔ Coast Guard-approved life jacket ✔ Certified safety helmet ✔ Paddle ✔ Complete rafting safety gear No previous rafting experience is necessary. Your expert guides ensure everyone feels comfortable and prepared before beginning the adventure.
3. Huacas – The Spectacular Pacuare Canyon Duration: Approximately 2 hours • Admission Included Continue through one of the most breathtaking sections of the Pacuare River. Towering canyon walls rise dramatically above the river while dense tropical rainforest surrounds you on both sides. This remote area is accessible only by river, making it one of Costa Rica's hidden natural treasures. Navigate exhilarating Class III and IV rapids before drifting through calmer stretches where you can fully appreciate the incredible scenery. This section offers outstanding opportunities for photography and wildlife observation.
4. Pacuare River – White Water Rafting Adventure & Riverside Lunch Duration: Approximately 3 hours • Admission Included Experience the highlight of your day as you raft through one of the world's most beautiful white-water rivers. Your adventure combines exciting rapids with peaceful stretches of clear water where waterfalls cascade directly into the river and lush rainforest surrounds every bend. One of the most memorable moments is navigating an exhilarating Class IV rapid that rushes between towering canyon walls, delivering both adrenaline and unforgettable scenery. Midway through the trip, stop at a peaceful riverside location to enjoy a delicious picnic-style lunch surrounded by untouched nature before continuing downstream. After completing the rafting experience, return to the operations center to change into dry clothes before beginning the comfortable drive back to San Jose
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour departs from hotels in San Jose. You must indicate the hotel’s name in order to confirm the booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- What to bring: • Quick-dry clothing • Swimsuit • Water shoes or secure sandals • Lightweight athletic shoes • Towel • Change of clothes • Sunscreen • Insect repellent
- Tour operate with a minimum of 2 people
- Contact line available for handling hotel pick-up reconfirmations and day-to-day operational matters.
- Not persons under 12 years old
Reviews(248)
Amazing experience. One of my favorite things we have done in Costa Rica so far. Be prepared to work! It’s not a lazy trip down the river. The scenery was beautiful and our guide Jose was very knowledgeable about the river, different birds we saw, and overall made the experience so wonderful for us.
Because of daily changes in water level, flow, and almost daily rain, you may or may not be able to go down the Pacuare River. The morning of our tour we were informed that we could not go down the Pacuare because of too much water and dangerous conditions. So they took us down the Pejibaye River. It was really a beautiful and fun river with class 2 and 3 rapids and beautiful jungle scenery, but not the jaw dropping beauty of the Pacuare with its class 3 and 4 rapids. We were disappointed in the change, but understand that these guides take safely seriously and found a great alternative nearby. Our guides were fantastic and lots of fun. The entire experience was professional and well executed.
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We completely understand your disappointment about not being able to raft the Pacuare River. River conditions can change quickly, and while we always hope to run the Pacuare, guest safety must come first. We're glad you enjoyed the Pejibaye River and its beautiful scenery, fun rapids, and rainforest surroundings. Most of all, we're delighted to hear that our guides helped make the experience enjoyable and that you found the entire operation professional and well organized. Thank you for your understanding and for trusting our team's judgment. We hope you'll have the opportunity to return and experience the Pacuare River with us on your next visit to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
Roberto our guide was amazing! The Pacuare River was too high so we had to pivot to another river. We had a great time and so much fun. We got to see a boa and a wild Sloth as well. Roberto really made an already great day even better! We will be back for more! Pura Vida!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time on the river despite the change in plans. Safety is always our top priority, and we're glad the alternative adventure turned out to be just as enjoyable. We're especially happy to hear that Roberto helped make the experience even more memorable. Spotting a boa and a wild sloth is always a special bonus! We'll be sure to share your compliments with him. Thank you for choosing us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure soon. Pura Vida!
Explorers A must-do in Costa Rica!!!! We were a family with three teenagers, 13, 15, and 17, and there were six of us plus a guide in one raft. The tour started at 8:00 AM with breakfast. We were at the river around ten. We took a break halfway through with fresh pineapple and then continued until 2:00 PM. There are many class three and four rapids on the Pacuare River! It is super fun but certainly not entirely without danger! In any case, muscle soreness afterward is guaranteed 🤣
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted your family had such an exciting adventure on the Pacuare River. It's great to hear you enjoyed the breakfast, the fresh pineapple break, and the thrilling Class III and IV rapids. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome your family back for another unforgettable Costa Rican adventure. Pura Vida!
I had an awesome time white water river rafting!! My whole experience was great, from the booking, to communicating on meeting area, to the excellent fun guides who were very helpful & experienced, and the beautiful & challenging Pacuare River.
We're happy to hear that you had such an awesome white water rafting experience on the Pacuare River. It's wonderful to know everything—from the booking process and communication to the expertise of our guides—met your expectations. Your kind words mean a lot to our team, and we're thrilled you enjoyed the beauty and excitement of one of Costa Rica's most spectacular rivers. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure. Pura Vida!
Our family had the best time on this outing!! Luis was great and we will definitely book with him when we come back!!
We're thrilled to hear that your family had such a great time and that Luis helped make the experience so memorable. He'll be delighted to know his excellent service made a lasting impression. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica. We'll be happy to have Luis guide you on another unforgettable adventure. Pura Vida!
We had the pleasure of experiencing the Pacuare whitewater rafting as part of a group trip. A good hour into the jungle - there an unusual and heartwarming stopover with two overnight stays and then about 3 hours out of the jungle back to normality - a real highlight of our trip
We're delighted to hear that your Pacuare River adventure was one of the highlights of your trip. The combination of thrilling white water rafting, the beauty of the rainforest, and the unique experience of staying deep in the jungle truly makes this tour unforgettable. Thank you for choosing to experience this adventure with us. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for many more incredible experiences in the future. Pura Vida!
We had a great time everything from pick up tour and back to hotel amazing experience had a blast so much fun.
We're happy to hear you had such a great time from pickup to drop-off. It's fantastic to know that every part of your experience exceeded your expectations and that you had so much fun. Thank you for choosing to explore Costa Rica with us. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another amazing adventure in the future. Pura Vida!
One of the best experiences I have had in my life. The place is wonderful, and the guides are the best.
¡Muchas gracias por sus maravillosos comentarios! Nos llena de satisfacción saber que esta fue una de las mejores experiencias de su vida. Costa Rica tiene lugares increíbles, y nos alegra que haya disfrutado del entorno y de la atención de nuestros guías. Compartiremos sus amables palabras con el equipo. ¡Esperamos recibirle nuevamente para otra aventura inolvidable!
A must if you go to Costa Rica. Amazing if you love water sports and adrenaline. It was so fun, the food was amazing, the drive was beautiful, and the people are so kind! Keylor was an amazing guide! 10/10
We're thrilled to hear you had such an incredible experience! It's wonderful to know you enjoyed the rafting, the beautiful scenery, the delicious food, and the warm hospitality. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Keylor—he'll be delighted to know he helped make your adventure a 10/10.
