San José: Pacuare River 1-Day Rafting Adventure

Experience the thrill of rafting on Costa Rica's premier river. Navigate 38 rapids, enjoy stunning rainforest views, and spot diverse wildlife.
Embark on an exhilarating 1-day rafting expedition on the Pacuare River, renowned as Costa Rica's premier river for white-water adventures. This tour offers daily departures from San José, the Caribbean Coast, and the Arenal Volcano, providing flexibility to start and finish at your preferred location. The journey begins at the Exploration Center, a private base for river trips and Tortuguero expeditions.

The Pacuare River is celebrated for its breathtaking beauty, featuring steep, green walls and cascading waterfalls. As you navigate the river, you'll feel a deep connection with nature, surrounded by vibrant tropical birds and abundant wildlife, including sloths, toucans, parrots, coatis, morpho butterflies, and colorful frogs.

Your adventure starts with a safety briefing and gearing up with a life jacket, helmet, and paddle. The first 4 miles consist of fun class II-III rapids, perfect for honing your rafting skills. Next, you'll enter the famed Pacuare River Gorge, a 5-mile stretch of thrilling class III-IV rapids with names like "Terciopelo Snake," "Double Drop," and "Upper and Lower Huacas." You'll also witness the dramatic 150-foot Huacas waterfall.

After the gorge, the river opens up to the Valle del Pacuare, offering a more relaxed 5-mile stretch ideal for wildlife spotting. Key rapids here include "Cimarrones," "The Play Hole," "El Indio," and "Magnetic Rock." The adventure concludes at the private Exploration Center in Siquirres, where you can shower, change, and unwind in the gardens and terrace.

Meals are a highlight of this trip, with breakfast served at the Exploration Center and a buffet-style lunch on a beautiful river beach. Breakfast includes a variety of fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, scrambled eggs, Gallo Pinto, toast, and hot drinks. Lunch features hot flour tortillas, whole wheat bread, fresh green salad, Monteverde cheese, chicken ham, chips and salsa, lemonade or iced tea, pineapple, and a delicious river cheesecake.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.