Flowing through the dense Costa Rican rain forest on its way from the Talamanca Mountains to the Caribbean Sea, the Pacuare River is known for scenic white water rafting. A true gorge at some sections, the river is surrounded by walls of thick greenery dotted with waterfalls and tropical plants and teeming with wildlife.
Chalo was a phenomenal guide! He knew the river like the back of his hand and knew the history of the gorges and was expert and professional in his maneuvering the raft, we never felt doubtful in his abilities even when going over class 4 rapids and even a waterfall of 5 ft height.
Beautiful rafting experience.
Pacuare river is gorgeous, as is the surrounding nature.
We had an entertaining, but experienced guide. We had lots of fun duorng the day!
Rafting the Pecuare should absolutely be on anyone's list when visiting Costa Rica if you like rafting. This place is a gem! Great friendly guides, great price.
This was one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip. Perfect mix of adventure, adrenaline, and relaxation all at the same time! Robertillo was our guide ... and he was a riot! He helped make the experience great. Managed to see a coati and various birds and butterflies while rafting, and both breakfast and lunch provided were tasty! I recommend this as a must if you're staying in and around San Jose. Three hours was the perfect amount of time to raft, too.
Beautiful and adventurous 3-day tour in Pacuare River
Wow, where to start. Such a beautiful experience and I especially want to thank Gustavo for making this an unforgettable journey. Not only did he constantly make sure I was comfortable as a solo traveler, but we had some very good and intriguing conversations that made this much more than "just" a wild water tour. He was not just a great guide, but also a good friend. However, Christopher, Raoul, Giovanni and even crazy Diego were all such great guys and I had a blast being with them.
Coming to Costa Rica I had to change my plans at the last minute. I booked this tour just two days in advance, and I was initially quite nervous if I'd be able to go at all: at that time, this tour had no reviews on this site. However, the guys at the tour were very responsive and helpful, even picking me up at a hostel which wasn't listed for pick-up.
The drive to the location and back was perfect: nice air-conditioning and even USB ports. There arrived precisely when they said they would, and along the road a lot of funs facts were told to us.
However, the reason you are reading this review is of course because you want to know how the rafting experience was. Let me tell you by saying that I won't forget this adventure for a long time. You can go river rafting with a lot of companies, who have a lot of different employees, but you won't find any company with such great guys like here. Even though they put safety first, they know where the hot spots in the river are and make this an awesome adventure. They guide you and make sure everyone is having a great time and is a part of the journey, whether you be young or old or athletic or lazy. The guides explain different facts about the jungle during your stay and you occassionally stop for some beautiful hiking moments. There are even moments you can jump in the water and float alongside the boat in an epic canyon. They do everything they can to make sure you enjoy your stay.
Further more, the lodge where you stay is simply just beautiful. No wifi or cellphone connection, which means peace and rest for body and mind. Cherry on top: the food they serve is simply delicious. Get ready for some typical Costa Rican dishes with nice surprises.
The three day tour was definitely worth it, although some might rather choose the two day. The difference is that with the three day tour, you stay an extra day to relax at the lodge and explore the surrounding jungle with a guide.
Although I went alone, plenty of families and friends went on this tour and had a great time, from what I could gather. Keep in mind that 6 people fills a boat, but you can go rafting even with an uneven number.
My words fall way too short in how I can describe this tour. For the start of my vacation here, however, I can assure you I loved every moment of it. Definitely a recommendation. Do make sure to bring shoes that can get wet, though, because you'll be making gigantic splashes.
Absolutely excellent day on the Pacuare River. A perfect mix of adrenaline and tranquillity in beautiful scenery. Our guide, Angel, was highly skilled and great fun.
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