2-Day Pacuare River Rafting: Class 2-4 Rapids & Jungle Lodge

Two days of Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids, a night in the rainforest, and the Pacuare River Canyon.

A 2-day rafting trip on Costa Rica's Pacuare River combines 29 kilometers of whitewater across Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids with an overnight stay at a jungle lodge. Hotel pickup from San José, breakfast, lunch, dinner and all safety equipment are included; you'll paddle through tropical jungle, stop on river beaches, and spend the night listening to the river and the forest. A guide in English or Spanish leads both days, and the minimum age is 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Rafting and lodge night in rainforest

• Pick up at San José hotels
• Drive 1.5 hours to breakfast spot
• Change clothes for rafting
• Arrive at Pacuare River banks
• Receive safety equipment and talk
• Raft through class 2 and 3 rapids
• Stop for lunch on river beach
• Arrive at lodge for overnight stay

Day 2 — Rafting through Pacuare River Canyon

• Breakfast at lodge
• Pack and prepare for rafting
• Put on safety equipment
• Raft through class 3 and 4 rapids
• Enjoy tropical jungle and wildlife
• Stop for lunch on river beach
• Continue to tour endpoint
• Shower and change clothes
• Return to hotels by bus

The Experience

The trip starts with a 1.5-hour drive from your San José hotel to the river. You'll have a typical Costa Rican breakfast at the meeting point, change into rafting clothes, and meet your guide at the Pacuare's banks for a safety briefing and gear check. The first day takes you through Class 2 and 3 rapids as you enter the tropical jungle—the current builds your confidence while the scenery unfolds around you. You'll stop on a river beach for lunch, then paddle to the lodge where you'll spend the night in a comfortable room, the sound of the river and the jungle outside.

Day two starts with coffee and breakfast at the lodge. You gear up again and head into the Pacuare River Canyon, where the water gets serious: Class 3 and 4 rapids named Huacas Arriba, Huacas Abajo and Dos Montañas push the pace higher. Between rapids, watch for toucans, oropendolas, morpho butterflies and sloths moving through the canopy. Another lunch stop on the riverbank, then you paddle to the takeout point where your bus waits with dry clothes and a chance to shower before the drive back to San José.

The 29-kilometer route is split across two days so neither day feels rushed—you're paddling Class 2 and 3 on day one, Class 3 and 4 on day two, which lets the difficulty build naturally. The lodge overnight means you're not driving back the same evening exhausted; instead you rest in the rainforest and start fresh. A guide stays with your group both days and handles all the logistics, so you focus on the water and the jungle.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport from San José.
• breakfast and lunch on both days plus dinner at the lodge.
• one night's accommodation in a comfortable lodge room.
• all safety equipment including helmet and life jacket.
• a guide in English or Spanish for both days of paddling.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tropical Rivers

Is this one for you?The trip demands a moderate level of physical fitness and comfort in moving water—you're paddling Class 3 and 4 rapids on day two, which means strength and stamina matter. The early start and two full days of paddling suit someone who wants real whitewater and doesn't mind an early morning; if you prefer a gentler pace or shorter time on the water, a single-day rafting trip would fit better.

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Top questions

What are the rapids like on the Pacuare River?

The Pacuare has Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids spread across the 29-kilometer route. Day one takes you through Class 2 and 3 to build your skills and confidence; day two moves into Class 3 and 4, including named rapids like Huacas Arriba, Huacas Abajo and Dos Montañas that make the second day more intense.

How much paddling experience do I need?

No prior rafting experience is required. The trip is designed so day one eases you in with lower rapids and a guide who teaches you the basics; day two steps up the difficulty once you've got the feel for it. Minimum age is 12, and you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

What's included in the 2-day package?

Hotel pickup from San José, all transportation to and from the river, breakfast on both mornings, lunch on both days, dinner at the lodge, one night's accommodation in a comfortable lodge room, safety equipment and a guide in English or Spanish are all included.

What's the jungle lodge like?

The lodge sits on the banks of the Pacuare River in the rainforest. You'll have a comfortable room for the night, and the experience is designed around the river and jungle sounds—it's not a resort, but a place to rest between days of paddling.

How long is the drive from San José?

The drive from your hotel in San José to the river takes 1.5 hours. Your guide picks you up at your main hotel in the morning, and the return drive on day two is the same length, arriving back in San José in the afternoon.

Will I see wildlife?

The tropical jungle along the Pacuare is home to toucans, oropendolas, morpho butterflies and sloths. You'll have chances to spot them between rapids and during lunch stops on the river beaches, though sightings depend on timing and luck.