Pacuare River Rafting 2-Day: Class III & IV Rapids, Lodge

Thirty-six kilometers of continuous rapids, split across two days so the hardest water comes when you're ready for it.

A 2-day whitewater rafting and hiking expedition on the Pacuare River from San Jose, paddling 13 kilometers of Class III rapids on day one and 23 kilometers of Class IV rapids on day two, with an overnight stay at a riverside lodge in primary rainforest. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included; pickup from San Jose and return transport to your hotel are arranged. Minimum age is 18, and moderate fitness is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Rafting and hiking to Pacuare Lodge

• Depart from San Jose
• Enjoy scenic ride through Braulio Carrillo Park
• Raft 13 km with 14 rapids
• Arrive at Pacuare River Lodge for lunch
• Optional afternoon hikes or fishing
• Explore rainforest with naturalist guide

Day 2 — Advanced rafting and local exploration

• Breakfast with Costa Rican coffee
• Raft 23 km with 30 class IV rapids
• Stop for exploratory hike
• Lunch on the river
• Visit Siquirres town and learn local agriculture
• Finish at private Exploration Center
• Return to San Jose hotel

The Experience

You leave San Jose in the morning and drive 2.5 hours through Braulio Carrillo National Park to reach the Pacuare River. The road itself carries you through rainforest and small villages—the scenery is part of the journey. Once you arrive at the put-in, the first day is 13 kilometers of Class III whitewater: 14 rapids in continuous flow, designed so beginners and experienced paddlers both have what they need. By early afternoon you pull into Pacuare River Lodge, a collection of walk-in safari tents on wooden platforms right next to the river, set deep in primary forest. Lunch is waiting. The afternoon is yours: optional hikes to waterfalls and swimming holes, fishing in the river, or a hammock. A naturalist guide leads an ecological walk through the rainforest near the lodge if you want to move.

Day two starts with fresh Costa Rican coffee and a full breakfast before you pack and push off again. This is when the Class IV rapids come—23 kilometers with roughly 30 rapids, significantly longer and harder than day one. You've had a night to rest and a day of practice behind you. Two stops break up the paddle: one for an exploratory hike, another for lunch on the riverbank. You finish at a private exploration center in Siquirres, where you shower, change and sit on the terrace with a beer, looking back at what you just ran. Then the drive back to San Jose.

The lodge itself has modern toilets and showers despite its remote location. Rooms are rustic—you're in the jungle—but built for comfort. The river runs right past your tent. Howler monkeys, toucans and sloths move through the canopy around you. Paved trails let you explore on foot if you want to see more.

What’s included

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• one night lodging at Pacuare River Lodge.
• pickup from your San Jose hotel and return transport.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• naturalist-led hikes in the rainforest.

Good to know

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

Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours

Is this one for you?The two-day structure means you paddle Class III water first and Class IV rapids on day two, when you've had practice and rest—the schedule is built around your skill progression, not compressed into one hard push. If you're arriving in San Jose with a free afternoon and want to spend a night in the rainforest without flying out to a remote lodge, this trip leaves from the city and returns you to it.

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Top questions

How difficult is the Pacuare River for someone who's never rafted before?

Day one runs Class III rapids, which is manageable for beginners with instruction. Day two is Class IV, significantly harder—the structure of the trip gives you practice on easier water first, then moves to the challenge when you're ready for it. Moderate fitness is required for both days.

What's included in the 2-day package?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided; one night at Pacuare River Lodge; pickup from your San Jose hotel and return transport after the second day; and a naturalist guide leading hikes and the paddle itself. Alcoholic beverages and tips are not included.

How much time do I actually spend on the water each day?

Day one is 13 kilometers of continuous Class III whitewater—roughly a half-day paddle. Day two is 23 kilometers of Class IV rapids, significantly longer. Both days include stops for hiking and lunch on the river.

What's the lodge like, and do I have to camp?

Pacuare River Lodge is a permanent facility with walk-in safari tents on wooden platforms, modern showers and toilets, and gardens that blend into the surrounding rainforest. You're sleeping in the jungle but not roughing it.

What wildlife might I see around the lodge?

Howler monkeys, toucans, sloths and many other species move through the primary forest around the lodge. A naturalist guide leads an optional ecological walk near the lodge on the afternoon of day one if you want to look for them.

What time do I need to leave San Jose, and when do I get back?

Pickup from your San Jose hotel is included in the morning; the 2.5-hour drive to the river means an early start. You return to San Jose after the second day finishes in Siquirres, arriving back in the evening.