Pacuare River: Full-Day Rafting Experience through Scenic Beauty and Crystal Clear Waters

Embark on a thrilling full-day rafting experience on the Pacuare River, known for its scenic beauty, rapids, waterfalls, and crystal clear waters. Suitable for beginners, this adventure offers an 18-mile journey through exhilarating class III and IV rapids.

Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Río Pacuare - After picking you up early in the morning at your hotel in San José we headed
    to the first capital of the country, Cartago. After crossing through the center of this
    province we will pass the towns of Paraíso, Cervantes, Juan Viñas and Turrialba, the
    capital of rafting in Costa Rica. During this journey of approximately 2.5
    hours we…
What's Included
  • River guide
  • Private transportation
  • 5 hours of rafting
  • Lunch
  • All fees and taxes
  • Breakfast
  • Rafting equipment
  • Safety kayaker
Additional Information

This journey embarks you on one of the most stunning, globally renowned rivers recognized for its picturesque landscape, cascades, rapids, and crystal-clear water bodies. The stretch of the river in question is ideal for rafting novices (of mild to moderate difficulty level).
An early morning pickup from your San José lodging sets you on course to the…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Emmanuelsft
Dec 11, 2025
Great time on the water. - Very nice experience with this rafting company, friendly guide and very nice river. We had a lot of fun. Pura vida. Pura vida.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q7747hpbenjamins
Dec 7, 2025
Carlos is the best guide. - Carlos are guide was excellent. Very funny and knowledgeable. The safety of clients was good with kayak in the water if needed. Stunning scenery, and the lunch was perfect.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timothyolohan
Nov 30, 2025
This is a must do, while in Costa Rica! - This excursion was amazing! The river is incredibly beautiful and the guides are very professional. I haven’t done this before and our guide Carlos was so helpful with ensuring we made it through the rapid safely while having fun! I highly recommend this excursion to anyone that’s up for an adventure. Carlos was the best!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katherine
Jul 27, 2025
THE BEST TEAM! EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS! - Excellent team! 💯. Both the guides of the rafts and those who go by kayac are very coordinated and are all very attentive to help in case someone falls into the water, as the guides of all the rafts wait and watch each other. That is, you don’t go alone with your group and guide, but everyone watches over everyone! They are very professional and expert! Loved it! I would repeat it again with Excitement Costa Rica! And for the record, I fell into the water, today Sunday, July 27, 2025, and whoever pulled me out and got on his raft, was another of the guides, but I don't know his name, thank you! Thanks to Moses, the guide of my raft and everyone else, THANK YOU! Very grateful!!! Katherine Vega - Camuy, P.R. 27/July/2025
Review provided by Tripadvisor
208gradyb
Apr 25, 2025
A Can’t-Miss Experience for the Adventurous Traveller - A truly incredible journey down the Pacuare River with Esteban (Carson), Giovanni, and Chris, with transpo and logistics provided by Hugo. All were incredible professional, extremely knowledgable of the local flora and fauna, and masterful river guides. The river was challenging and exhilarating, but never once did we feel unsafe in their capable hands. An experience I will never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4317vbjills
Apr 25, 2025
Amazing white water rafting adventure - Had an amazing time!! Tarzan, Estephan, Christopher, and Giovanni went out of the way to take us on an amazing adventure!!! I would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sashacushman
Apr 13, 2025
24km of wow! - I loved it! Texted early in the morning to see if they have a spot for one, they were very accommodating and gave clear directions. Our guide Carlos was excellent at navigating and great sense of humor too! We spotted lots of birds and had time to relax floating. The lunch was delicious too. Overall a fantastic experience 👌 would do it again! Only bring my own camera in a waterproof case. The nature sights are breathtaking! The pics their guy took had a good angle of our raft but some were blurry, and were not included in the price of the trip. No regrets tho!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aisdeaaz
Jul 30, 2024
Fantastic! - We had never rafted and had some apprehension. Once the security briefing was done we went up to 4 including our guide Ivan. He was a remarkable guide, a magician. He wields rafting to the centimetre and makes it go wherever he wants. This made the experience both intense and secure. The landscape, the primary forests, the fog, the waterfalls, the fog and also the rain gave us the feeling of being in a dream. A magical and yet very real atmosphere. The course is certainly grueling, but the 3 hours passed very quickly. To do absolutely. The agency is superb and the end meal very friendly and welcome. Shower too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
884annettf
Dec 23, 2023
You should do it - we recommend - Exciting tour on Rio Pacuare. We had a pick up in Turrialba. The water in the river was challenging. It was the challenge we were looking for. We had a break on the river with great food. The place was clean and lovely. In the end you can have a shower and change your clothes to get dry again. They bring you back to the starting point.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patrick_a
Jun 16, 2024
Not what we paid for - The best part wss the people on the trip. We got nothing that we paid for. We were not taken to Paquare, but some other river. We did not get a 5 hour rafting experience but a 2 hour experience. The food, both the breakfast and lunch was not as advertized. The reason given was that Paquare was high and not safe. While we appreciate safety. We should have been given a choice, A refund or reschedule. We felt were duped. It was very disappointing. That said the driver and tourguide were nicr and accomodating and tried to make the experience the best. I believed we are owed the experience ee actually paid for. I really cannot recommend this to anyone. But rather feel the need to caution them against this company.
Review provided by Viator
From $124
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).