Considered by many experienced rafters to be the most scenic class III-IV white-water rapids in the world, the Pacuare River offers an adventurous ride filled with stunning natural beauty and exciting rapids. And for the "total" experience — in a rain forest that's the real thing, not a Hollywood creation — experience our unique Pacuare Lodge, a jungle oasis on the banks of the Pacuare River.

The Pacuare River runs from the country’s highest mountain range to the coastal lowlands of the Atlantic, through one of Costa Rica’s most important protected areas. These jungles are still inhabited by the Cabecar Indians, whose dwellings are not clustered together but spaced far apart over large distances.

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Pacuare Lodge Cited as Exemplary Tourism Practice

Day One

After being picked up at your hotel in a comfortable minibus, you’ll be transported through the old capital city of Cartago and lush green farmlands blanketing the slopes of the Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes. Along the way, the minibus stops for an authentic Costa Rican breakfast before continuing on to the banks of the Pacuare River. Before beginning the river adventure, our experienced guides explain safety precautions. The Pacuare is a swiftly running and rapidly changing river, making this one of the most invigorating and intense rafting trips available anywhere in the world. As it winds deep inside one of Costa Rica’s most impressive primordial rain forests, adventurers will face the challenge of each huge wave, battling surging waters down miles of raging rapids, passing through steep canyons where cascading waterfalls plummeted hundreds of feet, crashing thunderously into the rapidly coursing river below. Dense vegetation covers the steep banks along the river. The thick undergrowth provides shelter for jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and myriad other species of tropical animals and birds. As the rafts squeeze through narrow openings between huge granite boulders, the jungle rises above, towering thousands of feet above the riverbanks. The first day of rafting is an exciting journey that takes just over an hour and a half.

The first day ends at the Pacuare Lodge, a jungle oasis nestled in the middle of an enchanting and captivating rain forest. Surrounded by ancient towering trees, a two-story jungle lodge houses rustic but comfortable dining facilities on the first floor, and plenty of relaxing hammocks in an open-air second floor lounge. Modern wooden bungalows with thatched palm roofs are spaced out beneath the trees, providing both privacy and serenity. After a hearty lunch, guests can try the Pacuare Canopy Adventure, take a guided hike into the rainforest or just relax. Happy Hour begins as twilight descends, creating a comfortable atmosphere for guests to relax and share their experiences. The dinner bell ring shortly after, inviting guests to a candlelight dinner prepared by the guides, who are trained by a French chef. After dinner, guests can relax with others or head to the comfortable bungalows that await them, complete with private bathroom, comfortable beds and clean linen. Lanterns guide the way, for there is no electricity in the middle of this rainforest, hence no phones ringing, no faxes warbling, no television set’s blaring — just peaceful, quiet solitude. Newlyweds and anyone else on a romantic getaway might enjoy our special Honeymoon Suite, tucked up in the forest on a hill overlooking the rest of the bungalows, with its own private hanging bridge leading from the balcony across to a platform in a towering ancient tree.

Day Two

Morning arrives with the sweet songs of exotic birds twittering among the treetops and the chattering of the rushing rapids of the river surging a few hundred feet away. After a hearty breakfast, guests are invited on a guided trek into the lush rainforest surrounding the lodge. Resplendent with tropical birds, butterflies, exotic plants and animals, this truly stunning natural paradise provides a one-of-a-kind setting for photographs or just lasting memories. For hearty hikers, there is a five- to six-hour hike into the mountains to an area where some of the indigenous Cabecar families live. We return to “base camp” at the Pacuare Lodge in time to shower, rest or play before the evening’s Happy Hour, followed by a gourmet candlelight dinner. As the sun sets over the jungle canopy and the beautiful Pacuare River rushes on beneath crimson skies, guests have a chance to share with others what few have experienced before.

Day Three

After a hot breakfast, we launch the rafts again for the last part of our trip, a journey filled with the challenging battle with the mighty Pacuare River, a genuinely stimulating and adrenaline-filled ride. Rafting becomes even more exciting today as visitors use the skills and experience gained the first day to navigate the raw, pounding power of the mighty Pacuare River. Your guides will stop the rafts along the journey and lead you up paths and side streams that open onto pristine waterfalls and pools with a natural waterslide inviting them to jump right in and splash around. Later, a sumptuous feast of sandwiches, fruits and dessert will be served along the river’s edge. The day ends with the triumph of having conquered one of the wildest and most beautiful rivers in the world. At the river take-out, guests can change into dry clothes in our private restroom facilities before boarding the comfortable microbus for the return to San José.

Note: The Pacuare Lodge operates as a separate facility allowing you to stay extra nights. Single occupancy at The Pacuare Lodge cannot be guaranteed. Prices subject to change without notice.

Please note: On rare occasions (approximately five days per year), we are forced to cancel the Pacuare River overnight tours on the second or third day because of unsafe weather conditions. In these cases, clients will hike out of the lodge to a point where the bus can be met (an approximately 45-minute hike) and will have lunch at a restaurant before being returned to San José. A partial refund will be given under these circumstances (US $95 per person for Pacuare two-day tours, US $170 per person for Pacuare three-day tours taken out on Day 2, and US $95 per person for Pacuare three-day tours taken out on Day 3).

If you want to know more about the Pacuare Lodge, please visit the following web site: www.junglelodgecostarica.com

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