Pacuare River Lodge

Our experience with the Pacuare River Lodge was perfect. The food was fantastic, the facilities were excellent, and the staff were outstanding. We rafted in and out and the guides are excellent. These people put on a fantastic experience.

Pacuare River Lodge is one of the best places we have visited in Costa Rica and for sure the highlight of our last trip! We did the drive in raft out package (1 night) and everything was perfect, it was the best way to start our vacations! The food was excellent, Johnny our guide for the entire stay was really nice. He explained us lot of things about nature and animals and was the perfect guide for a safe rafting experience. The cabins are simple but perfect and exactly the type of experience we were looking for when visiting Costa Rica. My parents were not sure they wanted to do the rafting, but I manage to convince them and they really loved the experience. Everything was well organized (it's nice that they take care of your car to bring it to you at the end of the rafting). If you love nature and adventure this is the perfect place for you! And don’t' give up if Johanna doesn't respond to you rapidly for the reservation (I almost did but I'm really glad I didn't!) The only negative point is that we are still waiting for the pictures that were taken during the rafting and were included in the package. Hope we will get them soon to remind us good memories of this wonderful rafting trip :)

Met our guide, David, for a two hour paddle and waterfall exploration. Arrived at our takeout and carried gear up to the Pacuare River Lodge, a collection of sweet, simple cabinas scattered on a hillside, so beautifully and naturally landscaped...Shagri-la! After settling, we enjoyed lunch prepared by our guide, David. As the only official guests both days, we essentially had the place to ourselves! David offered to take us to a nearby waterfall in the afternoon. We had a beautiful hike and refreshing swim. The "lodge," a beautiful, rustic pavilion where meals are served, is wonderful, with chairs that overlook the Pacuare. It is perfectly relaxing and offers magical views at all times of the day, while the rush of the river fills your ears. The cabinas are simple screened structures perched above the river. Bathrooms are a short walk away. It was everything we wanted and more...a most amazing glamping experience! Morning offered a mystical cloud rising over the jungle. We watched it with our coffee while breakfast was prepared. Nothing was rushed at all. We had so much time to enjoy jungle life...pure vida. With a 3 hour whitewater trip ahead we packed up and loaded the raft. David was clear and supportive with instructions. We had great class III excitement with good exercise, saw stunning waterfalls, a variety of water birds and jumped in to float deep green canyons. It was breathtaking! Our multi-tasking guides were incredible! What an experience! I have such gratitude.

After a two hour paddle and waterfall exploration with our guide, David, we arrived and carried gear up to discover the Pacuare River Lodge. This collection of sweet, simple cabinas perched on the hillside, so naturally landscaped...Shangri-la! 
 After settling, we enjoyed lunch prepared by our guide. As the only official guests both days, we essentially had the place to ourselves! David offered to take us to a nearby waterfall in the afternoon. We hiked the river stones and enjoyed a refreshing swim.
 The "lodge," a beautiful, rustic pavilion where meals are served, is wonderful, with chairs that overlook the Pacuare. It is perfectly relaxing and offers magical views at all times of the day, while the sound of the river dominates the jungle. The cabinas are simple screened structures perched above the river. Bathrooms are a short walk away. It was everything we wanted and more...a most amazing glamping experience!
 Morning offered a mystical cloud rising over the jungle. We watched it with our coffee while breakfast was prepared.
 Nothing was rushed at all. We had so much time to enjoy jungle life...pure vida.
 With a 3 hour whitewater trip ahead we packed up and loaded the raft. David was clear and supportive with instructions. We maneuvered great class III rapids, discovered stunning waterfalls, as well as a variety of water birds and jumped in to float deep green canyons. It was breathtaking! Our multi-tasking guides were incredible.
 What an experience! I have such gratitude.

I loved this place! It was the beginning of our trip in Costa Rica and we only stayed one night. When I go back to Costa Rica, I would definitely stay 2-3 nights and spend some more time on the river. We rafted in and out with a guide that they arranged (thats the only way into and out of the lodge) and they took care of shuttling our car and luggage. The lodge itself is clean and simple with open air cabins nestled into the hills. Some have bathrooms and some don't, but the ones without are a very short walk to a clean communal bathroom and shower. The meals were filling and delicious, and exactly what I wanted after a fun filled day working up an appetite rafting. They were served in a communal open air kitchen overlooking the river - gorgeous! I highly recommend them.

We totally loved the rafting tour with Moses. Even I was a bit scared he gave me all confidence I needed. When we arrived in the Lodge with the rafting, it felt like paradise. Totally disconnected, only surrounded by beautiful nature. It turned out that Moses was a good cook t As we had booked for two nights, we had a great hike and an upgrade of the cabin. By far the best experience we had in Costa Rica!!!

Absolute highlight of our trip. Great rafting for us two beginners even with low rainfall, and a stunning location with beautiful views. We felt safe but also really enjoyed the rafting and the knowledgeable guide who explained a lot of what we saw. Great bird spotting from the rafts but especially from the lodges where it was really fun to just sit with binoculars and see what can be spotted. We went to many places on our trip on CR and agree this was the most memorable part. We did the 2 night trip and I suggest doing that instead of the one night to enjoy hiking, and chilling time for spotting stuff from the cabins or common areas and swimming in the river. Also it was excellent value in a country known for being expensive.

A fantastic way to start a trip around Costa Rica. Staff/guides very friendly & helpful. Basic accommodation but it was what we expected. Array of wildlife on your doorstep. Great rafting experience. Note: If you want alcohol during your stay or snacks get in advance and bring a torch. Recommend this place to anyone with a sense of adventure.

If you want an excellent whitewater rafting and lodging experience on the Pacuare River then don’t hesitate to book through Pacuare River Lodge. They have a great team of experienced and knowledgeable rafting guides, give you the longest stretch on the river between first put in and last take out, the accommodation is comfortable and in a spectacular location, the food was plentiful and tasty… in short, everything was great! We did the two day rafting trip and would highly recommend that. First day is pretty melllow but enjoyable class II, second day is spectacular gorges, scenery and class III and IVs. The lodge takes care of everything you need… even driving your rental car from start point to the finish if needed. Thoroughly recommended all round. Just remember to keep some cash for a tip for your guide at the end. Enjoy!