Tours and Activities > Arenal Volcano La Fortuna > Pacuare White Water Rafting 1 Day Class III & IV
Conquer the Pacuare River, famous for being one of the best rivers in the world for white water rafting and paddle through Class II, IV and sometimes IV+ rapids surrounded by lush pristine rainforest.
Duration
11 Hours
Transportation
Included
Certified
Rafting Guides
Mytanfeet
Customer Service
Description
If you're looking for one of the top outdoor adventures in Costa Rica, then you can't miss the Pacuare white water rafting tour.
The Pacuare River is on the Caribbean side of the country, bordering Talamanca mountain range. Not only is the river one of the best in the world for white water rafting, it’s home to a huge range of wildlife and the indigenous communities.
On this one day Pacuare white water rafting tour, you'll spend the day conquering Class III and IV rapids, while paddling down one of the lushest, most pristine rivers in Central America. You'll raft past rainforests, waterfalls, through canyons and past valleys and mountains.
You'll feel as if you're rafting down a river in Jurassic Park!
Thanks to its location on the Caribbean coast, this one day tour can be done from three different places: San Jose, La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. You can use the Pacuare white water rafting day tour as an interconnection, to get from one of those destinations to another, which is way more fun than sitting on a bus all day!
Starting $99 USD
per adult
Pacuare White Water Rafting III & IV Highlights
- Expert local bilingual (English and Spanish) rafting guides.
- Experience one of the best and most beautiful rivers in the world for white water rafting.
- Paddle through 38 consistent Class 3 and 4 rapids, sometimes Class 4+.
- Approximately 3 hours rafting on the river.
- Rafting distance is 30 kms (18 miles).
What is Included?
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be given upon tour booking which must be prepaid in full.
- Minimum age for the tour is 12.
- NOT allowed for pregnant women, people with epilepsy, people who have major health conditions and people who have had recent surgery.
- Full day tour. Morning pick up time around 520-6 AM. Exact time is given when tour is confirmed.
- Maximum weight limit of 136 kgs (300 lbs).
- Swimming and rafting experience not required.
What to Bring
- Swimsuit, sun shirt or rash guards, and board shorts
- Change of clothes, towels, plastic bag for wet clothes.
- Cash for tips, souvenirs, photos.
- Sunscreen
- Water friendly shoes like closed toed hiking sandals, water shoes, adventure sandals (two straps). NO flip flops, sandals or loose shoes allowed.
- If you wear glasses or want to wear sunglasses, you MUST have the glasses strap.
Itinerary
This is an approximate itinerary of the Pacuare white water rafting one day tour.
540-630 AM: Approximate pick ups in San Jose.
520-540 AM: Approximate pick ups in La Fortuna.
6-630 AM: Approximate pick ups in Cahuita & Puerto Viejo
630 - 815 AM: Drive to Exploration Center in Siquirres
815 - 9 AM: Breakfast at operation center. Change clothes and stow belongings and luggage.
9 - 930 AM: Transfer to River
930 AM - 1015 AM: Safety talk, equipment and gear up, paddle practice
1015 AM - 115 PM: Rafting on the river
130 - 230 PM: Return to Exploration Center to shower, change and have lunch
230 PM: Departure to San Jose, La Fortuna or Puerto Viejo
Approximate drop off time around 5 PM depending on traffic.
Booking Form
We offer a $5 per person discount. Our prices are quoted in USD and include all taxes and we never charge booking fees. What you see is exactly what you'll pay. While other websites might show lower initial prices, they often add taxes and fees at the end, Mytanfeet believes in transparent pricing from the start.
If you can't see the booking form below, please try refreshing the page or contact us for assistance.
Cancellation Policy
Read the cancellation policies here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. Everyone is required to have a life jacket so if you happen to fall out of the raft, you do not need to swim. The guides will show you what to do if you fall out and how to float on your back until someone pulls you back into the raft.
There is a section of the river that is calm with the opportunity to jump in, but this is optional.
Do I need previous rafting experience?
Nope! You don’t need to have professional rafting experience for the Pacuare white water rafting tour or even any previous rafting experience. This tour is suitable for first time rafters as long as you are in decent shape with good stamina, have a good attitude and do not have any mobility issues.
The instructors are highly knowledgeable and experienced in rafting. They are all Costa Ricans, in fact most of them are Pacuare River locals and have been rafting this river for a number of years and been guides for many years. They know this river inside and out.
You will get a thorough safety lesson and paddling instructions before the tour. Please follow your guide's instructions for a safe and fun time.
When is the best time for the Pacuare white water rafting 1 day tour?
Any time of year is great for the Pacuare white water rafting 1 day tour but the river does get fuller with faster rapids in October, November and December. The river has consistent year round Class 3 and 4 rapids but those months may get Class 4+.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the river levels are too high for the Pacuare, the tour operator may change the rafting to the Reventazón, which has Class II and III rapids. This tour goes down the same Pacuare river, but in a different section. Still super fun and gorgeous views! There is no price difference between the Pacuare and the Reventazón.
What areas/hotels are included for the free pick up and drop off?
They offer complimentary pick ups and drop offs in and around San Jose downtown, La Sabana Park and near the SJO airport (the San Jose/Heredia side, not in Alajuela).
There are some additional costs if the hotel you are staying at is outside the zone such as Finca Rosa Blanca, Xandari, Vista del Valle, Hyatt Pinares and Martino Resort (some examples) in San Jose. If you are staying outside the free transportation zones, please enter your hotel information for us to check the logistics of transportation and how much is the extra fee (or you will go to the closest hotel to pick up).
For La Fortuna, they offer transportation from downtown La Fortuna to Tabacon Resort and surrounding hotels close to downtown.
For Puerto Viejo, they offer transportation from Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva.
They cannot pick up at Airbnbs or vacation rentals, only hotels and hostels. If you are staying at an Airbnb, we will assist you in selecting the closest meeting point for pick up and drop off.
If I get picked up and dropped off in different places, where do I store my luggage?
Before the rafting, you will go to the operation center in Siquirres to have breakfast and change. There, you will store your luggage at the operation office while you do the tour.
After the rafting, you will go back to the operation office to change, shower, have lunch and pick up your luggage before departing to your drop off location.
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