Costa Rica offers some of the best white water rafting in the world. Whether you’re looking for an easy going ride or thrilling rapids, there are rivers to fulfill every adventurer’s needs. There is one in particular that has made headlines around the world and that is Pacuare River.
If you want for the ultimate Costa Rica white water rafting trip, we have an awesome deal for you. Save $5 off your Pacuare River white water rafting trip!
Pacuare River, Costa Rica White Water Rafting Discount
The Pacuare rafting tour is an incredible tour that allows you to experience a unique part of Costa Rica and embark on an exciting outdoor adventure. Want to see what the rafting is like? Read our 1 day white water rafting post to learn more! Please also read our FAQ below.
Original price per person is $111.87, with our discount it is $106.87 with all taxes and fees included.
The tour includes round trip transportation, bilingual rafting guide, safety equipment, rafting gear, breakfast and lunch.
This rate is valid until October 31, 2025. (if you are booking for after that date, we will send you the updated rate).
You will be redirected to a new page once the form has gone through. If you aren’t, please fill out all required sections. ***The form is having some issues with Chrome and Safari. If it’s not going through, please email us at web@Mytanfeet.com with the following information: Date, number of adults and children (and children’s ages), your pick up/drop off location.***
Pacuare River White Water Rafting Discount FAQ
Where is 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 I get picked up and dropped off in different places, what happens to my luggage?
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, have lunch and pick up your luggage.
What Kind of Shoes are Required?
The best shoes are either closed toed hiking sandals or water shoes. We highly recommend a closed toed shoe for more protection for your toes as your feet will be inside the foot holders of the raft. If you have open toed sandals, your toes will get more smashed.
If you have sandals, they must have a heel strap and a strap on the front such as Chacos, KEENs or Teva sandals.
What if I’ve never rafted before? Do I need rafting experience to go on this trip?
No worries! You don’t need to have professional rafting experience to do the Rio Pacuare trips. I never white water rafted in anything higher than Class 2 rapids and I did both 1 and 2 day trips and loved it. It was the first time rafting ever for many of the people we met on our tours and they had a blast!
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. It’s important to follow your guide’s instructions and more importantly, have fun!
I’m a bit nervous, how big do the rapids get?
The Costa Rica white water rafting Rio Pacuare tour starts off with only Class 1-2 rapids (small waves, straightforward moving water) and you will run into a few Class 3 and 4 rapids near the end. You may also get a couple Class 4+ when the river is particularly full.
Class 3 and 4 rapids are considered intermediate to advanced and are a ton of fun to raft through. Your guide will keep a careful eye the entire time as safety is the most important thing, they know how to maneuver through the rapids and keep everyone safe and happy.
You can watch our video to see what the 1 day white water rafting trip is like.
Can I do this tour with my kids? Is there an age limit?
Absolutely! I would say this is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica for families in fact! Teenagers would have an absolute blast.
There is an age limit for the tours, kids must be at least 12 years of age and kids must be at least 110 lbs (50 kilos) and 4 foot 9 inches (150 cm).
How long is the 1 day rafting trip?
The 1 day trip takes around 3.5 – 5 hours and you raft 26 fun kilometers (16 miles) down the river. The day starts bright and early, getting picked up around 5 AM and coming back in the late afternoon depending on traffic.
Michelle says
We are a group of 8 adults looking at this rafting with connection from San Jose to Puerto Viejo. How many adults can fit in the raft and do they have lockers to secure passports while we are rafting?
Sammi says
Hi Michelle, there are usually 7 people in the raft which includes the guide, for your group of 8 will have to be split up, you can let the guide know how you’d like to be grouped and then he’ll round out the group with other travelers. You will leave your belongings at their operation center, in a locked room. You go to the operation center to have breakfast before the rafting and then you return after the rafting to change and go to your drop off location
Judith says
Hi, my husband and I are planning to travel from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de talamanca on Feb 25th. I am very interested in doing the white water rafting, however my husband is not. Is it possible for me to join the rafting group while he travels on the shuttle?
Please let me know.
Thank you,
Judith
Sammi says
Hi Judith, yes that’s totally possible. The tour operator offers a “rider” rate so this will include the transportation, breakfast and lunch and he will hang out at the operation center while you do the rafting.
Dara Witte says
I’d love to set up a rafting trip on the way from San Jose to La Fortuna. Our kids are 18, 9 and 7. Do you offer an option that could include the younger kids?
Sammi says
Hi Dara, yes definitely, we have sent you an email with the option
Laura Henline says
Hi, I am coming with a group of 7 (only 6 will be rafting) and we are staying in La Fortuna. Can you tell me a timeline for how long the drive is, pick up time? We are arriving on 6/9 after an overnight flight so we are looking at timing of our adventures.
Sammi says
Hello Laura, the pick up time from La Fortuna is around 530 AM or so, and it’s about a 2-2.5 hour drive to the operation center.
Molly says
Hi there!
I feel like what I’m reading is unreal – can I really book this tour from Puerto Viejo, ride the rapids, and then get dropped off in La Fortuna when the day is done? What would the timeline for that day look like? As in – what time would I be picked up from Puerto Viejo, and what time would I arrive in La Fortuna? And will there be opportunities to eat lunch and dinner along this journey?
This seems like a really unbelievable way to salvage a day of long driving, but well worth the investment if true! Please let me know ASAP – I’d be looking to book this day trip on February 10.
Sammi says
Hi Molly, that is correct. The tour operator can pick you up in Puerto Viejo with your luggage, do the white water rafting and drop you off in La Fortuna afterwards. Pick up time is usually around 5, 530 AM or so and drop off is around 4 PM depending on traffic. They include breakfast (before rafting) and lunch (after rafting). Dinner is not included. Feel free to fill out the form to book the tour with our discount and we’ll be happy to assist you
Molly Hoffmaster says
Incredible river tour and service from My Tan Feet is truly unmatched!
The river tour was beautiful, so much pristine nature, and if you’re a geology nerd, the variety of rock formations seemed unbelievably diverse!
My Tan Feet was also incredibly accommodating and gracious in helping me rebook my excursion after the fact – they really didn’t have to but continued communicating with me to make it work!
I was being picked up near Puerto Viejo, and the shuttle couldn’t reach my remote retreat atop a rocky mountain road. I had to schedule a 5am taxi to the bottom of the mountain to catch the shuttle, and the taxi never showed so I missed my bus that day. Instead of forfeiting the cost and totally missing the tour, My Tan Feet helped me reschedule the tour a few days later at no additional cost from a completely different location across the country in La Fortuna! Pura Vida! The customer service here is unmatched, I’m so very grateful, and would absolutely recommend this service to anyone visiting Costa Rica!
Sammi says
Hi Molly, thank you for your comment and we were glad to help you! WE are happy you got to enjoy the white water rafting tour and see why it’s one of our favorite things to do in Costa Rica. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip 🙂
Jessica says
I’m planning on spending several days in Cahuita in mid January, traveling from and returning to San Jose. Does it make more sense to book this rafting trip on the way from San Jose to Cahuita or vice versa? I’m thinking about trying to minimize drive time. I saw in the FAQs that the shuttle will pick up in Cahuita. Will they also drop off in Cahuita? Thank you so much for your very helpful blog!
Sammi says
Hi Jessica, they can pick up and drop off in Cahuita. You can do it either way, I think you can take a look at your itinerary for when you land at SJO Airport because if you land too late in the day to catch the public bus or shared shuttle, you can stay a night in San Jose and then get picked up the next day to do the rafting trip and get dropped off in Cahuita. But if you land early enough to catch the bus or shared to Cahuita right away, then you can do the rafting tour the day at the end of your trip
Christine Rubick says
Hi, we are taking an impromptu trip at the end of January. Will there be water for rapids? I know it’ll be the dry season and didn’t know if it would be worth it. Thanks!!
Cheers,
Christine
Sammi says
Yes there will be – there’s water all year long but January is right at the start of dry season so rivers are actually usually still fairly full from the rainy season
Christine says
Awesome, thanks Sammi! This is our 3rd trip to Costa Rica and your site is my go to for info and bookings every time. Thanks for being the best guidebook out there!!
Cheers,
Christine
Sammi says
You’re very welcome, you can fill out the form on this page to book the tour and get our discount.
PENNY GOULD says
Im looking for a 2 day tour with an overnight on the river – do they offer this? How do I contact?
Sammi says
Hi Penny we will send you an email with more information but please note we don’t offer discounts for 2 day trips
SHARON SUTTON says
I am interested in the two day trip. Can you please send me the information? Also what hotels are pickup points for the bus in San Jose? And can a 4 wheel drive car be picked up at the hotel and returned to the same hotel? We are flying in to San Jose Oct 15th 2024
Sammi says
Hi Sharon, sure! We sent you an email a few days ago with more information.