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).
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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.
Charlie says
Hi, guys, lots of great info here for this first time visitor to Costa Rica.
We want to book through you for the Rios Tropicales Pacuare 1 day trip, but I just want to ensure we can drive to San Jose Rios Tropicales office on calle 38, to get on their bus, and park our rental SUV there as well? I saw this mentioned in a post below in May, 2017, just want to be certain before booking.
Or even a San Jose hotel with parking for day as mentioned in November, 2017?
We are also looking to book Diamante through you, but are unsure of dates yet.
Thanks for all the lowdown on Costa Rica!
Sammi says
Hi Charlie! You can park your car at the Rios Tropicales San Jose office and go on the tour from there. You will need to be there by 5:20 AM and you’ll depart from there on the shuttle. Let me know if you have other questions and glad you like the blog!
Sammi says
Hi Luke! Rios Tropicales will take your belongings to their operation in Siquirres (where you will have breakfast and lunch) and keep them there while you are on the tour. They have a locked storage and lockers for all your belongings and there are always staff at the operation center so it is safe. You can’t bring anything on the river so you will need to leave all your belongings in their storage.
Depending on traffic, you’ll be in San Jose around 5 or 6 PM. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Luke Reynolds says
I am apart of a group of 4 guys hoping to do the one day trip the first week of June. I see that it is possible to be picked up in Puerto Viejo and be dropped off in San Jose but I was wondering what happened with our bags while we are on the river. Is it safe to keep our valuables in the bags (passports, computers, etc.)? Also, what time could we expect to arrive in downtown San Jose after the rafting? I
emma says
We have the same question, what about our valuable things?
Sammi says
Rios Tropicales will take your belongings to their operation in Siquirres (where you will have breakfast and lunch) and keep them there while you are on the tour. They have a locked storage and lockers for all your belongings and there are always staff at the operation center so it is safe. You can’t bring anything on the river so you will need to leave all your belongings in their storage.
John Naugle says
If we want to do a day tour…but we are staying at the Arenal Hostel Resort….will we be able to get back in time to stay the night at our hostel?
Sammi says
Hi John, yes for the day tour you will. The drive from Arenal is a little bit long but you will get back early evening.
Sammi says
Hi Shannon! From La Fortuna, I highly recommend the Rio Balsa white water rafting. It has Class 2 and 3 rapids, perfect for kids and families, plus the travel time from La Fortuna is not too long which is nice.
Shannon says
Hi. Se are arriving Sunday January 21 to royal corin. We would like up do river rafting for 4 people including 2 kids ages 11 and 12 on the 22. Do you have a tour that includes rafting safe but not to slow for us?
Anj says
Hi
My 2 friends are coming from Arenal and I am coming from San Jose – can we be in the same group?
Thanks
Anj
yeison says
Hello Anj!
Yes no problem all the group will meet at teh base where breakfast is served and then to the river.
Elaine Kasteler says
Hello – My family and I will be in La Fortuna in January of 2018 and looking for a nice river to run.
How far away is Rio Pacuare from La Fortuna and what is the closest hotel that will pick us up?
Sammi says
Hi Elaine! The Rios Tropicales operation center from La Fortuna is around a 2.5 hour drive. They can pick up at any hotel in La Fortuna town or the ones on the main road until Tabacon Resort. If you are staying at Arenal Observatory Lodge or ones around Nuevo Arenal, you will need to go to the closest hotel for pick up as they don’t pick up there or you can pay an extra fee for pick up. Rio Pacuare is our favorite river for white water rafting and definitely worth it!
Maxine says
Hello! My friend and I are interested in the 1-day rafting trip for May 2018. I noticed on the Rios Tropicales website that their rates will be increasing next year. Will that affect your discount and can we still book through your website? I’ve appreciated all the help you’ve offered and have planned much of our trip based on your tips and recommendations – thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Maxine, the promotion will still be the same, $10 off the one day tour. You can definitely still book through our website! If you want to do the multi-day tours, just let us know and we ill get you the rates.
Jennifer says
Hello,
I have been finding your website/blog very helpful! We are a family of 5 coming to the La Fortuna area the first week of January. We’ll be staying at an Air BnB 10 minute drive from down off of Highway 702. Could you tell me how much “extra” it costs for them to pick us up at our door? We will have a rental car and we are able to come into town to avoid a large extra fee if its too costly. I just need an idea how much it is to determine what to do.
Thanks,
Jen 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Jennifer, Rios Tropicales can only pick up at hotels so they can’t pick up at AIrbnbs even for an extra cost. If you guys can find out what is the closest hotel to your Airbnb, we can check with them to see if it’s within their range of pick up locations. If so, they can pick you up there and if not, then we can let you know which hotels they do pick up at.
Jenn says
Duh! I now see that you mentioned in your write up that they don’t pick up from Airbnbs. I don’t have the exact address right now but the description said a 10 minute drive on highway 702. I don’t see any nearby hotels when I go on Google Maps. I do see a Super Alex up Hwy 702. I don’t know if that would be ok to leave our rental in their parking lot that whole time. We can come to a hotel to meet there if that would be better.
Thanks, Jen
Sammi says
Hi Jen, I would definitely drive to a hotel to meet for pick up since they can’t pick up at Airbnbs and it would be better to leave your rental in a hotel parking lot. You can ask the front desk and usually they are fine with it, especially if you tell them you’re just going for a day tour. If your Airbnb is on 702 (locals don’t really use highway numbers here so they know it, but it’s not normal to use) which is on the way to Chachagua, then you shouldn’t be too far from La Fortuna town and the Rios Tropicales office is in town.