SPEND 2 DAYS AT RIOS LODGE ON THE PACUARE
Create your authentic Costa Rica vacation by joining us in the Pacuare rainforest at our ecolodge. Our Pacuare 2 Day Package is one of the most popular packages for travelers short on time or not sure what this remote, amazing landscape is all about. Your options for how to get to our remote river lodge includes hiking by land or rafting by water. There is no automobile access directly to Rios Lodge.
Just select your room type and preferred access (raft, hike, or combo) to your 2 Day Package. Then add the number of guests for your meal package. Next, you can add on Guided Activities when you checkout online, to confirm availability.
Lodge Access: Rafting or Hiking – What to KnoW
Rafting into the Lodge
Rafting on the world-renowned Pacuare River is an experience not to be missed! It’s a truly unique and exciting way to get to and from remote Rios Lodge. Your lodge stay includes shuttle transportation from San Jose to the Pacuare River Linda Vista put-in, with a stop on the way at Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba to change clothes, store unneeded luggage, and get drybags for the luggage you are bringing to the lodge. At the put-in, you’ll get your rafting gear and a safety briefing from guides. There are bathrooms at the put-in. You’ll raft approximately 16 kilometers of Class 1-2 whitewater for a 2-3 hour paddle to the lodge, depending on the water levels. Minimum age is 6 years old during Dry Season (December-April) and 8 years old during Rainy Season (May-November) to raft this first half of the Pacuare River to the lodge.
Rafting out of the Lodge
Rafting out of Rios Lodge on the final day of your stay brings the fantastic excitement and incredible scenery of the Pacuare River Gorge. Enjoy thrilling Class 3-4 whitewater, tropical wildlife and birds, and mesmerizing canyon high waterfalls. National Geographic rates the Pacuare River one of the top 10 whitewater rivers in the world. The second half of the river will take between 2 and 4 hours depending on the water levels, and takes out near the town of Siquirres. Your transportation shuttle back to San Jose will meet you at the take-out, and any bags you stored at our Turrialba Operations Center while at the lodge will be brought to the takeout for you. Bathrooms and changing rooms are available at the take-out. The minimum age is 12 years old to raft the lower Pacuare River through the Gorge.
Hiking into the Lodge
Guests are shuttled from San José to the Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba to repack their luggage to go to Rios Lodge. Anything you want to store securely and not take into the lodge, you can leave at the Operations Center. Hikers then depart via shuttle van to the Pacuare River cable car crossing to start your hike to the Rios Lodge on the Pacuare River Trail. You will be traveling on the Pacuare River Trail headed downstream. The 1.5 km (0.9 miles) trail is rolling and is a 30-45 minute moderate hike along the river, depending on how many stops you make to take pictures and your mobility level. You will rejoin with the rafters and all have lunch at the lodge together in the early afternoon.
Hiking out of the Lodge
Hiking out of the lodge is on the Pacuare River Trail, which travels upstream along the Pacuare River. The 1.5 km (0.9 miles) trail is rolling and is a 30-45 minute moderate hike along the river, depending on how many stops you make to take pictures and your mobility level. You’ll hike to the cable car crossing over the river and cross on the cable car. Our 4×4 shuttle vehicle will meet you on the other side of the river to take you to the Pacuare Butterfly Garden for a short tour and to enjoy a packed lunch from the Rios Lodge kitchen. After lunch, we will transport you to the rafting takeout meeting location in Siquirres where you will meet up with the guests who rafted out from the lodge. This facility has changing rooms, bathrooms, and plenty of space to repack your gear, as any luggage that you stored at the Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba at the beginning of the trip will meet you here. After getting all your gear together, the shuttle buses back to San Jose and other destinations in Costa Rica depart from this location.
Rios Lodge is a magical place for kids. The zipline canopy tour, nature hikes, natural waterfall swimming pools and waterslides provide endless entertainment for kids of all ages. Families typically choose to stay at the lodge for at least 2 nights so they can take advantage of this unique jungle playground and deeply connect together. Kids often don’t want to leave! Parents should expect to be with their kids at all times on the trails or creeks though, it is a real jungle environment! Our raft in and hike out lodge access option is perfect for families with kids under 12 who are too young to raft the lower section of the Pacuare River.
We make it easy for you to get to Rios Lodge, deep in the Pacuare rainforest. Getting there is part of the unique adventure! All lodge packages include shuttle transportation from San Jose to the Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba, and then on to the start of your rafting and hiking trip into the lodge, where our expert guides take over. In addition, transportation shuttles are available as separate custom add-ons for your trip to/from other locations in Costa Rica. Just tell us what you need at check out online.
See our FAQ – How Do I Get to Rios Lodge and Airport and Hotel Tips for Traveling to Stay at Rios Lodge for more details.
PACKAGE INFO
- Transportation to/from San Jose
- Stay Length: 2 Days/1 Night
- Lodge Access: Raft and/or Hike
- Meals Included: 1B, 2L, 1D
- Minimum Age: 6 to Raft In (Dry Season) And 8 (Rainy Season)
- Minimum Age: 12 to Raft Out
- Activities: Available as Add-ons
- Room Types: Deluxe, Suites, Ecohostel
- 2025 Price: From $1041 LS / $1201 HS, for Deluxe Rooms Package for 2 people
- Price doesn't include taxes, fees, other activities.
Itinerary
Rafting into the Lodge: Pacuare River
Today is the day! Fantastic white water rafting on Costa Rica’s most famous pristine jewel – the Pacuare River – awaits you! After an early pickup from San Jose, you’ll get to the Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba to change clothes, store unneeded luggage, and get drybags for luggage you are bringing to the lodge. At the put-in, you’ll get your rafting gear and a safety briefing from guides. There are bathrooms at the put-in.
The wonderful, fun Class 1-3 rapids and scenery of the Pacuare River will entertain you for the next couple of hours as you raft right to the Rios Lodge. You’ll arrive by early afternoon to the Rios Lodge with a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch awaiting you. Actual time on the river will vary pending water levels. Minimum age is 6 years old during Dry Season (December-April) and 8 years old during Rainy Season (May-November) to raft this first half of the Pacuare River to the lodge.
Hiking into the Rios Lodge: Pacuare River Trail
Get ready for a unique and exceptional rainforest hiking experience to our remote Rios Lodge today! It’s an early start from San Jose and a scenic drive through the province of Cartago to the Rios Lodge Operations Center in Turrialba to repack your luggage to go to Rios Lodge. Anything you want to store safely and not take into the lodge, you can leave at our Operations Center.
Hikers then depart via shuttle van to El Tigre and then switch to a 4×4 vehicle to get to the Pacuare River cable car crossing. There your start your hike into the lodge on the Pacuare River Trail. You will be traveling on the Pacuare River Trail headed downstream. The 1.5 km (0.9 miles) trail is rolling and is a 30-45 minute moderate hike along the river, depending on how many stops you make to take pictures and your mobility level. You will rejoin with the rafters and all have lunch at the lodge together in the early afternoon.
Sipping rich Costa Rican coffee as you listen for howler monkeys and watch toucans flying overhead is an awesome start to your day in the rainforest! If you booked a Dawn Patrol Canopy Tour, you’ll be off to do that after coffee and before breakfast.
Coffee is ready early at the lodge, about 6am, while breakfast is served at about 7am – enjoy stretching or yoga moves on the river viewing deck. Checkout is at 9am.
Hiking out of Rios Lodge: Pacuare River Trail
Hikers will depart from the lodge about 10am via the Pacuare River Trail. The Pacuare River Trail travels upstream along the river for 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to a traditional cable car crossing over the Pacuare River. The hike is moderate, with some hills and flat sections. It takes approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on your fitness level and how many pictures you stop to take. Your primary luggage (carryon size bag) will be carried out on the rafts in your dry bag. You’ll only carry out your personal day pack.
The cable car crossing is used by local communities and Rios Lodge staff and guests to access trails on the side of the river with no other roads. This kind of short, open cable car ride is common to traditional river communities. After crossing the river on the cable car, a shuttle will take you up the 4×4 river access road the 4×4 river access road to the Pacuare Butterfly Garden for a short tour and to enjoy a packed lunch from the Rios Lodge kitchen. After lunch, you will be shuttled to meet up with the guests who rafted out from the lodge at the rafting takeout in Siquirres. Your return shuttle to San Jose and any stored luggage will be there waiting for you. After getting all your gear together, the shuttle buses back to San Jose and other destinations in Costa Rica depart from this location.
Rafting out of Rios Lodge: Pacuare River Gorge
Rafting guests will depart about 10am to raft the spectacular lower Pacuare Gorge. The Pacuare River Gorge includes thrilling Class 3-4 whitewater, tropical wildlife and birds, and mesmerizing canyon high waterfalls. National Geographic rates the Pacuare River one of the top 10 whitewater rivers in the world. Your rafting trip on this lower section of the Pacuare River from Rios Lodge will take between 2 and 4 hours depending on the water levels. The trip takes out near the town of Siquirres. Your return shuttle to San Jose will meet you at the rafting takeout, and any stored luggage will be there for you. If you booked a return shuttle to somewhere else, those arrangements will be ready for you, as well. The minimum age is 12 years old to raft the lower Pacuare River through the Gorge.
IMPORTANT PLANNING TIP
We recommend that guests book any return travel flights for the day after your lodge stay ends. Arrival back in San Jose typically is between 5pm and 8pm, and can vary widely due to traffic. See our Airport and Hotel Travel FAQ for details.
More Info
- Lodging for each night of your stay.
- Meals during your stay.
- Guided hiking or Pacuare rafting into and out of the lodge.
- Professionally trained, bilingual (English and Spanish) guides.
- Access to conservation lands and hiking trails on our 2,000 acre Pacuare River Conservation Area.
- Transportation to and from San Jose.
- All Guided Activities at the Lodge: You can choose to experience any of our guided activities daily at the lodge, based on your preferences. These include various day and night hikes, river tubing (water level permitting), ziplining, and more.
- All unguided experiences at the lodge: soaking in nearby waterfall pools, use of yoga mats, hammocks, etc.
- Luggage transportation into the lodge and secure storage of any luggage you don’t want to bring to the lodge.
- Note: All guests’ luggage will be rafted into and out of Rios Lodge, for both hikers and for rafters. Guests will get a dry bag at the river put-in for the luggage they want to bring to the lodge.Pack light with one soft sided bag. Hikers will want to keep their daypack with them separately, for hiking into and out of the lodge. See our detailed FAQ Packing List for more information.
- Transportation shuttles to other locations: La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo, Siquirres, or Turrialba. These are available separately if desired, just let us know when you book your reservation.
- Additional gratuities for lodge staff: A 10% gratuity is already included in your package price for meals. Additional gratuities for lodge staff are always appreciated, but not required. All lodge tips are shared across all lodge staff. See our helpful Tipping Information here.
- Gratuities for guides: Gratuities for your guides are always appreciated, but not required. A typical tip is 10% to 20% of the cost of your guided activity. See our helpful Tipping Information here.
- Beverages from the bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Note: Coffee/hot tea, morning breakfast juice, and filtered water are available free.
- Additional food beyond the single serving of entrees and desserts per person, are available at a la carte costs.
- Closed toe shoes (sneakers or river specific shoes) or strapped water sandals (for example Chacos, Astrals, Tevas). We strongly recommend closed toed shoes for every activity at the lodge, including rafting, for better protection.
- Quick drying swimsuit or shorts and top. We recommend shorts for protection against chafing while sitting on the raft, and a long sleeve sun shirt for protection against sunburn.
- Sunglasses and eyeglass strap retainer, especially for prescription glasses! (for example: Chums)
- Optional: Lightweight ball cap with visor to wear under your helmet for helpful sun protection.
- Ecofriendly, waterproof sunscreen.
- Small day pack
- Light hiking shoes or sneakers for hiking
- Light and quick drying hiking clothes
- Croakies and Sunglasses
- Ecofriendly, waterproof sunscreen
- Light rainjacket
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
- Flashlight or headlamp – a must at night at the lodge.
- Optional: Binoculars. We have a pair at the lodge for guest use at the pavilion.
- Clothes (evenings can be a little cooler depending on time of the year)
- Medications and toiletries (All rooms have biodegradable shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner. If you bring your own soaps, please make sure they are environmentally friendly.)
- Quick drying swimsuit or shorts and top
- Closed toe shoes (sneakers or river specific shoes) or strapped water sandals (Chacos, Astrals and Tevas are the most common) for the river. Note: We strongly recommend closed toed shoes for every activity at the lodge, including rafting, for better protection.
- Books
See our detailed FAQ Packing List for more information.