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 the rafting center to change clothes, store unneeded luggage, and get drybags for 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 changing rooms and 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. Ages 6 and up can 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 will have any bags you stored while at the lodge. Bathrooms with showers 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 rafting center location to repack their luggage to go to Rios Lodge. Anything you want to store safely and not take into the lodge, you can leave at the rafting center in Siquirres. 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 tour of the butterfly garden and enjoy a lovely, typical Costa Rican lunch. 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 rafting center 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 your rafting or hiking starting point for your Rios Lodge vacation. All lodge packages include shuttle transportation from San Jose, to either your hiking or rafting meeting place. 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 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
- Minimum Age: 12 to Raft Out
- Activities: Available as Add-ons
- Room Types: Classic, Deluxe, Suites, Ecohostel
- Price: From $935 for Classic Room, meals & transportation to/from lodge 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 at the rafting center to change clothes, store unneeded luggage, and get drybags for luggage you are bringing to the lodge by mid morning. At the put-in, you’ll get your rafting gear and a safety briefing from guides. There are changing rooms and 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 to raft this first half of the Pacuare River to the lodge.
Hiking into the Rios Lodge: Rios Tropicales Reserve Trail Hike
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 rafting center location 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 the rafting center in Siquirres.
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 15-30 minutes, depending on your fitness level and how many pictures you stop to take. Your primary luggage (carryon size bag) will be carried out via the trail for you. You’ll carry out any other personal back or 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 and back to Santa Marta (approximately 20-25 minutes) to catch your shuttle back to San Jose. If you booked a return shuttle to somewhere else, those arrangements will be ready for you, as well.
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. 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.
More Info
- Lodging for 1 night and 2 days.
- Lunch and dinner on Day 1 (arrival day).
- Breakfast and lunch on Day 2 (departure day).
- Guided hiking or Pacuare rafting into and out of the lodge.
- Professionally trained and bilingual guides.
- Access to conservation lands and hiking trails on our 2,000 acre Pacuare River Conservation Area.
- Transportation to and from San Jose.
- Transportation of luggage for RAFTERS
- You will get a dry bag to put your luggage into for rafting into and out of the lodge on the Pacuare River. Pack light with one soft sided bag. Your day pack, if you bring one will also fit in this dry bag.
- Transportation of luggage for HIKERS
- You will get a dry bag to put 1 bag into for rafting into the lodge from the cable car river crossing on the Pacuare River.
- We will carry your luggage to the cable car, and provide transportation from the cable car river crossing back to Santa Marta and on to San Jose.
- Secure storage of unneeded luggage is available for hikers.
- Transportation shuttles to other locations: La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo, Siquirres, or Turrialba. These are available separately if desired when you book your reservation.
- Guided Activities: You can add on any guided activity to your package when you book your reservation, like ziplining, horseback riding, and more.
- 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.
- 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.
- Additional beverages and food are available outside of standard meal times, at a la carte costs.
- Closed toe shoes (sneakers or river specific shoes) or strapped water sandals (for example Chacos, Astrals, Tevas)
- Quick drying swimsuit or shorts and top
- Sunglasses and eyeglass strap retainer, especially for prescription glasses! (for example: Chums)
- Ecofriendly, waterproof sunscreen
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Binoculars
- Clothes (evenings can be a little cooler depending on time of the year)
- Medications and toiletries
- 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
- Books
- 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