MOST POPULAR! 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS IN THE RAINFOREST
Our Pacuare 3 Day Package is the most popular length of stay for busy travelers seeking to experience the gorgeous Costa Rica rainforest and some of our adventure activities. Your options for how to get to our remote river lodge include hiking by land, or rafting by water. There is no automobile access directly to Rios Lodge.
Just select your preferred access (raft, hike, or combo) and room type to your 3 Day Package. Then add the number of guests for your meal package. Next, you can add on any 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: 3 Days/2 Nights
- Lodge Access: Raft and/or Hike
- Meals Included: 2B, 3L, 2D
- 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: Classic, Deluxe, Suites, EcoHostel
- Price: From $1,520 for Classic Room, meals & transportation to/from lodge for 2 people
- Price doesn't include taxes, fees, other activities.
Itinerary
Rafting into Rios 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.
Today is a full day at the lodge and doing any Guided Activities you either booked in advance or decide you’d like to book today! Start with fresh Costa Rican coffee and listen to the jungle awaken with birdsong, howler monkeys, the river and weather. Coffee is ready early by 6am, and breakfast starts at 7am. If you booked a Dawn Patrol Canopy Tour, you’ll be off to do that after coffee and before breakfast.
Guided activities typically start about 10am, like horseback riding, guided waterfall hikes, tubing, and rappelling and take several hours. You’ll either have lunch out on your activity, or back at the lodge. Lunch is served between 12pm and 1pm at the open air dining pavilion.
Afternoon activities typically start about 1:30pm, and you’ll be back to the lodge by late afternoon, and ideally in time for cocktails on the deck about 5pm!
If you are doing self-guided activities, the day is yours to be as active or relaxed as you wish.
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 2 nights and 3 days.
- Lunch and dinner on Day 1 (arrival day).
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Day 2.
- Breakfast and lunch on Day 3 (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 of luggage for RAFTERS & HIKERS
- Guest luggage will be rafted into and out of Rios Lodge, for hikers and for rafters. Guests will get a dry bag to put your luggage into at the Rios Tropicales Operations Center in Turrialba.
- Pack light with one soft sided bag. Hikers will want to keep their daypack separate with them for hiking into and out of the lodge.
- 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