Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

Questions and Answers about traveling to pacuare costa rica and rios lodge

Here are answers to the top questions we get from travelers coming to Costa Rica and staying at Rios Lodge at the Pacuare River. If you don’t see the answer to your question, contact us or you can call USA or call Costa Rica and we’ll help you out!

Airport and Hotel Tips When Traveling to Stay at Rios Lodge

If you book your own hotel, not on the east side of San Jose, you will have a pickup time that could be as early as 6:30am, instead of closer to 8am.
  • Plan to fly into San Jose, Costa Rica airport the day BEFORE your Rios Lodge stay starts. This is important because transportation pickups are early morning in San Jose to drive to the Turrialba Operations Center where you will pack your things into drybags, store unneeded extra luggage, and change into rafting/hiking gear for hiking and rafting into the lodge.
  • Morning pick ups are between 6:30am and 8am. You will not make this if you fly into San Jose the same day you are supposed to leave for Rios Lodge.
  • We recommend that guests plan to fly out of San Jose, Costa Rica the day AFTER your last day at the lodge. This is because you will either raft or hike out of the lodge, then take our Rios Lodge shuttle back to San Jose, arriving in the early evening usually.
    • Traffic and weather can cause delays getting to San Jose, so flights before 10PM Costa Rica time are too early to reliably catch. Flights after 10pm are possible to catch.
    • (Remember you will need to check in 2 hours early for your international flight, and 3 hours is recommended by San Jose airport).

Tips are optional, and are always welcomed. Guests can charge staff tips to their credit card on file with their room reservation, or tip in cash, using Costa Rican colones.

Rios Lodge takes these major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, EnRoute, and Capital One. We are not able to take Apple Pay or Google Pay. We can take Paypal.

Guests do not need to bring cash in either Costa Rican colones or US dollars to the lodge, since we can take credit cards.

Suggest Tipping Amounts:

  • 10%-15% of your lodge stay package - this goes to all the lodge staff (restaurant and bar, grounds, housekeeping, etc.)
  • Plus $20-$50 per guide for each day, per adult guest. Typically your lead guide stays with you for your entire time at the lodge, and additional guides will support you in various activities. The suggest tip range accounts for that.

How do I get to the Rios Lodge?

  • A transportation shuttle to and from San Jose, Costa Rica to the Pacuare River put-in for all hikers and rafters is included with every lodge package. 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.
  • At the Pacuare River put-in, all guests will separate their luggage into what they want to bring to the lodge and what they wish to store securely. Secure storage is at our Turrialba Operations Center. All guests will put their single, carryon size soft-sided luggage into the Rios Lodge dry bags, for transportation on rafts to the lodge. Small personal gear (water bottle, layer, camera) can carried in a small daypack for hikers or a small dry bag (or the guide's drybag) for rafters. There are bathrooms at the put-in.
  • Rafters will get their gear, rafting safety instruction, and start on their river trip to the lodge. Bathrooms are at the put-in.
  • Hikers then take a shuttle drive to the cable car crossing farther downstream at the Pacuare River. There they start their hike into the lodge.
  • See our FAQ: WHAT TO BRING TO RIOS LODGE - PACKING LIST for details on what to bring and exactly how your luggage transportation works!
    • From the San Jose International Airport, it is about a 2.5-3 hour drive to the town of Turrialba in the Cartago Province). If traffic is heavy, this can become more like 3.5+ hrs.
    • From Turrialba to El Tigre and the Pacuare Butterfly Garden is about a 45-50 minute drive. There, hikers switch to a 4x4 vehicle for a 15 minute drive on a rough, river access road to the Pacuare River cable car crossing.
  • Yes, we do have an option for you. If you have a car and want to drive to the vicinity of the lodge and park, instead of taking a shuttle from San Jose or some other location in Costa Rica. Remember, there is NO AUTOMOBILE ACCESS directly to the lodge.
  • We do offer secure parking near the Pacuare River put-in. Let us know when you book your trip, and we will give you the details for when and where to park your vehicle, and any additional costs.
  • From there, we'll shuttle you to the actual Pacuare River put-in to meet your guides, get your dry bags for luggage transport to the lodge, and then you will depart either via guided rafting or guided hiking to the lodge.
  • At the end of your trip, we will arrange a private shuttle for you from the rafting takeout back to your car. All guests end up at the rafting takeout, whether they are rafting or hiking out.
  • To choose this option, just note on your reservation form or contact us about needing a place to park and private shuttle. 

➡️ Hiking INTO Ríos Lodge
After a short 4×4 ride from the river put-in, you’ll cross the river by cable car and begin a scenic hike along the Pacuare River Trail.
This 1.5 km (0.9 mile) trail is moderately challenging and takes 30–45 minutes, depending on pace and photo stops.
You’ll arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon and join the rafters for lunch.

Minimum rafting age:

  • 6 years (Dry Season), 8 years (Rainy Season)
  • 12 years (Lower Pacuare, departure day)

⬅️ Hiking OUT of Ríos Lodge
Enjoy a relaxed morning before departing around 11:00 a.m. Hike the same 1.5 km trail back upstream,
cross the river by cable car, and meet a 4×4 shuttle. From there, a van takes you to the Pacuare take-out in Siquirres,
where you’ll enjoy a packed lunch and reconnect with rafting guests.

➡️ Rafting INTO Ríos Lodge

Start your journey with a 2–3 hour (16 km) rafting trip on the world-renowned Pacuare River.
This section features Class I–II rapids and includes a full safety briefing and all necessary equipment.
You’ll arrive at the lodge by early afternoon for lunch.

 

Minimum age:

  • 6 years (Dry Season: Dec–Apr)
  • 8 years (Rainy Season: May–Nov)

⬅️ Rafting OUT of Ríos Lodge

Depart the lodge with an unforgettable 2–4 hour ride through the Pacuare River Gorge,
featuring Class III–IV rapids, lush jungle, waterfalls, and wildlife.
Midway, enjoy a riverside packed lunch prepared by our kitchen.

 

Minimum age:

  • 12 years

Note: The Pacuare River is ranked among the world’s top 10 whitewater rivers by National Geographic.

We love to host kayakers are Rios Lodge. Our kayaking roots run deep!

You must be proficient enough to paddle the Pacuare River, Class 2, 3 and 4, safely.  You can bring your own kayak, or we can help you rent kayaks and gear. Gear is limited, and paddlers must be advanced in skills.

Kayakers must paddle into and out of the lodge along with the fully guided rafting trips of Rios Lodge guests.  All paddling groups also require a skilled kayaking guide for this river, which is part of our group rental packages. We have an expert kayaker accompanying all rafting trips. 

To find out more, contact Rios Lodge so we can help you set up a kayaking stay with us. Fill out our group inquiry form or call us and let’s start your trip planning!

What to Bring to Rios Lodge - Packing List

Bring a small, soft-sided CARRY ON SIZE duffle-type bag as your luggage for your eco-lodge stay.

Clothes:

  • Light sweater - it can get cool at night at the lodge
  • Light rainjacket
  • Ballcap or hat (ballcap with visor fits well under a rafting helmet and is helpful for sun protection)
  • Sunglasses / Eyeglasses and eyeglasses retainer strap (like Chums or Croakies, very important to make sure you don't lose your prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses in the river!)
  • River sandals - must have good treads for navigating slippery rocks, and should be able to tighten the straps across your feet for nice snug fit in the river. Regular sandals do NOT work, and no flipflops on the river. (Good river sandals like Keen, Chaco, Teva also work for hiking and swimming.)
  • Closed toed shoes for night hikes and zipline.
  • Lightweight trail shoes for hiking around lodge
  • Pair of lightweight wool socks (not cotton). Not fully recommended, but better fast drying than cotton options. 
  • Swim shorts and top
  • Long sleeve sun hoodie or sunshirt
  • Undergarments - not cotton!
  • Shorts - several pair, not all cotton (consider 3 for a 1N/2D trip - see
    climate note.)
  • Short sleeve tees/tops - several, not all cotton (consider 3 for a
    1N/2D trip - see climate note.)
  • Skort/skirt/dress
  • Lightweight long pants (for cool weather, bugs, and/or ziplining)
  • Small camp towel for use AFTER rafting on the last day, as there are showers at the takeout, but no towels there. (You don't need towels at Rios Lodge, they are provided.)

Techie & Gear

  • Camera/gopro, charger, spare batteries, tripod
  • External small hard drive if you want to transfer media off your camera/gopro/mobile phone as uploading to the cloud is not possible at the lodge.
  • Binoculars
  • Smart phone (camera!), battery bank, charger (Note: there is
    limited wifi at the lodge. Whatsapp access is free. Data packages
    are available for purchase during your stay.)
  • e-Reader or good old fashioned book
  • Notebook and pen
  • Passport
  • Cash- USD or Colones (it is recommended to have some colones
    for tips, travel stops to/from lodge, etc.)
  • Bugspray
  • Headlamp
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Toiletries - bring as little as possible. There is shampoo and shower
    gel in the lodge rooms, but no conditioner, so bring some if you
    need it.
  • For Rafters: small personal dry bag for sunscreen, extra layer,
    phone, etc. with a carabiner to clip into the raft
  • For Hikers: Small backpack for hiking around the lodge. Might want
    a backpack cover in case it rains.
  • Sunscreen
  • Medications, plus extra in case of emergency
  • Optional: Hydration electrolyte tablets or powder packs (example
    Liquid IV, Nuun). Can be useful for really hot days on the river.

DOWNLOAD THIS PACKING LIST

Here are some useful tips about staying in an ecolodge in the Costa Rica Rainforest. It will likely rain at some point, and it will be hot and humid. Your clothes will not dry quickly, or even completely over 1 or 2 nights. Plan accordingly and bring spare tops and bottoms so you have clean, dry clothes to change into after a fun day on the river, the trails, or in the trees. There is no air conditioning (AC) anywhere are the lodge, and in fact there are no glass windows either. All cabins have screened windows and the dining pavilion and kitchen is completely open air with a roof. This is very typical of rainforest eco lodges.
  1. Bring a small, soft-sided duffle-type bag (carry-on size) as your luggage your ecolodge stay. You can leave any luggage that you do not want to bring to the lodge in the secure rafting center where all rafters and hikers are transported to, to organize their luggage for what goes to the lodge vs stays in storage while they are at the lodge. Example, roller bags/ large suitcases, electronics like laptops, extra clothes for the other parts of your Costa Rica vacation (like a beach trip), can all be stored in your suitcase at the rafting center. Don't bring everything, there isn't room on the raft!
  2. At the rafting center, you will get a large dry bag to use for your luggage that is going to the lodge. Note - you will share this very large dry bag with one other guest, so it's much easier if you can pack all your lodge gear and clothes into a nicely contained, small, soft sided duffle bag first. Then you just put that duffel into the big dry bag.
  3. The rest of your luggage can stay in your other or main bag, in the rafting center. This stored luggage will be brought to your post-trip gathering location for rafters and hikers. There are changing rooms, bathrooms, and plenty of tables to repack all your gear back into their original bag(s) for your journey to San Jose or to your next Costa Rica destination.
  4. If you are hiking in, your luggage is still transported to and from the lodge on rafts. You will need to carry in only your personal small backpack with day items you want on your hike, like a water bottle, bugspray, rain jacket, hat, sunscreen, camera, etc. Your single soft sided bag with your apparel, etc. will go into a drybag and be transported to and from the lodge on the rafts, with all the other guests’ luggage.
  • Filtered, potable water
  • Large umbrellas for guests
  • Blue towels to use at swimming holes and waterfall pools
  • White towels, all sheets, and extra blankets in rooms
  • Filtered water
  • Electrical outlets in all rooms, and the dining area. USA plugs will
    work in all the outlets.
  • Hammocks at the riverside pavilion
  • Yoga mats for use at the riverside pavilion and at the eco rooms pavilion
  • No, you don't need any cash during your stay at Rios Lodge. You might like to have local currency in colones for your travel before or after your lodge visit, though.
  • Guests can use credit cards at Rios Lodge to charge any additional expenses, like bar drinks, extra food outside of the three daily meals, tips, and merchandise (like cool Rios Lodge hats, sun shirts, etc.)

  • Rios Lodge takes these major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, EnRoute, and Capital One.

  • We are not able to take Apple Pay or Google Pay at this time. We can take Paypal.
  • No, you don't need to bring your own yoga mat. We have yoga mats available for guest use during your stay. 
  • Costa Rica uses a 110-120V, 60Hz electrical system, the same as the United States and Canada.
  • All our rooms have 3 prong, grounded electrical outlets. 
  • You will not need to bring a converter or adapter, if your devices use 120V, 60HZ power, and your current plugs (2 or 3 prong) can fit into a flat panel outlet for 3 flat prongs. 
  • Note: If  you are coming from a country that uses different types of plugs from Costa Rica / USA / Canada (for example, rounded prongs, etc., then you will need an adapter. 

About Pacuare River Rafting

The Pacuare River is a warm, tropical river. It is a free-flowing river that warms to the ambient temperature. It's typically a relatively warm temperature in the dry season at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 Celsius.  During the rainy season or periods of heavy rain, the river will get colder into the 60s, and that coupled with rain and no sun can make for a cool experience while rafting. Be sure if you get cold easily, to have a layer when rafting!

The rapids on the Pacuare River range from Class 1, 2 and 3 on the upper section from the put-in to the Rios Lodge, to Class 3 and 4 in the lower section of the Pacuare Gorge, below Rios Lodge. 

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. Guests must be age 12 or older to raft the Pacuare Gorge section. 

No prior rafting experience is required for rafting the Pacuare. All trips are fully guided.

Yes! The rafting trips are paddle trips - each rafter will have a single bladed paddle and is expected to paddle during the trip. There will be calm stretches of less paddling, and bigger rapids where paddling is essential to getting the raft where it needs to go. 

Yes! You'll have a chance to see a variety of tropical birds and possibly howler monkeys cruising through the canopy above the river banks. 

Whenever you can get here!  
There are two climate-driven seasons for rafting - rainy or "green" season (mid-May through mid-December) and dry season (mid-December through mid-May). The river tends to flow at higher levels during the rainy season, and lower levels in the dry season. Trips run year-round and are only cancelled or postponed if the river goes above the rafting water level. Water levels can rise and drop very fast on the river. Often times the river level will drop after a couple hours back to rafting levels.

Tips are optional, and are always welcomed. Guests can charge tips to their credit card on file with their room reservation, or tip in cash, using Costa Rican colones.

Rios Lodge takes these major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, EnRoute, and Capital One. We are not able to take Apple Pay or Google Pay. We can take Paypal.

Guests do not need to bring cash in either Costa Rican colones or US dollars to the lodge, since we can take credit cards.


Suggest Tipping Amounts:

  • 10%-15% of your lodge stay package - this goes to all the lodge staff (restaurant and bar, grounds, housekeeping, etc.)
  • Plus $20-$50 per guide for each day, per adult guest. Typically your lead guide stays with you for your entire time at the lodge, and additional guides will support you in various activities, starting with rafting (or hiking in). The suggest tip range accounts for that. Your raft guide may be your lead guide or an additional guide.

This varies! In sections where the river is wide, the water may be quite shallow running over a rocky bottom. In sections where the river gets narrow and the walls of the Pacuare Gorge channel the river, the water may be many feet deep. 

Yes, there can be. It's based on season and on daily precipitation. 

In general, there are two climate-driven seasons for rafting - rainy or "green" season (May - November) and dry season (December - April). The river tends to flow at higher levels during the rainy season, and lower levels in the dry season. Trips run year-round and are only cancelled or postponed if the river goes above the rafting-approved water level. Water levels can rise and drop very fast on the river. Often times the river level will drop after a couple hours back to rafting levels. That said, with climate change we are seeing more variation from historical, seasonal norms.

Yes.

  • 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 that goes from the put-in TO Rios Lodge.
  • The minimum age is 12 years old for the lower section of the Pacuare river rafting trip, that goes FROM Rios Lodge to the take-out, through the Pacuare Gorge.
  • This is why younger guests can raft INTO Rios Lodge, but not OUT of Rios Lodge. Younger guests can hike out.

We recommend that you are at least moderately fit. This means you are able to paddle actively during your rafting trip, can fit into the PFDs comfortably, and are able to participate in your self-rescue by actively swimming to the boat or holding onto the boat, should you fall out of the raft.  

No, not directly. Rios Lodge doesn’t own a rafting outfitter or directly operate rafting trips on the Pacuare River or elsewhere in Costa Rica. We own and operate Rios Lodge and the guided adventure activities at the lodge. Our preferred rafting partner is Whitewater Excitement. The owners of Whitewater Excitement were long time head guides and trip leaders for the former award-winning adventure company Rios Tropicales, during its three decades of operations. We partner with Whitewater Excitement for the rafting access to and from Rios Lodge for our guests.

About Hiking Trails at Rios Lodge

No, it’s a real deal jungle out there! Because our lodge is very remote, and the trails travel many kilometers away, and wildlife is everywhere - some friendly, some not so friendly - we do not permit self-guided hiking on our trail network.
  • Easy to moderately challenging.
  • The lodge is located at the banks of the Pacuare River, which winds through the mountains. All hiking from the lodge involves some altitude gains and losses as the trails wind along according to the topography and ascend and descend at moderate levels.

Yes! The lodge is located in secondary rainforest, with no other developments within miles/kilometers - except for other lodges or camps upstream along the river. Our trails go through primary (never been cleared) and secondary (been replanted) rainforest. Expect dense tropical foliage, huge trees of many varieties, vibrant flowers, and constant wildlife sounds and bird song.
Yes - they live here, too! You’ll learn how to travel responsibly in the jungle from your guide. This is similar to other parts of the world with wildlife that humans need to respect and keep their distance. Think Yellowstone National Park, in the USA, for example!

Costa Rica Weather, Climate, and Seasons

Amazing! The average annual temperatures in the Atlantic mountainous region where the lodge is located is 75°-85°F during the day and 65°-75°F at night, depending on the time of year. It’s a warm, humid, tropical rainforest. That said, it can get cooler at night, exspecially during the rainy season. Its smart to pack a warm layer like a sweater or lightweight fleece. Definitely bring a lightweight rain jacket.

Not as much in the dry season, which is typically December through April. Very little rain falls during this time, and the Pacuare River is lower as a result.

 

Yes it really can rain hard for several days straight during the rainy or "green" season in Costa Rica, which is typically May through November.  Guests should expect it to rain often during this time, and typically once a day at some part of the day.  Come with your light weight rain jacket and get ready to explore the wonders of the rainforest, named "rain"forest for a reason!

That said, with climate change we are seeing more variation from historical norms.

That’s easy, whenever you can get here!

 

Consider the climate seasonality - from rainy/green season to dry, and consider the high and low seasons for pricing. The most popular times for international guests are December through April - and that’s pretty much the high and dry season. Shoulder season dates in May and autumn are less crowded. Summer is the peak travel season for in-country travelers.

Because Costa Rica is close to the equator, our daylight hours are pretty consistent at about 12 hours per day, all year long, no matter what month of the year. This can be surprising for our Northern and Southern hemisphere travelers, who are used to long “summer” nights. The sun rises between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. most days, and sets between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. most nights.

Traveling to Costa Rica

No. Our staff is bilingual. We encourage you to learn a few phrases because it’s fun, and we can teach you.

The ones that get you here! Our guests come from all over the world. All the major airlines fly to Costa Rica. There are two international airports in Costa Rica:

  1. San Jose International Airport (SJO), also known as the Juan Santamaria International Airport. This is the closest international airport to the Rios Lodge.
  2. Liberia International Airport (LIR), also known as Daniel Oduber International Airport.
  3. There are also 14 domestic smaller airports throughout the country. See the full Costa Rica Airports list.

The currency of Costa Rica is the Colon. You can exchange money at any large hotel, in the airport, and in tourism centers. Any place that takes credit cards can charge you in colones and your bank will convert it to your currency at their exchange rate of the day.

About Conservation, Sustainability, Rainforest Reforestation


Yes, if you are part of a group are have arranged in advance to join a planned large scale tree-planting event or create your own event with your group.   Conservation is the reason why Rios Lodge exists. You can make a difference on your group experience by joining us to plant native hardwood trees as part of our decades-long reforestation programs of secondary rainforest within our 2000 acre private reserve.  This is available only for groups, and only in certain times of year based on the growing season. 

Fill out our group inquiry form and let’s get started planning a meaningful, hands on experience in reforesting secondary rainforest and supporting biodiversity, today! 
We plant around 25 different kinds of native species trees that grow in the Pacuare River Basin forest, like tropical hardwoods Pilon, Roble Coral, Ceiba, Cedro Amargo, Guapinol, Chancho Blanco, Corteza Negro, Caoba, and Cocobolo. Another main tree species is the Mountain Almond, which is a key food source for endangered Great Green Macaws. Over the years, hundreds of Mountain Almond trees have been planted in our conservation land that has helped return Great Green Macaws to the Pacuare region. We always plant a variety of native trees to blend into a healthy forest, ensuring harmony with the local ecosystem.