White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Limon, Costa Rica

7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Prove your paddling skills on some of Costa Rica's best white water on a full-day rafting trip down the Pacuare River. Navigate Class III-IV rapids as you navigate through a scenic gorge, admiring cliffs, waterfalls, and unspoiled tropical rainforest that you can only see from the water. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as sloths, coatis, and toucans during calmer stretches, and stoke your energy with lunch at a riverside camp.

Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you don’t need to find a meeting point
Stay active while on vacation with this rafting trip
See parts of Costa Rica you couldn’t access any other way
Breakfast before the trip and lunch on the river mean you stray energized

What's Included

Lunch
Entrances
Tour operate with a minimum of 2 people
Transportation from Hotels in Puerto Viejo |Limon
Breakfast

Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Tour departs from hotels in Puerto Viejo You must indicate the hotel’s name in order to confirm the booking. Please confirm the pick up time at least 24 hours before the tour by contacting us.

Operating hours
.6:00 am

What To Expect

Pacuare River

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
What to bring: wear rafting clothes (light shoes that will stay on, swimming suit, shorts, nylon shirt), sunscreen, water bottle, change of clothes, towel, insect repellent, a bit of cash. All luggage will be kept in lockers.
Contact line available for handling hotel pick-up reconfirmations and day-to-day operational matters.
Not persons under 12 years old
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Allyson_L

We had the BEST time white water rafting. One of our favorite experiences while in Costa Rica. Andres was our guide and he was so fun and lively. We came from Puerto Viejo, the company picked us up directly from our hotel. It was about an hour and a half drive to the rafting place. We enjoyed breakfast and they had lockers to place our belongings. The rafting was so fun, be prepared to get absolutely soaked and to fully participate. It’s not a relaxing cruise down a river, you have to physically participate. It was an all day activity and at the end we were also fed lunch and able to change into a fresh pair of clothes. They then gave us a ride back to our hotel. We would definitely recommend this activity!!!

Reviews

4.8

based on 57 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

The BEST time!!!

Allyson_L, Mar 2026

What a beautiful experience with Roberto!

Tetiana_J, Oct 2025

What a fun filled day!!!! I want to say that although the drive to the river is about 2.5 hours, it does not feel that long. It is a pretty easy drive. The guides were all knowledgeable and friendly, but Roberto is something else! He made our trip unforgettable!!! Easy-going, funny, and so experienced on the water - he totally made our day!!!! He took care of everyone around him, whether on or off the boat! These trips are truly made by guides like Roberto. We are so thankful that we got to spend a day with him!!! Here is to many many more! Pura vida!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your amazing words! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a memorable day on the river and that Roberto made the experience unforgettable. He truly embodies the spirit of Pura Vida — fun, caring, and always making sure everyone enjoys the adventure safely.

We had a great...

Laura_R, Jul 2025

We had a great experience. Our guide Andres was excellent, funny and very informative. The breakfast and lunch provided were very tasty and the whole trip went smoothly and was very well-organized. Would highly recommend!

Amazing!

Caitlin_G, Feb 2025

This tour was fantastic!!! My warning to all of the pale people: WEAR PANTS AND LONG SLEEVES. You get wet enough that you will NOT be hot. Just do it. You can't keep the sunscreen on and you will burn. My legs are purple and I applied five times in four hours. Just take my word for it.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you for your very positive feedback. Your comments are very important for us to improve our services and I am glad you had a lovely experience with us and we met your travelling expectations. We hope to be your choice for your future holiday destinations. Kind regards, Customer Service team

Fun rapids, amazing...

Lisa_N, Jan 2025

Fun rapids, amazing wildlife and scenery! Guides were informative and professional. Breakfast and lunch was yummy and efficient.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Wonderful experience

Pat_B, Jan 2025

Everything went as planned. The guides were exceptional. Roberto was a life saver and made it a once in a lifetime experience. Would recommend him to everyone. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Good with teenagers and older people alike.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Do it!

Brianne_S, Oct 2024

This was my husbands and I favorite excursion during our stay in Costa Rica. The entire staff is extremely friendly and the entire event is well organized. Well worth the 2 hour drive from Puerto Viejo

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Fun

Paige_A, Jul 2024

This was awesome. It’s way better than traveling across the country in a bus for long hrs. Worth the experience

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Fun, but a long day.

Tiekeyla_F, Mar 2024

The whitewater and scenery were absolutely amazing! They even provided us with delicious breakfast and lunch, which was a great bonus. I also appreciated the outdoor showers and spacious changing rooms for those who didn't want to leave all wet. It was long trip, but fun. We left at 6 am and returned to our hotel at 5:30 pm.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

So much fun!

Jodi_D, Feb 2024

I will start with our guide on the river, Andres (Anthony, when he is in trouble) was the funniest, most amazing guide. He gets a 10 star and hopefully a pay raise. From the pickup point, breakfast, rafting, and lunch were all above average. Andres was amazing, kept us save and gave excellent instruction. We laughed at his jokes (especially the mother in law ) all the way down the river. Unforgettable trip.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

The best experience in a packing two weeks of excursions

Andy_D, Aug 2023

We spent two weeks travelling around Costa Rica and loved every second. This experience was the highlight and the must do for anyone visiting. The organisation and management by the team was excellent. The focus on safety everything you'd expect and again excellent. The fun of the rafting was awesome. But really..... the view of the rainforest travelling down the river is quite simply jaw dropping and something you would never see if you stick to the roads

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Beautiful memories

BillieMarie_B, Jul 2023

We had a fantastic time. The Pacuare river was beautiful. Andres and Edwardo were wonderful. They were patient and knowledgeable. We would recommend the trip to anyone who wants to have a good time while making some awesome memories.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Experience of lifetime

Taren_W, May 2023

The most memorable part of this experience was the WHOLE thing. This was me and my fiance 1st time white water rafting & now we cant wait to do it again.The breakfast and lunch option we had was Yummy! They use a salsa called "Lizano Salsa" & I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Our guide Michael was great, he talked us thru everything, even when my fiance slipped off the raft, everybody was there to grab him & pull him back onto the raft. We all laughed so hard after the fact. I would definently go back during peak season. GO! you won't regret it.

Response from Host, May 2023

Exciting white water rafting

Nathan_C, Apr 2023

Beautiful scenery. Shallow water time of year. Guide was knowledgeable. Felt safe. Wear sunscreen on arms and legs, or a Long sleeved swim shirt. Spent 3.5 hours on the river. Lunch was fresh and delicious foods. Can buy a USB with pictures of the experience for $30.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Safe, exciting, beautiful and amazing river rafting

Denise_C, Mar 2023

The river was beautiful with great rapids and waterfalls. Very serene and a couple of great spots to jump in for a short swim before the next set of rapids. Andres was our raft guide and you could tell he was very experienced in navigating through this river. I felt very nervous to do this tour because I’ve had friends who’ve tried it elsewhere and got hurt but after 5 mins on this raft, I was having the time of my life! Definitely recommend this activity and hope you get Andres. Thank you for making my bday memorable

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!.Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica

Great fun

Rhiannon_S, Jan 2023

This was so much fun! It was the perfect balance of adrenaline pumping rapids and calmer waters. The views are also incredible. Our guide, "Johndeer", was so friendly and really looked after us, he made sure we knew exactly what we had to do as we approached the rapids and was very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna that we came across.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!.Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica

Once in a lifetime experience!

myxtrp9y2h, Sep 2022

The trip was amazing. Once in a lifetime experience. The team was very friendly and experienced. We were lucky and had lead guide Roberto who navigated the River like a champ! Beautiful scenery as well. Highly recommend!2

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Amazing Adventure

Anita_P, May 2022

Wow! This was a trip of a lifetime. White water rafting was an amazing adrenaline rush. Our guide Eduardo was very knowledgeable and skilled. Not once did I feel unsafe. I felt like I was in a movie. We are so glad we did this, the value is incredible. Food, adventure, sights, fun, all in the same trip!

Response from Host, May 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

We took this trip about...

Barbara_A, Apr 2022

We took this trip about 1/2 way through our 2 week trip in Costa Rica. It was a way to see more of the country that you wouldn't see otherwise and we had a great time in the process. The river was beyond our expectations. So very beautiful. Our guide, Andreas, was amazing. You could tell that he was very knowledgeable of the area and very passionate and experienced at what he was doing. The banter between the guides was a lot of fun too. Everyone had a great time!

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Amazing! Great for onward transportation!!

Raine_W, Feb 2022

They run a fantastic operation! From pick-up at hotel to the food to the experience on the river — it was awesome! It’s a workout but the guides were kind, helpful, and supportive. We had such a great time.

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Great rafting, but also a lot of driving

Maite_W, Jan 2022

We had a really good time doing the White water Rafting at Pacuare River. The environment is stunning and our Guide (Roy) was great and had a lot of experience. But it was a lot of driving (~ 2 Hours from Puerto Viejo to the breakfast Location and after that another 45 minutes Minuten of driving to get to the starting Point at the River). We got picked up at 6.30 am and came back at 5 pm. So in total it was almost 5 Hours of driving and 5 Hours of Rafting, breakfast and Lunch. We still think it was worth it though!

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Best way to see the natural beauty of Costa Rican!

Jorie_K, Jan 2022

Our guide Andres was amazing and very entertaining. This was our first ever time going white water rafting and I think we picked the best one. The Pacuare River is a perfect mix of rapids and floating along with excitement and adventure and topped off with breathtaking scenery. You can’t go wrong with this trip and I feel is a must do for Costa Rica.

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Fun day on the Pacuare!

Alycia_T, Dec 2021

I've been whitewater rafting several times in the US, but this was the most fun and exciting rafting trip to date. Our raft guide was Andres and he was so energetic, supportive and fun. He was also with us on the shuttle to and from our meeting point and made sure to point out many cool things along the way. During the rafting part he made sure we were well prepared and provided us with a few exciting surprises along the way. There were a lot of people participating, about 85, so kind of crowded for breakfast and lunch plus with so many people to manage some of the other guides were sometimes a little pushy to keep the day on schedule. It was much longer than I expected, 6 hrs from the time you arrive at the base camp until you return to it, not 6 hrs from hotel pickup to dropoff...but that was a very pleasant surprise as it allowed for 3-4 hrs on the river. We got to exit the rafts a few times for swimming, and the overall views were amazing. Make sure you wear sunscreen, didn't need any bug spray. Highly recommend, we are already looking for another rafting trip during our stay in La Fortuna.

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!. Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica!!

Maravilhoso

yashmin_b, Jun 2025

Very fun! It's worth it! The van picked us up at our hotel in Puerto Viejo and we traveled about 2 hours. Arriving there, they served a great breakfast. Soon afterwards we are taken to the river and one of the instructors was explaining the commands and safety instructions. Already in the river, the little start is a very easy part of practice, you will feel comfortable even if you have never done this activity. The first descents are exciting but as soon as you catch the way, the secret is to hold your feet tight in the kakaka va tennis boat for greater safety. The landscapes are stunning!!! The instructors all very good and fun, ah and also go 2 kayaks in case something happens. Finally they serve a well served lunch and the van takes us back to the hotels. Anyway, we love it!! I highly recommend!

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Ein Muss!

Katharina_I, Sep 2022

Das Rating war eins unserer absoluten highlights dieser Reise! Mein Partner und ich hatten vorher überhaupt keine Erfahrungen und waren nicht sicher, ob es klug ist, gleich mit diesen Schwierigkeitsklassen anzufangen. Es war aufregend und hat sich absolut gelohnt! Die Tour wurde sehr professionell und sicher durchgeführt. Klare Empfehlung!