White Water Rafting Pacuare River From San José

This was an amazing experience! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves adventure and raw nature. The canyon was spectacular. There were so many waterfalls I lost count. Kaylor was a top notch guide. I felt very safe under his direction. We got to jump out and swim a few times as well. Thank you! Pura Vida!

We had an incredible guide for one of the best rivers in the world to white water raft. The company prioritizes safety which I appreciated. Overall one of the best experiences we have had on our trip. Highly recommend!!

We had an incredible time rafting on the Pacuare. Class 2/3/4 rapids, super fun and exciting! Moises kept us safe the whole time, we were in great hands. The breakfast, lunch, and transportation were all great too.

Amazing experience. One of my favorite things we have done in Costa Rica so far. Be prepared to work! It’s not a lazy trip down the river. The scenery was beautiful and our guide Jose was very knowledgeable about the river, different birds we saw, and overall made the experience so wonderful for us.

Because of daily changes in water level, flow, and almost daily rain, you may or may not be able to go down the Pacuare River. The morning of our tour we were informed that we could not go down the Pacuare because of too much water and dangerous conditions. So they took us down the Pejibaye River. It was really a beautiful and fun river with class 2 and 3 rapids and beautiful jungle scenery, but not the jaw dropping beauty of the Pacuare with its class 3 and 4 rapids. We were disappointed in the change, but understand that these guides take safely seriously and found a great alternative nearby. Our guides were fantastic and lots of fun. The entire experience was professional and well executed.

Roberto our guide was amazing! The Pacuare River was too high so we had to pivot to another river. We had a great time and so much fun. We got to see a boa and a wild Sloth as well. Roberto really made an already great day even better! We will be back for more! Pura Vida!

I had an awesome time white water river rafting!! My whole experience was great, from the booking, to communicating on meeting area, to the excellent fun guides who were very helpful & experienced, and the beautiful & challenging Pacuare River.

Our family had the best time on this outing!! Luis was great and we will definitely book with him when we come back!!

We had a great time everything from pick up tour and back to hotel amazing experience had a blast so much fun.

A must if you go to Costa Rica. Amazing if you love water sports and adrenaline. It was so fun, the food was amazing, the drive was beautiful, and the people are so kind! Keylor was an amazing guide! 10/10

Absolutely do not risk your vacation or your health with this company. This was one of the worst and most unsafe experiences I have ever had while traveling. I have gone whitewater rafting four times before in the U.S. and other places, and I have never fallen into the water or been injured like this. With this company in Costa Rica, I ended up seriously injuring my knee, needing a wheelchair, and ruining the rest of my Costa Rica trip. The raft guides were very disrespectful and constantly talked down to people instead of making anyone feel safe. Their attitude was horrible. They acted like they knew everything, but they did not seem properly trained or capable of controlling the raft when the river got rough. People were falling into the water, the situation felt chaotic, and the guides seemed more focused on blaming guests than actually doing their job. Whitewater rafting is already risky, but this felt unsafe because of the guides, not just the river. They seemed inexperienced, unprepared, and extremely unprofessional. I have rafted before and know the difference between a normal adventure activity and a poorly managed, dangerous operation. This was the first time I was seriously injured, and I believe it could have been avoided if the guides were better trained and more responsible. This place is highly overrated. If you are visiting from the U.S. or anywhere else, I strongly recommend staying away. You could seriously get hurt here. The unprofessional staff, poor control, and unsafe environment made this a terrible experience from start to finish. Absolutely do not risk your vacation or your health with this company.

The most beautiful scenery and most fun experience. Big shout out to Ivan our tour guide for creating such a fun experience for everyone on our raft, especially my kids. My 16yr old triplets said this was the best experience and their favorite part was how fun Ivan made the experience. This was my 5th time going on this tour and it was the best. Our driver Ricardo was super nice too. The breakfast so fresh and the people so nice. I can’t say enough good things about all of them!

This adventure is 100% worth the drive from San Jose. The views were breathtaking, the guide was so knowledgeable. If you do this tour, ask for Estebàn! He made the trip worth it with great group morale. At one point you can even jump in the river and float. As someone who has never been white water rafting I felt safe the entire time.

The most beautiful river I’ve ever white water rafted down. Francesco was amazing and made the day very fun

I was on this same stretch of river 30 years ago. Just as magical today. Great driver, great guide, great overall experience for me and my three teenage boys.

Go with Ivan - he's a hoot! Best part of our trip. Even though I wasn't feeling great, they made it a great time. Everyone with the group was kind, and very accommodating (they helped me 60 something self into and out of the boats, up the hills, you name it, they helped!). Water was warm, and the view was second to none.

Do not book with this operator. They sent me ticket to pick me up at 6am and never showed up. No calls or text. Viator was not helpful either. No cancellation email nor refund until i had to email and figjt for it. Can you imagine, never pick up and viator says its less than 24 hours. Another tortuga island booking woth viator same issue. I will report them with BBB and let them know. Did not allow rebooking either only for 1 person.

Sooooooo disappointed! We had booked the tour weeks in advance and received several confirmations, but we sat at our hotel for over an hour and no one showed to pick us up the day of the tour. When the hotel called the tour company, they said they didn’t have any record of us, even though they had charged our credit card $484, and then hung up on him and didn’t answer the phone again when he tried to call back over and over. We are having to dispute the charges with our credit card company to get a refund. Do not book with this company!!!! They are NOT reliable! So frustrating!!!

What a remarkable day, after leaving the chaos and traffic of the city our guide was clever and funny, and we immediately felt like a team. The waterfalls, butterflies and water stunning!

Be prepared for sun (burn), water…and adrenaline. Take water proof bag with snacks. They take photos for you. Fantastic experience

Great experience. The shuttle arrived on time. They provided breakfast, lunch and all gear. The river guide was insightful, upbeat, and fun. The rapids were big. The scenery was beautiful. It was truly an amazing trip.

Our water rafting experience was an absolute thrill from start to finish! The scenery was breathtaking—every turn brought incredible views that made the adventure even more special. We felt completely safe the entire time thanks to our amazing tour guide, Julian, who was not only skilled and professional but also made the experience fun and reassuring. Most importantly, it gave us unforgettable memories as a family—laughing, cheering, and enjoying every moment together. Truly an experience we’ll always cherish!

Such a special experience on one of the best natural rafting rivers in the world. We had a good traditional breakfast with fruit and coffee, then we went to the river. As a first time rafter and solo female traveler, I was so intimidated at first, but we got the hang of it quickly and nobody fell in. I felt safe the whole time. If everyone follows instructions, you'll be good (Tip: if ya think you'll get away with just relaxing, think again!) We had an amazing guide, Carlos, who taught us well, kept us safe, and taught us a lot. We saw bird species and waterfalls. For lunch, we pulled over for sandwiches/wraps, on a kind indigenous person's land, very special. Pictures on the river are available for purchase and ours came out great! Due to the active tectonic faults, this river changes every few years, and is absolutely worth coming back to! This was an experience worth every penny and I will cherish it forever!

So. Much. Fun. Totally worth it. This was my first white water rafting tour and we all had a blast. Our guide Luis was really great too. He was professional and kept us all safe while still having fun. I loved it.

I’d just like to say for everyone who said this made their trip NO LIES WERE TOLD. For my first time rafting the guides were 10/10 great energy, funny, knowledgeable all around great people really. Prepare for an arm workout you do get breaks in between paddling. Breakfast was ok but the lunch was great. They have lockers and changing stations bring a change of clothes you get soaked depending on your placement. We thank yall for the longest but most eventful day.

This is worth the brag. Had a lovely day that included food, 3.5 hours of rafting fun and the opportunity to see wild life. Absolutely, I would do this again.

We absolutley loved this experience! Our driver and guide were great. The food was amazing. The river is so beautiful, and the rapids were so much fun. This was our favorite experience of all!

Hands down, the best addition to our itinerary for Costa Rica. We booked last minute and ended up having the time of our lives. The drive was so scenic and beautiful, we stopped for breakfast at a beautiful spot, drank coffee, even kicked a soccer ball while we waited for everyone to freshen up. The route to the Pacuare River is stunning. My god, this place is pura vida (pure life) on its worst day. From the beginning to the end of white water rafting, safety was a top priority. Life vests and helmets were checked multiple times. There was one person (shout out to Johnathan) who would test the waters before any raft could. He would be ahead of the rafting entourage (approx. 20 ppl divided into three boats). He would signal if it was safe/not, then the instructor on your raft would direct you through the river. In this experience you will be taught about the different levels of white water rafting. Levels 1-3, you'll be alright, mild sweat. At a level 4 your life vest is your life, and your paddle is your steering wheel. If you so happen to fall out your life vest will keep you afloat until someone reaches you. These men do not play about their life vests, and neither should you, so whatever you do keep these secure at all times. We had a lunch break in the forest. The environment was just incredible. Everyone was laughing, having a good time. My friends and I sat in the middle of a stream and talked about how incredible the experience was while lunch was being prepared. Special shout out to Luis Ivan, our instructor. This man was the best guide. He knows what he is doing, has the best jokes, and overall such a kind soul. At a certain spot between canyons, we were allowed off the boat to gently float in the river for a time and this man was able to lift us back into our raft like we only weighed 20 lbs each. To this day I am amazed at his strength. I think about this particular experience every day since leaving Costa Rica. 10/10 experience. Pacuare River my childrens' grandchildren will hear about you.

Amazing! Truly exceeded expectations. The team was great, the organization outstanding, and rafting so much fun! Would highly recommend!

White water rafting on the Pacuare River was hands down the BEST excursion of our entire trip to Costa Rica! We were four friends , all first timers, and from the second we were picked up at our hotel, it was nonstop fun and incredible energy. They treated us to breakfast before heading to the river, which was such a thoughtful start to the day. Once we arrived, the guides gave us a full safety briefing and made sure we felt comfortable and prepared. Now let’s talk about LUIS IVAN. 1000/10 is honestly not high enough. He was beyond amazing. From the very beginning, he made us feel safe, confident, and excited. He took the time to thoroughly educate us on safety, explain the rapids, and teach us exactly what to do, but he did it in such a fun, calm, and engaging way that we were laughing while learning. On the river, he was the perfect mix of professional and fun. He read the water like a pro, guided us through every rapid with total confidence, and kept our spirits high the entire time. We trusted him completely. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does, and his passion made the whole experience unforgettable. He didn’t just guide us down the river, he made the day special. Luis Ivan truly made this the best experience of our lives. What also made us feel incredibly safe was the level of support on the river. There were safety guides kayaking ahead of us (shout out to JONATHAN) and behind us the entire time, always watching and ready to help if needed. They even had a photographer along the way capturing action shots and candid moments, and the photos were so good that we ended up buying them! The scenery was breathtaking, waterfalls, lush greenery, and beautiful wildlife everywhere you looked. It felt surreal. We even stopped for lunch, and the guides prepared a delicious meal that was also vegetarian friendly. This is a MUST DO in Costa Rica. We were completely blown away by how much fun it was. Best excursion. Best guide. Best memories. #dondeestajonathan #MashAllah

Our tour was confirmed and the operator cancelled our trip 12 hours before the confirmed pickup time. We wasted one of the few days we had in Costa Rica.

Please note that this review is not based on the tour experience itself, but on the company Destination Services, which operates the tour. I hope this helps other travelers who book through Viator. If you book this tour less than 24 hours in advance, you may not be picked up, even though Viator allows the booking, confirms it, and charges you. I booked this tour the evening before (7:44 p.m.) to be exact, received email confirmation, and was charged by Viator. The tour states it starts at 6:00 a.m., so I was waiting at my hotel by 5:30 a.m. the day of the tour. At 6:05 a.m., after no one showed up, I called the number listed. I was told they had already passed my hotel at 5:15 a.m. and that they did not see my reservation because they require at least 20–24 hours to confirm bookings. If that is the case, this tour should not be available for last-minute booking on Viator. Waking up at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday while traveling, only to be told there was nothing they could do, is extremely frustrating and unprofessional. The representative also claimed this was “the first time this has happened,” which is hard to believe. My advice to other travelers: book this tour at least two days in advance. Booking the day before will result in no hotel pickup, despite confirmation from Viator.

Ivan our Navigator was funny, friendly and full of facts! We felt safe and yet exhilarated enough to be constantly engaged. The scenery was unbelievable!

Best rafting I’ve ever done! Tons of adrenaline, incredible views, and excellent guides. Strongly recommend

Beautiful day of rafting in wonderful natural surroundings. Driver and guides were great. Late confirmation from the tour operator regarding pickup. Excellent overall.

Exciting, fun. Great family time! The whole experience was very positive. The guides are great and they know very well why they’ re doing.

Absolutely amazing! Tara was exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful! Her confidence and leadership guided us safely from start to finish!!

I was happy to boom this amazing thrill seeking adventure day trip out of San Jose. The guide Tara was very experienced and active in leading the raft and issuing instructions. It was quite exciting to navigate Class 3 and Class 4 rapids even though it was raining. The weather doesn't matter much anyways since you'll be wet during the adventure navigating the rapids. Highly recommended.

Our experience was so enjoyable from start to finish - we had a reroute due to high water levels, and they still made our day a beautiful adventure. Our guide Estéban was so knowledgeable and friendly, and we had an amazing time. Everyone guiding the tour clearly loved what they do & loved sharing it with people. Highly recommend !

My wife and I had an awesome time. Very professional throughout, never felt unsafe. Worth the drive from San Jose to experience the Pacuare.

This trip was amazing. I have rafted other rivers and the Pacuare River is my new favorite. Our guide was knowledgeable and experienced and especially knew how to handle the variety of rafting experience (or lack thereof) of other participants and had us working together as a team. If you love rafting and beautiful views, this trip will give you both.

This tour was absolutely amazing! Esteban and Fernando were excellent— they made us feel safe while also sharing the importance of river conservation. The views were stunning, and the rapids were so much fun. It was definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done. I can’t wait to book my next tour with them!

The most amazing day! Christopher was amazing. We laughed so much. The whole day was perfectly organised and the time on the river was the highlight of our trip to San Jose.

This was the most amazing excursion we have taken. Exceeded our expectations. 4 hours on the water with a fantastic lunch and ended with a cold beer. The guides spoke fantastic English and extremely knowledgeable of the area. The driver was great and I would not be able to have his job ever. The traffic in Costa Rica is insane. He got us there and back safe.

Can’t wait to come back! Waves were fun, tour guide was very educational and the overall experience was breath taking. The lunch was also very good!

This is a great tour if you enjoy the outdoors and water activities, the instructors are also aware if there are newys rafting.

This was a great experience! I was pleased that they provided a shuttle to the hotels in San Jose, so I didn't have to worry about transportation. The rafting was amazing with such a beautiful river and many exciting rapids. The guides knew the river well, and I am thankful they offered this experience to both English and Spanish speakers. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great day rafting in Costa Rica!

I had an amazing time white water rafting. Our guide Rob was so great. He was fun and adventurous while also making us feel very safe. Lovely adventure.

Beautiful activity. Pick up logistics were bad. Had 5:15 pick up. Driver arrived on time. Guide did not. Kept being told that he was at wrong hotel and would arrive in five minutes. An hour later he arrives in his car looking for parking. No apologies.