Pacuare River Lodge

Location: Bajos del Tigre, Río Pacuare, Bajo Tigre, cr

Star Rating: 9.5 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Check-out: 09:30 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Luggage storage
• Packed lunches
• Non-smoking throughout
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Kid meals
• Shared kitchen
• Outdoor furniture
• Fruits
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Guest room sealed after cleaning
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
• Happy hour
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Housekeeping on request
• Reception hall
• Japanese garden
• Fishing nearby
• Horse riding nearby
• Water sports equipment
• Charcoal grill
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Standard Bungalow

  The bungalow has a patio. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Linen
  • Fire extinguisher

• Bungalow with Patio

  The bungalow has a patio. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Private bathroom
  • Linen
  • Fire extinguisher

• Superior Bungalow

  The bungalow has a patio. The unit has 4 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Private bathroom
  • Linen
  • Fire extinguisher

• Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room

  This bed in dormitory features a patio.

  Max Occupancy: 1 (1 Adults)

  • Linen
  • Fire extinguisher

Guest Reviews

• hans (8/5): - Location Lack of communication. It is primarily a rafting place and that is fine as such. But a reservation on Booking.com does not slow that.
• ugalde (9/5): - Me gustó la experiencia con la naturaleza,el trato del personal No enviaron las fotografías del tour de rafting
• Jutta (10/5): Das Rafting war ein ganz tolles Erlebnis. Die Unterkunft einfach aber schön. - Es war einfach etwas ganz besonderes. Ich werde es mein Leben lang nicht vergessen. Einfach aber schön. Mitten in der Natur. Wir hatten leider keinen Strom. Der war ausgefallen.
• Frank (10/5): Wunderschön!! - Die Lage, die Natur und natürlich die Mitarbeiter - wie eine große Familie!!! War kein Luxus aber authentisch. Für uns sechs jedenfalls klasse! Und das Rafting - ein Muss!!!! -
• Ines (8/5): Very good value for money and the river guides were great, too! - The views from the lodge are incredible - the best of all the lodges we came past when rafting downstream from Pacuare River Lodge, even better than the one from Buena's Pacuare Lodge. The food was very good too - simple, but fresh and cooked from scratch.
• Serena (7/5): Amazing jungle experience for price, but room for improvement in logistics and hospitality - The location was unreal. I loved the candlelight dinners, the beautiful garden, the waterfall hike and the chorus of the jungle as we were falling asleep. Magical place to be. The experience could be improved in a few ways, especially with two young kids: -Better communication around timing and poor meal timing for young families: meeting time was at 11 am - we were not picked up until 12 pm and had to wait around on the farm for an hour with an unclear estimate of how long we would need to wait. Then once we arrived lunch was not served until 2 pm. If we knew this we would have packed lunch for our kids as they needed to go down for a nap. Would be nice to have a refresco or snack upon arrival. Similarly dinner was not until 7 pm and breakfast not until 8 am. We burned through all our snacks as the kids were hungry well before any meal times. There was a similar lack of communication around pick up time. -There was only a raft guide and volunteers on site at the lodge which made hospitality a little lacking as no one was really in charge or making sure we were comfortable. When we arrived, our bathroom was not clean and I had to seek out a volunteer to come clean it. I couldn’t find anyone to ask about lunch or anything. We didn’t have anyone to ask about extra pillows for our kids. After the first night we woke up with no see um bug bites all over us and our kids face and hands (exposed skin) and had to fill all the holes in the screen with toilet paper and curtains for the following night. Screens need to be replaced. -Because we were entering by land the raft guides didn’t really take care of us - we had to seek them out and introduce ourselves and I found we were generally on our own. I think there needs to be a staff in charge there to improve the experience and ensure everyone is taken care of. -I didn’t appreciate how most of the guides and volunteers were Americans - the experience felt lacking in authenticity without Costa Ricans leading the nature tour and cooking food. Our most authentic experience was with our driver, who was local and spoke Spanish with us.
• Andreas (9/5): Kabinen mitten im Dschungel mit Blick auf den Parcuare River. - Sehr abgelegen und sehr spezielles Erlebnis. Kolibris direkt vorm Balkon. Wir sind zwei Nächte geblieben und haben sm Abreise Tag eine 3h Rafting Tour gemacht. Unser Mietauto wurde vom Personal zum Ausstieg überstellt. Alles TOP! Wir hatten keinen Strom was das Erlebnis aber noch spezieller machte.
• Giulia (7/5): -
• Joanna (10/5): Dynamic and exciting trip! -
• Guest (10/5): Bol to naozaj nádherný zážitok vrámci našej svadobnej cesty. Mať tri dni bez internetu bolo pre nás oslobodzujúce a naoz -
• Coleman (10/5): Magical location perfect for rafting, immersing in nature, and feeling a sense of retreat. - Rafting into and out of the lodge was an exciting way to travel and really feel immersed in the spectacular beauty of the mountain jungle surroundings. I appreciate the opportunity for adventure and exercise (paddling, swimming, exploring waterfalls). The lodge bungalows are simple, with beds and screened walls to enjoy the sounds and scenery without feeling too much of a human footprint on the local nature. Everything was absolutely beautiful and tranquil. Fernando, our everything-guide, was amazing - Safe rafting, talented chef (delicious meals!), waterfall hike tour guide, and entertainment coordinator. We played Uno by candlelight in the rain. I'll have unforgettable memories of this magical River Lodge. Thank you Johanna, Fernando, and Andre!! No Concerns
• Jonathan (10/5): Unbelievable - Rafting Nothing
• Carolina (9/5): Incredible experience, we loved our 3 nights there, highly recommended - Increíble location, really nice set up. We had two rooms with private bathrooms that worked very well. Great food and nice to have communal meals. Great walks around the property and we loved to go in and out by rafting. Staff were all super friendly and helpful. An absolutely lovely place even without wifi, not much electricity and rainy days. We didn’t mind (even our teenage children were fine with it) but there is no wifi or hot water. There was limited electricity because they have solar panels and we had rainy and cloudy days.
• André (10/5): Exceptional - Immersion in nature
• Eleanor (10/5): Excellent! - I loved this property and the total experience. I live in CR and felt this was one of my best adventures. I will return with friends.
• Sarah (8/5): - Fantastic place. Unique place with rafting in and out. Great guides and very experienced. Beautiful spot on the river Recommend this
• Jason (9/5): Superb -
• Marius (9/5): Superb - Amazing stay. Beautiful view from the room as well as from the common area. Organization of the rafting was perfectly managed and a lot of fun. Vegegtarian diet was taken care of and overall super friendly staff. Food and Drinks are taken care of. Alcoholic drinks you need to bring yourself or buy when you are tranferred to the lodge. We had no phone reception which we actually liked very much. Some had, so probably depends on your provider. Just bring a Book or a game.
• J (10/5): Perfect location to switch off - Positioning of the lodges on the hills above the river was beautiful. It was secluded, peaceful and surrounded by nature. So many birds and butterflies around the property.
• Nicholas (9/5): Loved the location, food and staff.. so helpful. - Loved the location and being able to sit on our balcony watching the birds and river Nothing
• Michael (10/5): Exceptional - Clean and fresh with a good view of the river. Our river guide prepared good and healthy meals for us. Lovely short trail through deep water to a swimming spot with a waterfall. The room did need a little service, like a leaky sink.
• Sarah (8/5): It was magical to switch off from the modern world and reconnect with nature. - Loved being out in the middle of nowhere to take in the wonderful scenery and beauty of the wildlife. I enjoyed the food cooked at the property. Moses was the best host we had at the property. Tony the driver was also very friendly and helpful. The volunteers at the property were also great. Would like to be have told that the electricity wouldn’t last all night - just to charge phone and watch. A couple of different activities would have been nice for the afternoon of a stay. Lack of communication about certain things at the property. We had our own toilet and shower but they were very primitive.
• Sandra (10/5): Exceptional -
• Christine (10/5): Exceptional - Pacuare River Lodge is a beautiful place. Very special to raft to the lodge. Great place to relax, sit, watch, read and take pictures. Take an extra day there, it is worth it. Johanna and Kirk do a really good job. They helped me as well with my bike. Thanks also to the stuff at the lodge who did a really good job. Muchas gracias! And, DON'T try to drive there, the road is REALLY bad!!
• Gillian (10/5): Exceptional -
• Anke (9/5): Superb - Great lodge in the rainforest with wonderful staff. Food was excellent. Perfect getaway to relax and enjoy the nature. Our host Joanna had been great to organize the drive to the lodge and to the bus station.
• Jolanta (10/5): A never-to-forget experience - The rafting and stay at Pacuare Lodge is 100 per cent top-class and can be recommended to those willing to enjoy an adventure and stay in the rainforest. The rafting for us (a group of 8 friends, rafting for the first time in our life) was one of the highlights of our 20 days trip in Costa Rica. The guides navigated the rafts so easily that it did not really matter if we paddled as instructed or confused commands – were were safe in their hands and could trust the guides completely. The guides Moses and Walter were very professional, entertaining and great communicators; as well as very attentive and sensitive at the same time. Everybody should give a try to this experience! Much has been said about the Lodge and its surroundings in other reviews – the praise is well deserved. This place is unforgettable and the Lodge should be added to everybody‘s itinerary as the atmosphere and the feeling you get there is beyond words.
• Richard (10/5): Amazing off-grid experience. Friendly staff and tasty food - Simple but beautiful setting, off grid (no WIFI or cell phone signal) made it easy to properly relax. The guided walks (no additional charge) were fun. Staff extremely friendly, freshly prepared proper food was really tasty. Excellent value for money. There’s no hot water in the showers but the climate is so warm it didn’t really matter. If you opt for the pickup option to arrive or leave rather than rafting in/out be prepared for quite a white knuckle 4x4 experience.
• David (10/5): Lodge surrounded by natural beauty, birds and nice people. Rafting - exciting and stunning. - If you want to combine an amazing pacuare river rafting experience with a stay in a wonderful cabin set in the middle of nature. You want AC and cocktails go somewhere else. If you want views to die for (our cabin was No.2 and had a lovely little outside porch and two chairs and we couldn’t budge from it. This is a little paradise but I want to stress that above that Joanne (who runs it with her husband Kirk) seems to have a magic touch with her staff and guides. Moises (spelling?) cooked with a lovely light touch friendliness and was a star on the raft, made it fun and safe. But everyone there was perfect. I foolishly lost my phone and cards (nightmare holiday scenario) and Joanne went beyond to track them down and arrange for us to pick them up. I can’t thank her enough. And I can’t recommend this highlight of our holiday highly enough! Nothing
• Tanya (10/5): Immersed in the rainforest, amazing staff! - Nestled in the rainforest, the Pacuare Lodge had simple, affordable accomodations. The staff, Moises, Fernando and the others are amazing. We felt so cared for. Sleeping in our Glamping Room, while it was raining, watching the clouds move into and out of the mountains, the birds, it was perfect! We enjoyed the river rafting so much. The staff cooked family meals that were eaten with the others staying at the lodge, it was such a beautiful community. Joanna was a wonderful hostess, with great communication. She even got on the phone with me several times to help us choose how many nights we needed and details about the rafting trip. Highly recommend and look forward to returning.
• Éva (9/5): Superb - Amazing unique place in the middle of the jungle. Breakfast, lunch, dinner are nice and tasty additions - though necessary as well. Well isolated from everything else, hence good to experince the forest (pretty loud, especially at night), many animals are around and good for those, who is looking for adventure. There is a nice pond on the creek approachable with few mins hike, where you can swim. Overall it is a great experience with likeminded young people. There is only one free option to enter the lodge, at a given time (11am). Shall you want to enter another time, you need to pay (50$) - which they only inform you about after the booking. The road there is quite bumpy, hence they try to convince you to sign up for the rafting approach which is pricy (90$) - bit pushy on this. Local hikes are also not free, though there is not too much else to do, you would also need swimshoes, as the major hike to the waterfall takes you to the river belly deep. Other hikes are really weather and mood driven by the local staff. The bungalows are basically a bed (with really old super uncomfy spring mats), surrounded by net walls, which does not support a good night sleep, but helps to experience the night noise of the forest. Toilets and showers are quite outdoorsy, hence not the cleanest, can be 1-2 mins afar from the bungalow, hence flash light at night is essential. Not approachable by anyone with mobility issues. Bugs are around everywhere, though local frogs did a great job taking care of them.
• Elizabeth (7/5): Overall loved the location and relaxing space. However suggest the rooms would benefit from an upgrade to include some h - The remote location was fabulous with river view and access for a swim and a waterfall visit . Lots of bird life to watch and very relaxing. Good rafting with experienced helm. We were well fed but suggest fruit for pudding would be a welcome addition. Taking into account how reasonable the cost of inclusive accommodation, however the cabins could only be described as basic. One room had no curtain for privacy over the door. Could do with new towels as mine had holes in it. It would be appreciated by guests to understand that some of the bathrooms are detached from the room and not en-suite. The description of the single room said it had a patio which it did not.
• Sally (8/5): The view from the bedroom was breathtaking in the middle of the rain forest. - Fabulous location overlooking the river. The view was amazing and bungalows set in lovely grounds with well-prepared meals. The bungalow was quite basic for a superior room
• Jeff (10/5): Exceptional - The lodge is located on a beautiful property overlooking the Pacuare River. The owners Kirk and Joanna and all the staff were excellent. The facilities were very clean and well maintained. The rafting was superb with the best guide Bluche. Highly recommended by me.
• Paul (10/5): Beautiful spot, great place! - Great property and awesome stay as long as you know what you’re getting. Staff (Moses) is awesome and cook’s for you, is your hiking guide and rafting guide. Linens are clean but basic. Beds are comfortable. This is glamping at its finest. Tons of food, great hiking (difficult), birds everywhere, great views. Definitely a bird watching experience. Biting insects are few but bug spray is a must. Cabins are basic but functional and mostly keep the jungle out. We had a blast! No internet or phone, electricity in the cabins and at the eating area. Beer and wine available to be brought in but otherwise not offered. Although there is no hot water the showers mostly felt good because it was so warm out.
• Claire (10/5): Unforgettable , beautiful, restorative - The location was beautiful. Total seclusion from the outside world in a magical part of this region. The food was excellent, the guides went above and beyond to assist my 75 year old husband who suffers with osteoarthritis. Highlights were swimming under the waterfall, watching the hummingbirds and fireflies and not least the 3 hour raft out which was both thrilling and yet safe with our guide, Walter. We will never forget this experience. My husband achieved things he did not think he was capable of and this was down to the sensitive expertise of the wonderful staff.
• Caleb (10/5): - Enjoyed our stay!
• Ivan (10/5): Amazing place to get away from it all and just relax! - I can only sum it up with how excellent everything about Pacuare River Lodge was. We went 2 nights, in and out through rafting. I would highly recommend rafting, we really enjoyed it - it offers enough adrenaline, but still we felt perfectly safe. The place itself is amazing - houses are very small and have only bed inside, but you don't need anything else really. The view from bed is the best I've ever seen, there is only mosquito net in front of you and the view is completely open. We did a short walk day one, and longer walk day day two. There is river from swimming although it's not right in front of the property. The people there, the foood (!!!), it's just perfect to get away and relax for 2 days. It was really well worth the money. Best 2 days of our trip to Costa Rica. I can't name anything bad. Know what to expect, and enjoy it!
• Anne-marie (10/5): An absolute highlight of our holiday. The white water rafting was fantastic and we were looked after so well. - In the middle of the rainforest surrounded by nature…no internet etc making no it just the most authentic experience. The accommodation is very basic - a bed in a hut (some en suite, not all) but there was electricity and running water. All you could hear was the magic sound of the river and birds. We slept so well! The guides cooked us amazing food too! It is basic - but that’s what we wanted. You can pay more for some luxury, but that misses the point of a real rainforest experience. You can’t purchase drinks etc so good to know in advance that you can take your own if you want to.
• Grayden (9/5): We had a fabulous time. - The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The location is spectacular and the rafting to and from was so much fun. Accommodation is rustic but comfortable. Food was fresh and delicious. Highly recommend this experience.
• Antonio (10/5): Great place to rest - The paradisiacal place
• Jitka (10/5): Loved it! Would want to do it again and again! - What an amazing experience! We have done the two day raft in and raft out trip to Pacuare River Lodge and it really was one of the most memorable experiences you can get! The owners were friendly and all of their staff especially the guides were fantastic people, really professional and fun at the same time! Shout out to Moses! He was amazing! The whole trip delivered more than we could have hoped for! Nature at its best! Yes the accommodation is basic but it makes it a lot more rewarding as without wifi people actually talk to each other and engage with the environment! The wildlife that we got to see was also on another level!
• Vicky (10/5): Unforgettable - so glad we did it. - Amazing location, wonderful people, great food and the most amazing river rafting trip. Very well organised and great value. Nothing
• Somsen (10/5): Staying there and being taken care of by the wonderful staff was definitely our favorite part of our vacation! - We absolutely loved the whole staff. They made everyone feel welcome and we enjoyed every minute! Not the most comfortable beds and bathrooms were far for old people during the night. ;)
• Osman (9/5): Superb -
• Naveen (10/5): Exceptional - This eco lodge is in a stunning location overlooking the Pacquare river. The staff is extremely nice and friendly and took care of us very well. They have a beautiful kitchen and dining area to hangout, overlooking the Pacquare river ! The price for the lodge included delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner, served fresh and hot. We also did a couple of hikes around the resort. Diego was a great guide !. All the staff members/river guides were extremely friendly - Diego, Walter, Johnny. This place is a great value for money ! The rooms need some basic storage which was missing.
• Claudia (8/5): - Einzigartiger Naturbezug, back to Basic, einfach und trotzdem besonders! Top!
• Keith (10/5): Excellent! - Location, wildlife, river, waterfalls, atmosphere, staff, food Communication about services, transfers and delay receiving rafting photos
• Bonnie (10/5): The rafting was a blast, the food was fabulous, we met wonderful folks from all over the world and Johnny, our guide was - Everything! It was breathtakingly beautiful, serene, peaceful and fun! Nothing! It was all perfect!!!
• Klos (10/5): Exceptional - The rafting was so amazing. We went there for birdwatching and got what we came for but it all was so much more than that. Can recommend 10/10
• tomomi (10/5): - This is a unique experience and one we highly recommend. Slightly on the rustic side, but considering it’s magnificent location above the Pacuare River, it’s hard to complain. Staff was super accommodating and made us feel right at home. Really enjoyed the food as well! And, let’s not forget the rafting. This is an absolutely beautiful section and the guides were terrific. Don’t pass this one by!
• Kelsey (9/5): Superb -
• Karianny (10/5): This was a very unique experience, and for the price and service it's unbeatable. I recommend! - You stay in a bungalow in the Costa Rican rainforest with absolutely breathtaking views. The guides are so nice and helpful. We did 2 days of rafting, we ate great food, and the exploration of the rainforest was adventurous and fun! Keep in mind that this is very much a "glamping" experience, so the water for the shower will be cold. Also, it's recommended to bring 1 pair of dry clothes & 1 pair of clothes that will be wet which will be worn for each wet adventure (rafting + waterfall swim).
• James (9/5): Superb - Stunning location with views over the river, Diego was a fantastic host and raft guide, great food every meal. Mattresses and pillows could perhaps do with an upgrade.
• Kelly (10/5): Exceptional -
• Yia (9/5): Superb - The place. Is in the jungle. This is very beautiful and peaceful. The volunteers were great! The food was good. We could not do much rafting since we had a small child with us. This became a bit boring at some point.
• Anonymous (10/5): Exceptional -
• Jo (10/5): amazing river rapids and remote stay - this really is a unique opportunity to stay in a remote tropical location above the river Pacuare . the individual bungalows have different facilities and all have amazing views. the cacophony of birdsong and the sound of the river are amazing. if you stay here you will be away from everything - wider transport is not available (arrive and leave by the river) and there is very limited signal -or wi if that’s important to you. Moses who guided us through the rapids was exceptionally skilled and the organisation of the whole trip was excellent - don’t miss this if you want to see the real Costa Rica - for ease stay at the Finca Tres Equis the night before the river pick up happens - do this trip!!
• Dolina (10/5): AMAZING! - The STAFF : excellent people, excellent meals, excellent stay! I would like to address a special thanks to each of the guides that were there during my stay (from 9 to 11th of April 2023) as I was really appreciated their human touch and they made my stay very,very pleasant! I would not want to give names as I might forget one and my intention its not to hurt anyone feeling as each of one of them was special in his own way! I would like to mention my greeting to Anne-Claire, the voluntary, for her kindness and time spent with us! and thanks to Johanna for her managerial skills ;-) changing the bungalow was a very good move that I was highly appreciated! Not to forget the rafting which was simply amazing!!! I really loved the 3 days spent with you guys! THANK YOU, each one of you, for making our vacation plenty of joy and color! NOTHING!
• Athanasios (10/5): Exceptional - The location, the rooms, the vibe of the place, the food, the rafting. Everything was amazing. Nothing.
• Solís (9/5): Superb -
• Janet (10/5): - Excellent hotel to spend time in nature. Transportation is somewhat difficult since it’s a remote area in jungle. Other than that, everything work out perfect, we get to hop on a raft from a private trail from the hotel. We enjoyed hospitality from hotel staff, very good home cooking food for guests are included. We wish we could stay longer…
• Francis (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing rafting exerpeince into and out of this great location! Owners and all staff made the stay and the scenary was amazing.
• Valeria (9/5): Superb - It is one of the most experiences I've ever had even when I am Costa Rican. This lodge is amazing, the staff is super friendly and the cost/experience ratio is worth it. It really is on the wild side but the huts and the beds were really comfortable and mosquito proof which is always a plus. Highly recommended!
• Emma (10/5): amazing experience / stay - everything was amazing - from the rafting experience (which you can do to reach and leave the lodge ), to the guides, the accommodation and the food ! a really great experience highly recommended to anyone who want to enjoy Pacuare river and some rafting ! nothing :)
• Sarah (10/5): Exceptional - One of my favorite places in Costa Rica! I did the rafting tour and stayed one night. Rafting was 1h to arrive to the lodge and 4h to get out of it again on the next day. We did a short hike to a waterfall as well. The location was very special and I really enjoyed my night there with the sounds of the rainforest. It is very calming to stay there without any signal and just watch the birds and butterflies flying around. The Staff was nice and they prepared good food. The dog was also very sweet. You can lock your door to the room if you take a locker with you.
• Timothy (10/5): Best ever - The atmosphere on the river in the jungle. Amazing nothing
• Timothy (10/5): I highly recommend. - The price was a great value. Accommodations and staff were awesome. The raft trip was a 10. A little difficult for handicapped.
• Flemming (9/5): Superb -
• Saulius (10/5): Exceptional -
• Sherry (9/5): Could have been the best day in our trip to Costa Rica - what a unique experience, sleeping in the Jungle!!! the place is full board and has a private waterfall! perfect location! was Epic we were planning a White water experience and I asked if it will be exited, i was told it will be level 2-3! it was far from it. big disappointment! it was more like calm boating, a level between 1,1.5 - this was big miss . as we did it in our last days in Costa Rica and haven't had the chance to find another place - i know it is the dry season and they cannot control the water level but they know we are coming in February! this is a big failure in managing customer expectations. no matter how remarkable our experience was at the lodge the lack of rafting left os with a bitter taste!
• Kornhauser (10/5): Exceptional -
• Nicole (10/5): Amazing place, nice staff, good food, great rafting - The location was beautiful, great view, nice staff, great food. The rafting was great and it was nice the guides took us to see waterfalls as well No warm shower
• Anonymous (10/5): A dream come true! - this place was a dream come true. i had the most amazing stay here during my time traveling solo in Costa Rica. Johanna was so accommodating and shoutout to all the guides and volunteers, all amazing people who i really enjoyed spending time around. most people come into the lodge for a night just as a rafting excursion, but staying for 4 nights was amazing because it gave me the time to explore all the waterfalls, disconnect from my phone, and really explore all the lodge has to offer. i highly reccomend staying more than 1 night! my cabin was comfortable and the guides make all the food which is all delicious. the sound of the rainforest and the river are beautiful. rafting was a beautiful experience too! highly recommend making your way here during your time in Costa Rica.
• Georgie (10/5): Exceptional -
• Serge (9/5): Superb -
• Serge (9/5): Superb -
• Holger (9/5): A must on your Costa Rica Tour! - Don’t expect anything then basic standards, but that did not bother us at all, as the place is beautifully located next to the Pacuare River, which pays off for everything. We spent a lot of time on the patio just to enjoy the sound of the river and to watch that incredible nature. You get an amazing (!) rafting experience combined, if you want - and you should! Also the place is perfect for more then 1 night to stay, as there is nice hikes and views around. Communication with team a bit complicated, as there is no connectivity at the spot and no real staff to ask. The freelancers on the spot are cool travellers though.
• Preetam (8/5): Very good -
• Michael (10/5): Exceptional - Awesome Experience, one of my best travel experiences. We book river rafting with the lodge direct. This is a must!!!!!
• Sarah (9/5): Superb -
• Debbie (10/5): What a beautiful place to stay after Whitewater rafting. - Fantastic views , super home cooked food. Great staff .
• Helen (10/5): Exceptional - Breathtaking location and facilitated a great rafting tour and hike! The food that was included was also amazing Nothing - just remember to bring any drinks / snacks. There’s no alcohol on site and no shops nearby
• Vanessa (7/5): Good -
• Karen (7/5): Good - I loved the incredibly gorgeous surroundings, the extremely friendly and helpful volunteer staff, and the guides. They were all incredible and the rafting was a wonderful experience (even if it happened only one of the two days I scheduled and I wasn't sure til the last moment if it would actually happen at all in the dates I had scheduled) I would have had an outstanding experience if it were not clouded by the rude and insulting way I felt treated by the owner, Johanna, in the end. The general message with the details about costs did not mention anything about a $55 transfer fee back to my car. When I showed her the messages and disputed this, she got very defensive and accused me of being forgetful. She also told me how patient she had to be with me. From the beginning, I was worried by her unresponsiveness when I wanted to extend my dates, more than a month ahead of time. Finally she responded and said she had been on vacation and away from her phone. But other guests I spoke to also had issues reaching her. Then she sent a message right before my arrival saying she needed to confirm my dates because she didn't have them scheduled, even though I had confirmed long before with both Booking. com and with her. And just before my arrival, she wrote me that my rafting trip could not happen on one of the two days I scheduled because there weren't enough people. In fact, she could not even guarantee rafting on the second day for me, unless I paid double price, until her other guests secured their payments. Another guest at the place told me that he had also been forgotten and had to find arrangements on his own nearby, separate from the lodge. He was not apologized to for the mistake. Apparently there had been a big overbooking error. When I brought this up with Johanna, she told me this was not an issue. She never responded to, and appeared to block my subsequent messages. I am still waiting for promised photos from the rafting trip in my email that I don't believe I will ever see. All of these bad feelings could have been avoided by simply being accountable and patient and not putting blame on the guest, when she knew I was tired and under stress from having my arrangements changed on me at the last minute, along with other factors that I explained to her.
• Andrea (10/5): A relaxing few days in the middle of nowhere With a great raft at the end - It was very remote and quiet we rafted in Our guide William was super knowledgeable about the area and plants animals and people and was a certified raft guide We hiked fished and rafted There are many birds butterflies frogs and such right on the property Very Relaxing ! Food was great Could have had better screens but It was still fine
• Hannah (10/5): The highlight of our trip, a must stay for adventure and wildlife lovers - We absolutely loved everything about this place. Initially attracted by the raft in/raft out (+85$ pp) we soon learned there is so much more to this place. During our 2 night stay, we also hiked to 2 different waterfalls/swimming holes and saw so much wildlife on the way to each of these. Jorge really made the stay, educating us on the wildlife and nature around us which was invaluable. Food was very good and plentiful and exceeded expectations. Rafting was amazing and you really do get your moneys worth and felt completely safe with Jorge the whole time. Would 100% return.
• Fabienne (10/5): Wow! - Wow! Pacuare River Lodge is just amazing. We came by raft and left by raft. This was an adventure and we loved it. The guides are really helpful, friendly and funny. The rooms are clean and you have a really nice view over the river and the rainforest. If you stay a bit longer you have two hikes with one of the guides to some waterfalls. They were so pretty and refreshing. A bit future down the river is a natural pool where you can swim and relax. There is no internet but that was really relaxing and we really needed that. The food is just amazing. The guides prepared every dinner freshly. It was a good mix of the Costa Rican and European kitchen. We highly recommend this place! :) Nothing at all
• Kerry (10/5): A highlight of our stay in Costa Rica! - The hosts and everyone there were so nice and accommodating, and the setting was amazing! The beds were comfortable, and the food was also delicious. The most unforgettable part of our stay was the river trip in and out. I went with my adult kids, and they both said it was one of the highlights of their life. I can't speak highly enough about it. You'd regret not making it part of your experience staying there.
• Silke (10/5): a wonderful nature experience - in the middle of nature, wonderful landscape, great hikes to waterfall, rafting, very kind staff, great food mattress with little room for improvement
• Jens (8/5): - Bis auf die abenteuerliche Zufahrt ein tolles Erlebnis.
• Kevin (10/5): A true hidden gem! One of our best experiences in Costa Rice. Thank you Johanna & Rasta! - What an experience! It feels like a hidden gem. We booked the river rafting experience which was around $80USD per person - and it was totally worth it! We spent in total 4hrs on the river, 1h from start to the hotel and 3hrs from the hotel to siquirres to get our cars. In general, we would highly recommend staying for two nights & definitely book the room with the balcony option (this includes a private bathroom + the best view imho) .
• Birgit (9/5): Superb - Excellent home made food
• Patrick (10/5): - Toller Aufenthalt! Besonders das Rafting war sehr schön. Die Lodge ist einfach, aber wunderschön mitten in der Natur. Das Personal war sehr nett und hilfsbereit. Ein wirkliches Highlight
• Annelot (10/5): Fantastische ervaring!! - Fantastische ervaring!! De lodge ligt super afgelegen dus je kan er niet op eigen houtje naartoe, keuze is raften of opgehaald worden. Omdat wij later in de middag aankwamen zijn we opgehaald en dat had Johanna allemaal top geregeld, de weg ernaartoe was enorm slecht maar juist een vette ervaring bij iemand in de auto die de weg op zijn duimpje kent. De lodge zelf is prachtig! Allemaal kleine hutjes die uitkijken over de rivier. Het is super basic en ik heb het wel koud gehad snachts dus zorg voor een lekkere trui, maar het uitzicht is zo mooi en bijzonder! Er werd heerlijk voor ons gekookt en ook t ontbijt was top! Daarna 3 uur raften wat super leuk was, de boys maken er echt een feestje van aan boord en begeleiden super. Aan het eind maakten ze ook weer een lekkere lunch klaar met wraps en konden we onszelf even opfrissen onder de douches om onze reis te vervolgen. Een ervaring die ik absoluut niet zou willen missen!
• Verified traveler (10/5): - We had an AMAZING time here. Our guide, Abel, was fantastic and very knowledge about the area and rafting. Next time I’d bring a book to keep myself busy throughout the day, but I found out on my last day that they have a library of books as well! The only thing that could possibly make this place better is a pool or some lounge chairs to tan in 🙂 regardless it was perfect and we had a great time.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Nicht genügend darauf hingewiesen - Leider konnten wir die Übernachtung nicht antreten, weil wir nicht wussten, dass man exakt und nicht ab 10:00 Uhr morgens am vereinbarten Treffpunkt sein muss. Mit dem Auto oder zu Fuss ist das Hotel nicht erreichbar.
• Verified traveler (6/5): - Know that after booking, you will be contacted by the owner to pay additional for food. I believe $20/day/person. There is no cell service at all! Also, if you don’t want to take the awful 40 min ride into the lodge, you pay $75 for the raft two day raft. We were only given one day for this price. Horseback riding was never mentioned. The facility is clean and beautiful scenery. However, you get there at 11 and other than a short walk, there is nothing to do but sit around. No music or television. It is very remote. Bring what you want to drink, only tea and water are offered. The shower is not heated. If I would have known all this beforehand, I would have enjoyed my one night much more. My husband and I played checkers for two hours and went to bed at 8 pm out of boredom. The river rafting was amazing and our guide was great. But other then the guide, zero staff exist at the “lodge”. We never received our photos and the owner is very rude. I made the mistake of only booking for one person but was unable to reach Expedia to change it (costa rica wifi issue) and ended up arguing with her for nearly a week over it. Even though I told her I made the mistake and would pay her when I checked in. Not at all Pura Vida.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - This was our favorite stay in Costa Rica. Somehow they turned eco-lodging into an experience that made you feel pampered and catered to. The owners and all employees were very genuine, friendly and made the experience amazing. We had a blast rafting and enjoyed the nearby waterfall and swimming hole. Would definitely go again - and stay longer!

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