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Pacuare Lodge

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Renowned raft-in luxury eco-lodge
- Breath-taking rainforest location
- World Class White-Water Rafting
- Birdwatching, river adventures & cultural visits

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Overview

Tucked away in dense, untouched rainforest is the exceptional Pacuare Lodge, an amazing eco-hotel well suited to anyone with an adventurous spirit. It’s highly luxurious and very well run, and while it must be said that it’s on the expensive side, the property offers a superb all-round experience and we highly recommended a stay here to anyone who can afford it. Arrival at the lodge is via either ground or raft transfer – there’s a pick-up and drop-off service running at set times between various points in San Jose and Siquirres. The Pacuare River is known for being particularly picturesque; it’s a top destination for white water rafting because of its series of thrilling rapids, not to mention the unspoiled rainforest scenery that runs along either side of it.

Accommodation at the lodge consists of 20 thatched roof bungalow suites, each one of which stands apart from the others, affording plenty of privacy. All bungalows are positioned to make the most of the scenic views, and they all come with a private veranda. There are five categories of suite to choose from including Garden Suites with lush views of the exuberant rainforest, River View Suites which as their name suggests look out on to the Pacuare River, the Canopy Suite located high up in the treetops and the Linda Vista Villas which are nestled up on a ridge. Finally, there’s the impressive Jaguar Suite, the lodge’s largest and most luxurious. Some of the amenities common to all suites include indoor and outdoor showers, hammocks out on the veranda, an en-suite bathroom, bathrobes, a fan and luxury bedding. Some suites have fully tiled bathrooms and standalone bath tubs, and a laundry service is available. The lodge is committed to building with sustainable materials and all of the suites have a natural yet upmarket feel.

This stunning property provides first class access to all the wonders and delights of the rainforest. While it’s perhaps best known for its exhilarating, lengthy white-water rafting tours which pass through class III and IV rapids for unforgettable river adventures, there’s so much more on offer. There’s a multi-activity canyoning experience set in a rugged gorge, and an exciting treetop canopy tour. There’s also a more relaxing kayaking adventure down a calmer portion of the river, along with a number of less strenuous activities to enjoy such as relaxed waterfall and birdwatching hikes, and nature walks. For chilling out after a busy activity, the Jawa Juü Spa offers a tempting array of treatments based on centuries-old techniques and organic products.

Children aged 7 and above are welcome and there are some excellent activities tailored specifically to families. Parents should note that for safety reasons there are age restrictions on some of the excursions and activities, for example children under 12 years of age are unable to participate in white water rafting. There’s plenty, however, to do for all ages. Families can enjoy a huge range of adventures from exploring the tree tops to rafting in parts of the river best suited to novices, visiting local villages and classrooms and meeting the local Cabecar Indians who will share their knowledge of local traditions. Parents are reminded, given the rural nature of the lodge, to ensure that their children are under adult supervision at all times.

Suggested Itineraries for Pacuare Lodge

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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