Puerto Viejo Departure, Lunch
7 hours 30 minutes · Destination Services Costa Rica
from $147per personShared boat trip with lunch.
Check availability →
Rafting Plus SJO Shuttle
La Fortuna: Pacuare Rafting with SJO or Puerto Viejo Shuttle
from $150 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Meeting point
- La Fortuna
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Meal
- Meal included
- Run by
- Calypso Adventures
Overview
This trip turns a transfer day into a river run. You get picked up in La Fortuna with your luggage, ride to a riverside camp near the Pacuare, eat breakfast, then paddle a stretch of class III-IV whitewater through the Pacuare River Gorge before continuing on to San Jose or Puerto Viejo. The whole thing runs about 10 hours door to door.
The river section is the draw. The opening miles are lively class III-IV water, and after roughly 40 minutes the raft enters the gorge, where canyon walls rise on both sides and waterfalls spill toward the river. Reviewers repeatedly call the Pacuare the best river they have rafted anywhere, and several say the guides made them feel safe even when the rapids got their hearts going.
It suits travellers moving between Arenal and the Caribbean coast in particular, since starting in one place and finishing in another costs nothing extra. Breakfast and lunch are included, along with equipment, a certified guide, and hotel or town pickup and drop-off. Photos are the one add-on: photographers work the river and sell shots afterward for an extra fee.
What's Included
Included
- Certified guide
- Equipment
- Transportation
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Not Included
- Photos (optional, for an additional fee)
Itinerary
- PickupChoose from three pickup locations; hotel or town pickup is included. Confirm your pickup point on the booking page.
- Van transferTravel by van toward the river. Reviewers describe the drive from La Fortuna as long.
- Riverside campArrive at the camp near the Rio Pacuare, which one reviewer says has lockers, showers and toilets. Breakfast is served here.
- Rafting the PacuarePaddle the first stretch of class III-IV rapids, then enter the Pacuare River Gorge for the canyon section.
- Return to campHead back to camp to shower and change before lunch.
- Van and drop-offTravel by van via Siquirres to one of three drop-off locations, which can be a different destination from your pickup at no extra cost.
What To Expect From The Tour
Here is what the day actually involves, based on the listing and what travellers report back.
- Pack a change. Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes, as the listing advises. You will get wet on the river, so plan accordingly.
- Bring luggage. Several reviewers travelled from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo with full backpacks and said the crew handled the bags without fuss. This is a working shuttle as well as a tour.
- Long drive. Expect a long van ride to the river from La Fortuna. One reviewer noted the driver stopped for bathrooms and snacks along the way.
- Real rapids. The whitewater is class III-IV, and reviewers who have rafted elsewhere rank the Pacuare above other rivers. Guides are described as serious about safety while keeping the mood fun.
- Food included. Breakfast and lunch are both included. Reviewers, including one self-described picky eater, praised the food on the trip.
- Photos cost extra. There is no photo package in the base price.
Common issues. The drive to the river is long, which several reviewers flag as the main slog of the day. One reviewer reported being picked up about 25 minutes later than indicated, so build some slack into onward plans. Photos are not included and add cost. Alcohol, drugs and drinks in the vehicle are not allowed.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
The tour includes a certified guide, rafting equipment, breakfast and lunch, and transportation with hotel or town pickup and drop-off. Finishing in a different destination from your pickup costs nothing extra. Photos are the main extra, sold for an additional fee.
Can I Start In La Fortuna And Finish In Puerto Viejo?
Yes. The listing highlights starting in one listed place and finishing in another at no extra cost, with daily departures from Arenal Volcano, San Jose and the Caribbean Coast. Multiple reviewers used the tour exactly this way, luggage included.
Where Does Pickup Happen?
Hotel or town pickup and drop-off are included, with three pickup and three drop-off options. Confirm your specific pickup point on the booking page.
How Long Is The Tour?
The full experience runs about 10 hours. That covers the van transfers, breakfast, the river section, lunch, and the onward drop-off.
What Should I Bring?
Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Luggage can travel with you if you are using the tour as a transfer.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Inside that window the listing does not state terms, so check the booking page before committing if your plans are uncertain.
Book Rafting Plus SJO Shuttle
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
Check Price & Availability →Other One-Day From The Caribbean And Arenal Worth Comparing