Rafting Plus SJO Shuttle
10 hours · Calypso Adventures
from $150per personShared boat trip with lunch.
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Puerto Viejo Departure, Lunch
White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo
from $147 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
- 7 hours 30 minutes
- Meeting point
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Meal
- Meal included
- Run by
- Destination Services Costa Rica
Overview
This trip bundles the two big draws of the Pacuare into one booked day: paddle time on a whitewater river and a ride through rainforest scenery. Destination Services Costa Rica runs it, picking travellers up at selected hotels in Puerto Viejo de Limon and dropping them back afterwards. The listing puts the full experience at 7.5 hours.
The shape of the day is straightforward. After pickup there is a traditional Costa Rican breakfast, then a transfer to the river, a safety briefing and paddling instruction, and then the rafting itself with certified bilingual guides and all equipment provided. Somewhere along the way the group stops for a freshly prepared riverside lunch. Entrance fees and river access are covered in the price; lockers and changing facilities are on hand at the end so nobody has to ride home soaked.
It suits reasonably fit first-timers as well as people who have rafted before. The minimum age is 12, groups run up to 25 travellers with a minimum of two to operate, and the physical demands are real: paddling is a shared job, not a float. Anyone with back problems, heart conditions, or who is pregnant should pick something else, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
What's Included
Included
- Lunch (Freshly prepared riverside Costa Rican lunch)
- River access and entrance fees
- Tour operate with a minimum of 2 people
- Round-trip transportation from selected hotels in Puerto Viejo de Limon
- Traditional Costa Rican Breakfast
- Professional certified bilingual rafting guides
- Paddle and complete rafting equipment
- Lockers for personal belongings
- Changing facilities
Not Included
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupRound-trip transport from selected hotels in Puerto Viejo de Limon is included. Confirm the exact pickup point on the booking page.
- Costa Rican breakfastA traditional breakfast is served before the group heads for the river.
- Transfer to the riverThe drive continues to the rafting put-in. Several reviewers describe it as long, so plan for a full day out.
- Safety briefingGuides run through commands and safety instructions, as reviewers describe, before the rafting begins.
- Rafting the PacuareAll rafting equipment and paddles are included.
- Riverside lunchA freshly prepared Costa Rican lunch is included, served riverside.
- Return and drop-offLockers and changing facilities are available before the ride back to Puerto Viejo.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews.
- Getting wet. Everyone gets soaked. Reviewers say to expect it and to physically participate in paddling. Quick-drying clothing and secure footwear suitable for water are the listing's own recommendation.
- Fitness level. The listing asks for a strong physical fitness level and does not recommend the tour for travellers with back problems, heart conditions, or pregnancy. Reviewers describe it as a workout with calmer floating sections between the rapids.
- What to bring. The listing suggests sunscreen, insect repellent, a towel, a change of clothes and a reusable water bottle. One reviewer specifically advises sunscreen or a long-sleeved swim shirt for arms and legs.
- Long day out. Between the drive from Puerto Viejo, breakfast, the river and lunch, several reviewers describe a full day from early morning to late afternoon. Budget the whole day for it.
- Photos cost extra. Souvenir photos are not included and can be purchased. A reviewer mentions buying a USB of trip pictures separately, so treat that as an optional extra.
- Group size. The tour runs with up to 25 travellers and needs a minimum of two to operate. Expect a shared operation rather than a private trip.
Common issues. The day involves substantial driving; reviewers describe a long drive from Puerto Viejo with additional transit to the river, so a good part of the day is spent in a vehicle. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers and good weather, and if either forces a cancellation you are offered a different date, a different experience or a full refund. Full refunds require cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time. A contact line is available for hotel pickup reconfirmations and day-to-day operational matters. Not wheelchair accessible, and not suitable for pregnant travellers or those with back or heart problems.
Common Questions
Is Pickup From Puerto Viejo Included?
Yes, round-trip transport from selected hotels in Puerto Viejo de Limon is included. Confirm your specific pickup point on the booking page, and use the contact line listed there for pickup reconfirmations.
Are Meals Included?
Yes. A traditional Costa Rican breakfast and a freshly prepared riverside lunch are both included. Alcoholic beverages and personal expenses are not.
Do I Need To Pay Any Extra Fees On The Day?
River access and entrance fees are included, along with all rafting equipment, paddles, lockers and changing facilities. Souvenir photos and gratuities are extra, and reviewers confirm photos are sold separately.
Can Children Join The Tour?
The minimum age is 12. The tour also requires a strong physical fitness level and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, heart conditions, or pregnancy.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and changes are not accepted. Weather cancellations or an unmet minimum group size come with the option of a different date or a full refund.
Is It Suitable For First-time Rafters?
Several reviewers had never rafted before and still had a great time. One said they felt comfortable within five minutes on the raft once the guides had explained the commands and safety instructions. You do have to paddle actively throughout, so expect physical work rather than a passive float.
Book Puerto Viejo Departure, Lunch
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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