Often considered the best river to ride in Costa Rica, the Pacuare River amazes visitors with its world-class rapids and breathtaking scenery. This popular river is 108 km long and flows from Cordillera de Talamanca (a mountain range of eastern central Costa Rica) to the Caribbean Sea. At Outward Bound Costa Rica we venture to the Pacuare to share its wonders with our students on thrilling whitewater rafting expeditions that build crucial teamwork and leadership skills. It is a memorable destination for our Gap Year & Semester Courses for their Whitewater Rescue Technician and International Rafting Federation Whitewater Raft Guide training.

Things to Know About the Pacuare River

• The Pacuare River is considered a quintessential tropical river with its warm waters flanked by lush, untouched primordial rainforests that truly immerse you with the wild. The Pacuare is ideal in that it is accessible, but once on the river, you find yourself remote in the middle of nature.

• Distinct from a typical flat river, the Pacuare navigates through deep canyons and flows along steep gorge walls on either side. Along the river you will also encounter an indigenous village on its banks and about 20 waterfalls including the iconic 105-foot Huacas Falls.

• The jungle surrounding the river is home to an immense roster of wildlife including sloths, coatis, anteaters, howler monkeys, snakes, and of course, hundreds of species exotic birds like toucans and parrots. Even some big cats like jaguars, panthers and ocelots have been spotted in the Pacuare’s forest.

• The Pacuare has been named one of the top 10 rivers for whitewater rafting in the world by National Geographic, Frommer’s, and Forbes Traveler, and is a true gem of Central America.

• This world-famous location was the site for the World Raft Championships in 2011, bringing rafters from all over to race its exhilarating waters.

• The river has sections appropriate for more adventurous and experienced paddlers looking for a challenge, but is also frequented by new rafters via professionally lead trips by commercial rafting companies or guided programs like OBCR. The Pacuare offers an unforgettable scenic ride for everyone.

• Compiled of about 16 different sections across its 108 km, the Pacuare River has three commonly run sections: The Upper Upper section (class II and III rapids), The Upper section (class III-V), and The Lower section (class III and IV). Whitewater rapids are rated on a six-point scale of difficulty (class I-VI). While there are plenty of calm parts of the river, the Pacuare’s exciting rapids are often quite turbulent with high waves and require tight maneuvering through narrow passages.

• The rapids of the Pacuare have some curious names like “Double Drop”, “The Indian”, “The Play Hole”, “Magnetic Rock”, “Peel the Eye”, and “Pinball”, to name a few.

• The Pacuare River is run year-round with its best months considered between June and October. Unlike some rivers that cannot be traversed through the drier months, the Pacuare maintains its popularity and still offers a challenge throughout dry season. From October to December, the rainiest months, the river may significantly increase in intensity.

In addition to the Pacuare River, Outward Bound Costa Rica also leads whitewater rafting excursions on the beautiful Sarapiquí and Pejibaye rivers with our certified and experienced instructors.  To learn more about our exciting programs in Costa Rica and Panama, check out our Gap Year & Semester courses and our Summer Expeditions to join us for a whitewater adventure!