The Pacuare River is one of the most beautiful rivers on the planet, making it a sought-after attraction for adventure lovers visiting Costa Rica. One thing that makes this river so pristine is just how remote it is. One side is an indigenous reservation and the other side is made up of mostly privately protected land along with some lodges, campsites, and 4×4 entrances to the river bank. If you contact your local rafting outfitter they should be able to guide you through the steps and logistics of what to do with your car but here is a broad view of what it looks like.
How can I drive to the Pacuare River?
The answer is very carefully. When driving to our lodge, we always like to tell people that you can take the class III rapids or the class V road into the lodge. Most rental cars only offer 4×4 with automatic transmission and you will need a 4×4 with a manual transmission to get into most of the lodges on the Pacuare River.
If you’re booked on any of our our rafting tours, then any vehicle will get you to the trip meeting point. Our guides will meet you just off the main, paved road where you will then drive down in our company vehicles.
The one-day entrances are more adaptable for automatic cars and even two-wheel-drive cars can make it down to one of the entrances we refer to as Tres Equis. If you decide to drive to the Pacuare and take part in rafting you will need to request someone to shuttle your car down to the take-out point in Siquirres. Several companies offer this option.
The Driving Entrances to the Pacuare River
- La Cruz -This is the highest part of the Pacuare River you can enter for commercial rafting and since the pandemic has started this entrance has not been maintained making it impossible for access even with 4×4. This entrance is for tractors or horses at this time. There is a $2 fee per person on this entrance.
- San Martin – This is the most common two day entrance now and is about 30 minutes off the main road. There is a fee for this entrance of $2’s per person. Here you will pass through different reforestation projects from the late Rafa Gallo who many considered the sheriff of the Pacuare River.
- Tres Equis – This is your main one day entrance and your easiest access. There are two tres equis entrances one that is related to the name of the town and one that is related to the name of the farm. We are referring to the one that is related to the name of the farm in this part. This also has a $2 per person charge and can be accessed by two wheel drive cars and it is where 90% of your rafting companies will be putting in for the one day trip.
- Linda Vista POC entrance – This is a private entrance and is only used for those staying at Pacuare Outdoor Center and want to enter by land. This is a 4×4 entrance only and has no charge as it is included in the stay at the Pacuare Outdoor Center.
- Bajos del Tigre – This is the main entrance for those who want to enter the Rios Lodge, Pacuare Lodge, Pacuare River Lodge, Coast to Coast Camp, and a few other camps that have access by this road. This is a 4×4 entrance only.
What do I do with my car if I’m staying overnight?
If you are coming to the Pacuare Outdoor Center for example or one of the few other lodges you will have a spot where you can park your car in a safe area. Here you can take what you need for your one or two nights on the Pacuare River and take the company 4×4 down to the lodge. Our 4×4’s for example are Land Cruisers or Toyota Hilux with benches in the back already offering some adventure before you even get to the lodge. We have dry bags and options to sit inside in case it is raining.
It should be mentioned that depending on the company you are traveling with will depend on where you leave your car. Each company has its own safe place to store your vehicle. Some have your car stored at the end of the river trip and you are shuttled to the start of the river while other companies have your car stored at the start of the trip or the mid-way point and your vehicle is shuttled to be at the take-out when you arrive.
If you have any questions regarding driving to Pacuare be it just for a day rafting trip, overnight, or you just want to dip your feet in the famous Pacuare River feel free to let us know and type in the chat box at the bottom right of the web page and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
How does my luggage get to the Pacuare River If I stay Overnight
If you book one of the many overnight adventures you will have the option to raft in or as in the topic of this blog drive-in. Based on the information above and the fact that your car will be left in a safe spot you might be wondering how your luggage will make it to the lodge. There are two answers:
- Your company will use dry bags to keep your luggage dry while rafting down the river. These are bags made for the industry of rafting and you can be sure anything inside the bag will stay dry.
- Your luggage will be brought in by 4×4. You might be riding in on that same 4×4 or you will have the option to raft in also.
Things to Know When Considering Driving to the Pacuare River
- You need a 4×4 with a manual transmission as mentioned above unless you are going to the one-day put-in.
- Make sure you have gas, as there are no gas stations in Tres Equis, with the closest being Siquirres
- If you’re booked on a rafting trip with us, then don’t worry about the drive, or four wheeling, or anything like that – the meeting point is paved and is fine for any vehicle.