Does anyone know where I can get information regarding how the Pacuare is running, which months are highest, etc.? Does it get really low in dry season and then come on strong when green season starts? Is it predictable like that? I'd like to do it, but I don't want it to be so low we have to carry the raft or so high that it's freaky - lol. I've heard Desafio and Rios Tropicales are good - what do you guys think?

I don't think Desafio runs the Pacuare, but Rios Tropicales does a great job--we've used them twice.

Supposedly it runs higher in the rainy season, but it's never a dull ride. We ran it last February during the dry season, and it was a fun but manageable ride that took a total of five hours on the water.

This February, we ran it after a week solid of rain and floods, and it was non-stop adrenaline. It took three hours instead of five.

www.riostropicales.com

numero uno for me will have best advice on conditions.

Thanks, guys. Looks like Rios Tropicales is a good outfit. I saw pictures of CR rafting that had waterfalls in the background - would the Pacuare have those? Are you able to see much wildlife, or is it more about the adventure of it all? I appreciate the help!

vg, I'd also check with Aventuras Naturales. They and Rios are the top outfitters. Either should be able to answer your questions. If you are planning an overnight (on my list yet again), both have lodges. Rios is more rustic, and Aventuras is quite luxurious, considering its location. The price reflects the difference. Both would be good options, but you do get a choice in your luxury level! When we do it, I want the overnight (or 2 night) option, so that's why we haven't done it yet. . .I seem to always find the most expensive option and that's the one I want! LOL

The Pacuare has at least two waterfalls on Rios Tropicales's run of it--maybe more if it's been raining the prior few days.

The big one you've probably seen pictures of is the Huacas fall, between the Class IV Upper Huacas and Lower Huacas Rapids.

We haven't decided if we want to overnight or not. The lodges look like a lot fun; I just don't know how much time I want to devote to the rafting portion of the trip. shillmac, my husband will not be pleased that you're giving me more expensive options, but I am! RAC, thanks for the info. The waterfalls look gorgeous.

We just did the Pacuare rafting trip in mid-Feb with Rios. It was amazing!!!
A storm system was moving through CR for a week prior to & during our stay in CR. The Caribbean side had floods & several people had been displaced from their homes on that side of the country.
Our guide told us that Rios had cancelled rafting trips on a few days in the week prior to our tour because The Pacuare was running really high despite the dry season etc. But it seems the water level had subsided by the time we did our rafting & the guide mentioned that he considered the water level just right. This is no canoe trip, mind you. 3 people on our raft ended up with minor cuts & scrapes, but nobody went overboard & we were the only raft where nobody went overboard). On other boats several went overboard including a guide! It's not at all difficult or physically exerting because the water current does most of the work... And going overboard isn't a big deal either- the river is very clean & most of us took a dip in it on stretches where the water was calm... we were all soaked anyway. I highly recommend the trip with Rios.

You will see a few waterfalls & there are some other serene parts too. You will also see some birds but this is not a trip for wildlife spotting or where you take a camera along for pictures etc. The company has a cameraman who takes several shots of the rafts as well as surroundings and you can buy the pics from the company at the end of the trip.

I remember our guide saying that Adventuras is the other good company & we passed by their riverside overnight lodge. Looked nice but I recall him saying something like you have to pay incremental fees for ummm... something that's included in the flat rate that Rios charges. Anyway, we loved it and I even got to see several "Blue Jeans red frogs" at the lodge where they stop for breakfast & lunch. Really completed the trip for us because that was one creature that had eluded us everywhere else

Thanks for the details, mdn. Are you paddling the entire time or just during the rapids?

Mostly just during the rapids.

MDN:

What day were you on the Pacuare? We were on it Monday the 9th, the day after the rains stopped. It was crazy.

The canyon after the Dos Montanas Rapids is a great place for a swim. I do not recommend doing what I did, which was swimming the rapids themselves after our boat got rocked.

I think it sounds great. I really want to do it! My husband has rafted before so I think he'll go for it.

I think I'm going with Adventuras and stay at Pacuare Lodge. Sending paperwork off this weekend. Rios won't book me as a single traveler. They don't even have a single supplement, only a 2 person minimum. I suppose I could wait and probably tag along with a group, but I'd just as soon get it booked and not have to think about it anymore.

That's weird, hip - seems like there would be plenty of single travelers and odd numbered groups. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Predicting the water could be tough. We have rafted it several times during the high (dry) season and it has run low and extremely high. I like it in the middle somewhere. High was pretty scary. We have used Rios Tropicales several times and felt really good about our safety etc. My husband is a non swimmer and loved every trip. He got thrown out once when it was really high. It was just the two of us and a guide. We had spent the night on the river. The scenery is so beautiful on the Pacuare. Yes, yes, yes, there are waterfalls. Waterfalls you raft through, waterfalls you stop at to play in, and waterfalls to just oooh and aaah about. Fast rapids, slow rapids and super calm areas to get out and float in. Beauty around every corner.

That is odd Hip. There was a single woman on one of our trips with RT. We got friendly on the bus to the river. She ended up on a different raft but gave me a big smile and a high five with the oar after one of the rapids. She was having a ball.

Well, I imagine if I wait and book later (and there is a group scheduled for the days I want to go) they would add me. Since I was trying to book so far ahead maybe they couldn't guarantee (whereas the other company would). In any event, I think I can handle one night at Pacuare Lodge. ;-)

What do you wear to go rafting - just bathing suit and Keen's or maybe good to wear something over your suit so you don't get banged up?

You'll be wearing a safety vest, under which you can dress according to the weather and your comfort level. Bathing suit and keens would be perfect, perhaps something in quick-dry material with long sleeves if it's cold. We got a bit chilled on our recent trip with Rios Tropicales as it was raining. This didn't diminish our enjoyment, and we felt very safe with our excellent guide in the helm.

A baseball cap is good to wear under your helmet to help with the sun. I usually wear a pair of quick dry shorts over my bathing suit. You could even wear a t shirt over your suit although I don't. The first time I went I wore sandals with open toes. My feet got pretty sore from rubbing against the rubber so now I just wear a pair of sneakers with a pair of little footie socks.

Some kind of securely fastened water sandal is fine for the feet. Most women wear some combination of swimming suit and coverups.

If you wear glasses, some kind of floating retainer is a good idea.