By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Pacuare Lodge is one of the great adventure lodges of the world. Hidden in the rainforest-clad mountains of Costa Rica's Pacuare River gorge, it can be reached only by white-water raft, or a long jungle road. Its 20 suites, most without electricity and lit by candles at night, sit among the trees, and the Canopy Suite has its own plunge pool and a treetop platform reached by a private suspension bridge.
Pacuare Lodge is one of the great adventure lodges of the world. Hidden in the rainforest-clad mountains of Costa Rica's Pacuare River gorge, it can be reached only by white-water raft, or a long jungle road. Its 20 suites, most without electricity and lit by candles at night, sit among the trees, and the Canopy Suite has its own plunge pool and a treetop platform reached by a private suspension bridge.
Location: Pacuare River, Costa Rica
The lodge lies on the Pacuare River, in the forested mountains of the Talamanca foothills, in eastern Costa Rica, a region that is also home to the indigenous Cabécar people. The Pacuare is regarded as one of the most beautiful rafting rivers in the world, running through deep gorges, past waterfalls and primary rainforest. San José's international airport is around 150 kilometres away; most guests travel by road to the river, then raft the final stretch to the lodge.
The nearby town of Turrialba is known for its cheese and coffee farms, and the Guayabo National Monument, the most important pre-Columbian archaeological site in Costa Rica, is close by. The Pacuare River itself is protected, and the lodge works with local communities to conserve the surrounding forest, a vital corridor for jaguars, ocelots and hundreds of species of birds.
Suites at Pacuare Lodge
There are 20 suites and villas, from Garden and River View Suites to the Linda Vista Villas, the Jaguar Villa and the famous Canopy Suite, which has a luxurious bathroom, an open deck, a private plunge pool and an observation platform in the trees reached by its own suspension bridge. Most suites have no electricity or air conditioning, and are lit by candles at night, which only adds to the magic.
Despite its remoteness, the lodge is genuinely luxurious, with beautiful hardwood suites, comfortable beds, excellent food and attentive staff. The lack of electricity in most suites is part of the charm, encouraging guests to disconnect and enjoy the sounds of the forest.
Facilities at Pacuare Lodge
There is a heated pool, and the Jawa Jüu Spa offers treatments, including a chocolate massage for honeymooners, along with yoga classes. All meals are included, served in the open-sided main lodge above the river. Activities include rafting, a canopy tour of eight ziplines and twelve platforms, waterfall hikes, birdwatching, visits to Cabécar communities and night walks to spot frogs and insects.
The mountain moment
The Pacuare moment is arrival. After hours of paddling through rapids and gorges, past waterfalls spilling from the jungle, you pull up on a sandy bank and climb to your candlelit suite, where the only sounds are the river and the rainforest. That night, dinner by candlelight is unforgettable.
As the light fades, the river turns silver, fireflies drift among the trees and the candles are lit along the paths, creating one of the most magical evenings of any hotel in Central America.
In the morning, mist hangs over the river, toucans call from the trees, and the canopy tour takes you flying above the gorge, with the river glinting far below.
Why Pacuare Lodge is one of the best mountain hotels
Pacuare Lodge earns its place for adventure and atmosphere. Few hotels anywhere offer such an exciting arrival or such a sense of remoteness, combined with genuine comfort and excellent sustainability. There is no electricity in most suites, and the rafting is not for everyone. But for adventurous couples and families, it is unforgettable.
For Costa Rica's volcanoes, see Nayara Tented Camp.
Two or three nights is ideal, allowing time to explore the forest, the canopy tour and the spa after the excitement of the rafting arrival. Luggage is transported separately, so pack a small bag for the river and wear clothes that can get wet. The lodge suits confident families with older children, and honeymooners looking for adventure and romance.
When to go to Pacuare Lodge
Costa Rica's dry season, from December to April, brings the most sunshine and is the busiest and most expensive time to visit. The green season, from May to November, brings afternoon rain, lush landscapes, fewer visitors and lower prices; mornings are often clear. Wildlife is excellent all year. Rafting conditions vary with the season, gentler on the way in and livelier on the way out, depending on rainfall.
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Questions, answered
- How do you get to Pacuare Lodge?
- By white-water raft on the Pacuare River, after a road transfer from San José.
- Does Pacuare Lodge have electricity?
- Most suites have no electricity and are lit by candles at night.
- What is the Canopy Suite at Pacuare Lodge?
- A secluded suite with a private plunge pool and a treetop observation platform reached by a suspension bridge.
- Is Pacuare Lodge all-inclusive?
- All meals and local transport are included.
