Pacuare Lodge
Turrialba
Average rating 4.9 (27 ratings)
One of our favourite lodge's in Costa Rica, Pacuare is an award winning ecolodge nestled deep inside the enchanting and captivating Pacuare River and tropical forest.
The lodge has 12 rooms, 4 river view suites and 6 garden view bungalows. The junior suites have king size beds, their own balcony and both inside and outdoor showers. The garden suites have a king size bed and a private bathroom with shower. There is no air-conditioning here but a natural breeze from the river keeps the rooms at a comfortable temperature. There is also a honeymoon suite set high up in the jungle with a private plunge pool and a unique hanging bridge that leads from the balcony across to a platform in a giant tree.
From Sep 2017 there will be 24h electricity in all rooms (currently just in two new river side Linda Vista suites). There will still be the option for rooms to be lit by candlelight at night as has been traditonal here up until now. Flashlights are provided in the rooms. The main building which houses the bar and restaurant overlooks the river and the food (all sourced locally) is absolutely superb. The lodge has its own canopy tour and offers several other excursions including five hikes, earl morning birdwatching, horse riding and visiting the local Cabecar Indians.
You can choose to get to and from the lodge either by 4x4 then a handcranked basket across the river to the far bank where the lodge is siturated or by white water rafting. Rafting on the way in is grade II and takes around and hour to an hour and a half, depending on river levels. Rafting on the way out is a stronger grade III to IV and takes 4 hours through amazing scenery stopping for lunch on route.
There is a Spa on-site (massages and therapies at extra cost), plus a special tree-house dining space called 'the nest' situated high above the forest floor. It seats up to four people (min age 12 years) and should be pre-booked for a memorable meal at either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The food is winched up to you high in the canopy - supplementary costs apply ranging currently priced from $65-125pp depending on the meal option chosen.
Child policy:
If no rafting involved: minimum age is 7 years
If rafting out: minimum age 12 years
If river levels are low it could be possible for a child aged 10-12 years to raft in (but they can never raft out).