Between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. you’ll be picked up by a microbus at your San José hotel to begin your exciting adventure. You will travel a breathtaking route through Cartago, the old capital of Costa Rica, before continuing on toward the town of Turrialba.
The two and a half hour trip then skirts the slopes of the Irazú and Turrialba Volcanoes toward the north, and the Reventazón River Basin and Orosí Valley toward the south. Majestic scenery includes rolling fields of ornamental plants, sugarcane, coffee, and macadamia, and the jungle-covered mountains of the Talamanca Mountain Range.

A stop en route is taken to enjoy a delicious traditional breakfast and beautiful views of the town of Cervantes.

The bus trip ends in Santa Marta, where you board a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the remaining six-kilometer gravel road journey to the banks of the Pacuare River. Views of the mountains covered by dense jungle couldn’t be more dramatic! Advancing down the road, you plunge ever deeper into the beauty of the zone until you arrive at the Pacuare River, the Cábecar culture’s symbol of life. The adventure continues as you leave the four-wheel-drive vehicle and cross the river on a hanging gondola that carries you above the river via a 100 meter cable running from riverbank to riverbank. Upon arrival at the other side, another experience begins—no more vehicles, electricity, or roads. The last 300 meters to the Pacuare Lodge are hiked over a trail that parallels the river. Equipment is transported by our staff, and a refreshing cocktail awaits your arrival.

Arrival by River

Departure by River

Departure by Ground Transportation