Pacuare Lodge

As National Geographic aptly notes, “Visitors come for the adventure and stay for the romance at Pacuare.” Located on an 840-acres private reserve in the heart of the Talamanca Mountains, every aspect of the lodge exists in symbiotic harmony with the natural surroundings.

From the gracefully towering main house, built in the style and craftsmanship of Caribbean-inspired architecture, to the 20 exquisite, stand-alone suites and villas; the secluded and peaceful riverfront spa; and the remarkable infinity swimming pool emerging from the rainforest to hover over the river’s edge.

Each naturally elegant structure is crafted from sustainably sourced woods and other eco-friendly materials. The eclectic and graceful designs capture both the breathtaking scenery as well as the cool breezes rolling off the river below and the rainforest canopy above.

You’ll be greeted by our expert concierge service and a tantalizing tropical drink upon arrival. Our concierge is available from sunup to sundown to ensure that not only your time at the lodge is perfect, but we can also help you design the perfect Costa Rican vacation itinerary.

Guests are encouraged to spend time at the main lodge, relaxing and mingling with other travelers. Hot, locally sourced gourmet coffee is always available at no additional charge, as are freshly baked pastries for teatime. Indulge in a refreshing craft beer from our on-site brewery or sample a tantalizing vintage from our personal cellar featuring over 80 different international wines.

Or, curl up with a novel in one of the lodges several cozy reading niches, complete with a library of literature shared by fellow travelers, nature guides, and compilations of Costa Rica and the region’s history.

THE PACUARE EXPERIENCES & ADVENTURES 
At Pacuare, not only should you enjoy our lodge and accommodations, we want you to get to know and love the river, the rainforest, and local culture like we do. That’s why we offer unlimited access to our eight favorite Pacuare experiences throughout the duration of your stay.

If outdoor adventure entices you, enjoy Canyoning Tesorito Creek Gorge, which includes breathtaking rock climbing, ziplining, and rappelling down a refreshing waterfall. For those wishing to soar with exotic birds among the treetops, the Pacuare Canopy Adventure will leave you breathless.

Witness the biological diversity harbored in the forest canopy firsthand and live the thrill of ziplining over a magnificent forest-scape before repelling down the jungle-draped mountainside to the soft earth below. Back on Tierra Firme, your rainforest immersion awaits. Our Ancient Trail & Hidden Waterfall Hike is not for the faint-hearted.

This challenging hike will take you deep into age-old forests to the legendary Sendero de las Mulas trail used by the local Cabécar people for generations. The journey eventually culminates in the heartland of the Nairi Awari Indigenous Reserve and a mystical waterfall, hidden in the pristine flora.

For those looking for a more serene introduction to the rainforest, The Loop tour is a comfortable way to commune with the natural surroundings without pushing the limit. Follow your naturalist guide on a short hike through 700 acres of pristine rainforest to a visit at a Cabécar Indigenous dwelling replica where you’ll learn about the area’s fascinating cultures and traditions.

Top off the experience with a dip in a sparkling waterfall pool. If you want to learn about ways in which humankind can coexist with nature without causing harm, then the Sustainability Tour is for you.

Take a walk around the expansive property with our naturalist guides, and you’ll see how the preservation of the land, environment, and the community are foremost in everything we do. Watch our hydroelectric micro-central turbines at work and learn about our extensive recycling and community outreach programs.

While the early morning mist still blankets the forest floor, Pacuare’s renowned Birdwatching Experience begins. Our expert ornithologists will take you on an unforgettable trek into the fascinating world of the rare and exotic bird species that inhabit the surrounding rainforest and river habitats.

Costa Rica is home to over 850 species, including the Sun Bittern, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, and Montezuma oropendolas – all of which live near the lodge. Guests have access to binoculars and your guide’s telescope to get a better view (and photographs) of the stunning wildlife.

Guests to Pacuare Lodge are given a rare and unique opportunity to enter the protected homelands of the Cabécar Indigenous Peoples and learn about their ancient traditions, folklore, and culture – directly from the people themselves.

Our Cabécar Indian Rancho & Rainforest Hike and the Cabécar Indigenous Hike offer a distinct glimpse into their daily routines and how their way of life is so deeply interwoven with the natural environment.

The Rancho & Rainforest Hike stays near to the lodge and provides guests the chance to experience the local culture without the rigors of hiking through the Talamanca mountains. The Cabécar Indigenous Hike, on the other hand, is a full-day endeavor through challenging terrain until reaching a remote Cabécar community and visiting with a local family.

SUITES & VILLAS
All of our suites and villas are simple, refined, and elegant. Each guestroom has expansive open areas to better experience the natural ambiance, and the interior living spaces are screened and protected from the elements.

Experience outdoor showers, spring-fed fountains and pools, extensive terraces with hammocks and comfortable lounges, and the exquisite beauty of teak floors, hardwood furniture, and bamboo accents combined with the softest and most exquisite linens, pillows, towels, and bathrobes.

Although breezes from the river and surrounding jungle keep each living area surprisingly fresh, we equip every room with highly efficient eco-fans. Each guestroom also comes with a pair of rubber boots for every member of your party. Feel safe and protected from the occasional mud when you set off to explore the lodge’s exquisite gardens.

All of our buildings are within walking distance of each other—be it your villa, the spa, or the main lodge. Nonetheless, we also provide our guests with the use of complementary electric vehicles (golf carts) for getting around the property. The cars are comfortable, easy to drive, and covered to protect our guests from the elements.

DINING
Our commitment to providing our guests with the highest caliber service and accommodations extends wholeheartedly to our cuisine. At Nairi Awari Restaurant, diners are continually surprised by the exceptional quality, freshness, and flavor of each and every dish.

The ingredients we use are locally sourced, organic, and of exceptional grade. In fact, most of our fruits, vegetables, tubers, and herbs are grown on our own organic farm, Las Nubes de Tuis, which is located on the fertile mountain slopes of the Turrialba Volcano nearby.

We also raise free-range chickens and goats, providing the lodge with fresh, conscientiously harvested meat, eggs, yogurt, and delicious cheeses. Our world-class menu changes with the seasons and ensures each delectable mouthful is prepared with the finest and freshest products available.

All of our expert staff are local Costa Ricans from the small towns and indigenous communities nearby. Through dedicated training, working together, and sharing our vision of sustainable luxury, we’ve fostered an ambiance of unity and pride among our employees, which is evident in the quality and creativity of the food we .

Inspired by our own travels throughout the world, and love for outstanding cuisine and fine wines, we invited Santorini, Greece-born chef, George Belesis to work with our culinary staff and share his knowledge and passion in the kitchen.

While passing on his experiences and the tricks of the trade he’d learned during his time as a world-renowned chef, he further trained and inspired our team to take their skills and creativity to the next level.

Everyone knows that exceptional cuisine must be served with an exceptional wine. With this in mind, and in further keeping with our own gastronomic passions, we began to collect notable wines from around the world. Today, our guests can choose from over 80 different vintages.

If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also started our own on-site microbrewery and are proud to offer our patrons two unique craft beers, the Pacuare IPA and a crisp and refreshing Pale Ale. Guests will also find an assortment of tropical cocktails, mixed drinks, fine liquors and cordials, and local and international beer options.

We love to watch our guest’s faces as they taste our cuisine. Such a delightful gourmet experience is simply unexpected from an ecolodge in the remote jungles of Costa Rica. In keeping with the quality of our produce, we serve honest, delicious, traditionally inspired dishes that permit each ingredient to speak for itself.

Equipped with innovative and energy-efficient technology, such as a Rational oven, sous-vide, and a Thermomix, we have the tools and the knowledge to create a world-class dining experience for our guests.

ICONIC INFINITY POOL
One of Pacuare Lodge’s newest and most coveted features is our Iconic Infinity Pool. Designed to have a minimum impact on the environment while capturing the ethereal beauty of its surroundings, this 20-meter (65 feet) saltwater pool has all the qualities of a rainforest dream come true.

Hovering over the banks and spray of the river below at one end and reaching deep into the rainforest foliage at the other, the pool is an experience like no other.

Guest will be enticed into hours of leisurely laps in the cool waters or succumb in delight to the kiss of a jungle breeze on sun-warmed skin. All while relaxing on a comfortable pool-side lounger and sampling the tropical flavors of a fresh-fruit smoothie or cocktail at the outdoor bar and deck.

SPA & WELLNESS
At Jawa Jüu Spa, we combine the wisdom and healing traditions of the native Cabécar People with modern spa techniques and highly trained therapists and staff. The secluded, riverfront spa was designed with the sole purpose of imbuing a deep connection with the rainforest and the living Pacuare waters.

Many of our treatments include a riverside ritual where guests can sense their bodies to the fullest while performing yoga-inspired stretching at the water’s edge. Individual and couple’s treatments are offered daily.

We use only the purest, naturally sourced products in our treatments, as well as herbs, minerals, and clays hailed in indigenous lore for their calming and purifying properties. We are proud to offer both locally and imported products in our therapies.

PACUARE JUNGLE CINEMA
Have you ever imagined watching a riveting National Geographic documentary beneath the stars while surrounded by the sounds and scents of the rainforest? At Pacuare Lodge, you can make this experience a reality.

Our portable Jungle Cinema, featuring a high-definition, 10-foot screen, and a state-of-the-art sound system can be watched either indoors or under the stars if the weather permits. Our billboard headlines include exceptional BBC, Discovery, and Nat Geo productions about the fascinating world we live in.

100% RENEWABLE – CLEAN ENERGY
All of the energy we use is renewable and produced on the property from a combination of sources, including 120 solar panels, and micro water turbines.

The proprietors have gone to great lengths to harness the most advanced and sustainable technology available to ensure the guest’s utmost comfort and convenience while protecting the environment – from the state-of-the-art kitchens and septic systems to the comforts and amenities in the guestrooms.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
All of our buildings are within walking distance of each other—be it your villa, the spa, swimming pool, or the main lodge. Nonetheless, we also provide our guests with transfer service using electric vehicles (golf carts) for getting to the villas located in the upper level of the property. The cars are covered to protect guests from the elements.

PROJECT JAGUAR
Pacuare Lodge is collaborating with the National University of Costa Rica and other partners to study and protect the region’s native jaguar species, their prey, and their habitats.

As a part of these efforts in conservation and ecological preservation, the proprietors purchased approximately 840 acres of primary forests surrounding the lodge to be preserved into propriety, offset the lodge’s carbon footprint, and protect the wild habitats of thousands of plant and animal species.

CANYONING – TESORITO CREEK EXPERIENCE
This tour lets you experience the adventure of canyoning, which combines climbing, rappelling and other exciting activities in a lush jungle gorge. El Tesorito Creek flows out of the mountains behind the Pacuare Lodge into a narrow gorge in the midst of the rainforest.

We’ve created a fun outdoor adventure that includes rock climbing, a descent down a small waterfall, sliding along cables, swinging through the jungle like Tarzan, and rappelling down a 30-meter (100-foot) rock face. The result is a light but exhilarating adventure in an idyllic, natural setting.

The El Tesorito experience begins and ends with a 15-minute hike through the rainforest and includes safety training and equipment and an introduction to rappelling. You’ll rappel down shorter walls – between 2 and 20 meters (6 to 65 feet) – before undertaking the thrilling rappel down a 30-meter (90-foot) cliff. This tour can be taken right after breakfast or lunch.

CANOPY ADVENTURE
Most of the action in the rainforest happens not at ground level, but in the treetops. That’s why our canopy adventure is perfect for thrill seekers and nature lovers alike. After a 15 minute hike into our private reserve, you’ll reach the first platform: be ready to enter an unspoiled realm of magnificent scenery.

The area surrounding our ecolodge is a haven for bird watchers and nature seekers, and offers an unprecedented glimpse of Costa Rica’s biological diversity. Before exploring the canopy’s delicate environment you will receive a thorough review and demonstration of all safety guidelines.

Then you’re off to face the exotic beauty of the rainforest head on. This adventure tour offers dramatic views, rappelling down towering trees and sliding along cables from tree to tree as you descend the jungle-cloaked mountain toward the Pacuare Lodge.

The final, thrilling rappel leaves you steps away from our main lodge! This tour takes around two hours and may only be booked as part of a Pacuare Lodge package.

WHITE WATER RAFTING CLASS III-IV
Experience the whitewater magic as you discover the excitement of thrilling rapids coursing through rugged canyons and verdant tropical rainforests on one of the most exotic and scenic rivers in the world.

This adrenaline-pumping excursion takes you through class-III and -IV rapids, past spectacular landscapes, under tumbling cascades, and all the way to the town of Siquirres. Depending on the river’s water level, tour is approximately 5 hours roundtrip to Pacuare Lodge.

BIRDWATCHING IN COSTA RICA’S RAINFOREST 
6:00am: With the first blush of morning, amid dappled shadows and misty morning light, we leave the warmth of our bungalows to pay fitting tribute to the beginning of a new day.

Costa Rica is a birder’s paradise. Because of our position between North and South America, we receive migrating species from both sides of the continent. Costa Rica is home to some 850 species of birds, of which 630 are resident species.

There is ample opportunity to see exotic species every time you go out your front door. See Mother Nature at her best as you spot the many birds and other wildlife that are indigenous to the area. Look and listen carefully for the Montezuma oropendola, which nests far above in the towering trees.

The area around the lodge is home to an extraordinary number of exotic bird species that include the Sun Bittern, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker and a variety of colorful toucans.

Our guide carries a telescope and will gladly identify the different species that come our way. Binoculars are also available. The tour lasts about an hour and a half, after which we will return to the lodge for breakfast.

GREEN MEETINGS
Planning a meeting with a group of up to 35 people? The Pacuare Lodge is an excellent option, thanks to its isolated, natural setting, attentive staff, and the opportunity to enjoy various outdoor activities that can strengthen your team’s esprit de corps. Our top-notch facilities and groundbreaking sustainability efforts will make your meeting an unforgettable affair.

Simply put, green meetings are business-related gatherings that are conducted in places that mitigate any negative effects the event might cause. Unlike the sterile meeting rooms of most hotels, the Pacuare Lodge has an open-air meeting hall with a view of the Pacuare River and surrounding rainforest.

We offer the basic services needed for a successful meeting – wireless internet, a projector, screen, coffee breaks – and your group will enjoy the meals and exquisite accommodations that make the Pacuare Lodge one of the world’s premier nature lodges.

While the tranquility and isolation – neither television nor telephones – help groups to concentrate on meeting themes and objectives, the Lodge offers a selection of outdoor activities that include whitewater rafting, hiking, canyoning, and a canopy tour to facilitate team building and invigorate participants.

And because Aventuras Naturales, the company that owns the Pacuare Lodge, is a leader in corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability, it is the natural choice for companies and organizations that prioritize people and the environment.

Book the Pacuare Lodge for your next meeting, or retreat and your group will enjoy an unforgettable stay. Our green meetings are particularly popular for team-building activities and incentives trips.

Because of our unique setting, your colleagues will experience themselves and each other in an environment that is conducive to reflection, relaxation, and results. Call Pacuare Lodge today to learn more about our green meetings programs.

THE TRADITONAL COSTA RICAN INDIFENOUS CULTURE
In the company of your naturalist guide, you will begin a short hike along Pacuare Lodge’s private reserve which comprises more than 700 acres of rainforest. Your guide will show you exotic birds that come your way and endemic flora.

You will visit a replica of a Cabecar Indigenous thatched house and learn more about this intriguing and remarkable culture and traditions. The tour finishes with a splash in a waterfall before heading back to the Lodge.

RURAL EXPERIENCE
Close to the Pacuare Lodge, on the far bank of the river, there is a small village called Bajo del Tigre; most of our employees are from there. This adventure starts by crossing the Pacuare River from the lodge in a gondola suspended from a steel cable.

Together with your naturalist guide, you will explore the river basin and rainforest by foot and visit the community of Bajo del Tigre, a small farming community that produces spices, roots, tubers, and more.

You’ll visit a local family’s home and try a traditional Costa Rican snack, such as picadillo, while seeing how they live. You will then visit the community’s one-room schoolhouse (during weekdays ) where one energetic teacher teaches all grades. Following you head back on a trail that winds its way down to the Pacuare Lodge.

A TASTE OF THE RAINFOREST
Guests can try an authentic culinary experience during their stay at Pacuare Lodge, preparing and eating dishes of the fascinating local Cabecar Indigenous people using local ingredients. These dishes are traditionally created for occasions when families gather together and all the ingredients are sustainably collected in the Nairi Awari Indigenous reserve.

Guests learn how to prepare the food and then cook it using Cabecar methods. Some of the meal will then be served in the traditional way, with Pacuare Lodge’s own cooks on hand to add a few finishing touches to the delicious natural produce of the rainforest.

THE NEST RAINFOREST CANOPY
For years, the spectacular beauty of the rainforest surrounding the Pacuare Lodge has captivated us. It inspired us to make the lodge as environmentally friendly as possible and to integrate its bungalows into the jungle, so that guests experience the sights, sounds and scents of the rainforest during their entire stay. It is in that spirit of immersion in nature that we created El Nido (The Nest).

Just as the birds that abound at Pacuare Lodge make their nests high in the trees, we’ve built our own nest: a platform 20 meters (60 feet) high in a treetop, where guests can enjoy a meal in a uniquely splendid setting. The culinary adventure begins as you glide down a 130-meter cable to the platform high in the branches of a Ceiba: a tree that was sacred to the ancient Mayans.

There, you’ll find everything you need for an unforgettable breakfast or lunch – an atmosphere of delicate sound of a breeze blowing through the surrounding foliage, the soft rumble of the Pacuare River below, and the aroma of jungle blossoms, all at 60 feet (20 meters) above the ground!

FROM THE FARM TO THE TABLE
A memorable meal begins long before you savor that first bite. It starts with the selection of the best, freshest ingredients. At the Pacuare Lodge, you’ll enjoy delicious, fresh food that is organic and locally grown. We produce much of the fruit, vegetables and tubers served at the lodge’s restaurant on our own organic farm, Las Nubes de Tuis, in the mountains above the Pacuare River.

There, we grow organic produce for the Pacuare Lodge’s kitchen with care and enthusiasm, because we know that our guests will appreciate the quality. We’ve also taught local farmers organic farming methods so that they can supplement our farm’s production.

To expand our culinary selection, we’ve started making organic goat cheese in addition to the traditional Turrialba cheese. It’s all part of our attention to detail and our commitment to supporting local communities, protecting the environment, and ensuring that every guest has a natural, healthy and enjoyable stay.

ARRIVAL BY RIVER
There are no roads to Pacuare Lodge. So we use the river. The majority of our guests arrive at our lodge after rafting on on one of the world’s top whitewater rivers. Before the put-in we drive through Costa Rica’s old capital city, Cartago, lush farmlands that blanket the slopes of Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes, and finally the rushing waters of the Pacuare River.

Once you’re in the river, Costa Rica’s natural splendor surrounds you. Silver ribbons of waterfalls plummet down emerald-green cliffs. Blue morpho butterflies flutter past, their radiant blue wings catching the sun. In addition to the natural beauty, you’ll experience sheer exhilaration as you face the challenge of each huge wave, battling surging waters down miles of raging rapids.

When you finally reach the shores of our piece of paradise, you’ll have rowed, splashed, and floated along unspoiled rainforest and unmatched tropical beauty. The trip in is short – only an hour or two, depending on river conditions – but it is the perfect introduction to the enchanting environment that awaits you.

ARRIVAL BY LAND
If you’re not comfortable rafting into the lodge, don’t worry. You can get there by land, too. The adventure begins as we travel through Cartago, Costa Rica’s old capital, through a quiltwork of croplands that cling to volcanic slopes, and towards the town of Turrialba.

Sweeping vistas, quaint country houses, and dense vegetation provide the visuals. 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 Orosi 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.

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. At the other side an electric car will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel´s lobby where a refreshing cocktail awaits your arrival.

ARRIVAL BY HELICOPTER
Guests may arrange arrival by helicopter, too. It’s always eye-opening to experience Costa Rica by air: you see how varied the landscape is in such a small landmass, travel over rushing rivers and craggy volcanoes, verdant forests and colorful farmland. It’s a beautiful ride.

Rooms: 19

Price: from 733 EUR per night

Source: www.pacuarelodge.com