Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

This is an unforgettable experience for all the right reasons. We stayed in the Linda vista suite with its plunge pool, day bed, outdoor shower & bath and river view. There’s no glass to the windows so we were serenaded blissfully to sleep by the mesmerising cicadae and rush of the river. Arrival and departure is by white water rafting under expert tuition; a truly unique experience. This was a great place for adventure but at a gentle pace with no sign of adrenaline junkies. Zip lines, canyoning, guided bird watching, lagoon swimming and indigenous people education are all available under the expert guidance of the staff who deliver all with a smile and pura vida to genuinely ensure our trip was unforgettable. The all inclusive dining is excellent with a mix of traditional dishes, simple but well constructed meat and fish dishes and ‘comfort’ food. We cannot speak highly enough of the beauty of Pacuare Lodge, made perfect by the eagerness of the guides, concierge and restaurant staff to ensure we had every opportunity to maximise our enjoyment and unwind from the turbulence of our world. We cannot thank Roberto and Flavia enough for this glimpse of paradise.

Pacuare lodge was an amazing introduction to Costa Rica . From the exciting white water rafting arrival , the amazing environment and phenomenal staff - it was a joy . There are too many pluses to mention but the night walk was exhilarating - and this is from someone who has a phobia about anything creepy crawly . The key to any stay is the quality of the staff and Pacuare lodge seems to have the perfect model . Everyone was friendly , knowledgable and always out to help . Veronica in particular - morpho was an added bonus as was your attention to detail. I also urge if you can take the raft option departure . Yes it can be scary definately wet but the journey through primary rain forest is exhilarating. My only suggestion and this is not just for pacuare please please find a way to tip staff that does not involve cash !!! Pacuare lodge is wonderful and sets the bar high . Thank you

We had an absolutely magical trip to Costa Rica with the Boena hotel chain. We purchased the Ultimate Experience package to stay at three properties in three VERY unique corners of the country. They arranged everything from start to finish - which is important when travelling such great distances and several of their properties are accessible by only boat or 4x4!! Each hotel, (Paquare, Tortuga, Lapa Rios) is a special gem, with ambiance, food, and experiences special to each locale. We were able to explore so many different ecosystems and cultures in Costa Rica during a 7 day spring break, impossible to do if I tried to book it on my own. I can't recommend it highly enough!!!

What a special place on the Pacuare River! Not only are you able to raft in and out of this resort on one of the most scenic rivers in the world, but the accommodations are incomparable. From the personal welcome signs in our suites to the gourmet dining and nature activities-everything was truly unique and in harmony with the setting. We will never forget the sounds of the river and rainforest creatures right outside our plush suites-it was truly a dream experience!

We stayed for 3 nights in a garden lodge. The lodge was clean spacious and private. The 3 meals a day were excellent and they catered for my coeliacs disease (gluten free) without any fuss, so I enjoyed the dining experience. I was nervous about rafting in, but the guides made it an enjoyably wet experience. The swimming pool was a great size for swimming with river views, I enjoyed the guided walks and all the staff were excellent, including the spa. I had not heard of Boena lodges before and I would definatley seek out there other locations if returning to Costa Rica, as there Monteverde lodge we stayed in was also excellent. After almost a month in Costa Rica this was one of the best experiences.

We were picked up very early to then spend 30 minutes outside a hotel in central San Jose. It got better. If rafting in, you will get soaked. I had read about luggage limits. I don’t know if it is a recent change, they transferred all of our luggage in and out by road. It was in our room on arrival. The food was very well presented and tasty. It was a bit hit or miss on quantities of carbs or veg. Some options had lots, others none and no side dishes on offer. Choose wisely! The local beer is brewed on site and definitely worth the price. The activities we tried were all excellent as long as you are happy walking uphill. Zip lining, canyoning, the night tour and the sustainability tour all well organised and made fun by the guides. Rafting out was great fun followed by interesting chat with the driver on the long drive back to San Jose.

It was adventurous travel and casual elegance, for 4 nights! The adventure: We hiked, zip lined, did canyon rappelling…which was waterfall repelling due to all the rain, the night hike, and dined in the trees at The Nest, not to mention white water rafting into and out of this rainforest resort. The elegance, our garden cottage with a huge deck that surrounded a small stand of trees. All the rooms have screens and fans, but no actual windows. So, you hear the birds, monkeys and insects in the forest, plus the rain, it is magical! The food is scrumptious. And because we had stayed at 2 other Boena Resorts, they added two special items to our menus at lunch and dinner.in the dining room Deanne took such great care of us at all our meals. Gary helped too. The first night, Eric gave us a fascinating talk on jaguars. Yes, they are there, but very elusive. Also their natural coloring is a golden coat with black spots. The black jaguars are the result of genetic change that occurs. Eric also led us in Zip-lining the next day, which was a blast. It was raining, so to do those long lines with the rain splashing my face was so cool. At the end of the zip lining, we stayed on the last platform. It is The Nest, and we had signed up to have lunch there among the tree tops. That fascinating to watching Autopendulas building there nests in front of us as dined. Dave served us there, and everything was sent up in a basket. He even ordered two towels for, as we wet from the rain. The Canyoning was so fun, though it really was waterfall rappelling due to all of the rain. Dave gave a great talk on the history of Pacuare Lodge , and what the resort does for electricity. They are currently at 65% solar, and hydro, the rest is diesel. They keep improving. Dave also took us on a night hike, and a waterfall hike. Adrien, who is the manager, and originally checked us in, had also planned for us to have dinner at the campfire by the river, then breakfast elsewhere along the river. But the 3 out of 4 days of rain prevented it. Because of the changes, he arranged for us to have a private lunch in one of the villas overlooking the river, and spend our last night there. What a treat that was!

The most amazing lodge I’ve ever stayed in. Surrounded by wildlife, with stunning, immaculately clean rooms, excellent food, and truly outstanding service. I accidentally left behind a shirt I’d received for my birthday and, despite how remote the lodge is — accessible only by zipline or boat across the river — they arranged to have it delivered all the way back to the UK. That level of care and dedication speaks volumes about the standards this lodge operates at. Without question the most memorable place I’ve ever stayed. Well worth the cost and highly recommended.

We spent 4 nights at the lodge in December 2025. This was a return trip for us - my husband and I had visited 2 years ago and fell in love with the place, so this year we came back with family! Our group included 2 couples in their late 30s, and 3 other people in their 60s-70s. Everyone had a blast! This is an outstanding operation in a very remote area. Worth every penny. The ride to the river from San Jose included a stop at a restaurant for a traditional breakfast. Guide Pepe gave us a lot of info about the areas we were driving through and about Costa Rica in general. The raft in with Guides Alex and Pepe was really fun! The guides are very experienced. Got to stop to swim at a waterfall and take family pictures. We were greeted on arrival with a welcome drink and fresh warm towel - much appreciated after the raft in. We stayed in a River View Suite and enjoyed the open air room, falling asleep to the sounds of the rushing Pacuare River just outside. The suite was spacious with a large, comfortable bed, a huge bathroom that included "indoor" (screened in) and outdoor showers, two balconies, and lots of areas to lounge. Wifi was strong on the property so we could stay connected. Housekeeping was thorough and the rooms were clean. The rest of the family stayed in the Garden View rooms, which were also nice but farther back from the river and closer together, so felt a little less private. The highlights of this place are the activities and food! The menu is incredible and every meal was excellent, fresh, and creative. The food is all included, alcohol is extra but reasonable. The menu was pretty consistent but this allowed us to try all the dishes, which we appreciated. Service in the restaurant is friendly and attentive. Diana and Ida took especially good care of us at the restaurant. The setting of the restaurant next to the river is so serene and we saw birds and heard Howler monkeys every morning! One morning, they surprised us after an AM bird watch with a private breakfast riverside - such a nice touch. The adventure activities included are really great - highly recommend doing as many as possible! The whole family did the ziplining, and most of us did canyoning. A few did some of the hikes, including to the Cavecar village which was challenging but very interesting. The guides are professional, fun, and safety oriented. We had a blast with Dave, Gio, the Eriks, Anjelica, and Jefery. The nature hikes like the AM bird hike and the night hike are must see activities as well. Our family has some nature biologists in it, and everyone was impressed with the variety of flora and fauna seen and with the knowledge of the guides. Our family also appreciated the opportunity to learn about jaguar conservation in the area. The grounds are stunning - beautifully planted with hummingbirds and other critters constantly flitting about, a huge lovely infinity pool facing the river, and lots of places to relax with a book and a drink. One of our family mem