Lodge Adventures

When you stay at the Rios Tropicales Lodge and its 2,470-acre private reserve, you can choose from several guided tour experiences, make a difference by planting a tree (or two!) in our rainforest reserve, and enjoy a host of other unstructured activities. We offer exhilarating physical activities to meet the demands of any level of fitness regime. Of course, the longer you stay at Rios Tropicales Lodge, the more likely you’ll get to experience everything we offer. And, the more likely you will return to your daily routine refreshed, rested, and restored. Availability of certain activities depends on the length of your stay at the lodge.

Rainforest Restoration Tours

Hike up to the top of the Pacuare Gorge from the lodge and plant a tree as part of our reforestation project at our 2,470-acre rainforest reserve, the largest private reserve in the Pacuare region. We began reforesting in the 1990s, and by 2008, we participated in the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Billion Trees campaign. Our project is ongoing, and we have planted over 30,600 trees to date (see the current tree count on our home page). Our local communities, staff, vacationers, sports teams, and school groups all participate in supporting our ongoing tree-planting campaigns.

By reforesting with native tree species, we attract wildlife back to the area and have reconnected important wildlife corridors. We prevent illegal hunting in our reserve and have seen the reappearance of endangered animals like jaguars, ocelots, and Great Green Macaws.

Rainforest Hikes with Naturalist Guides

You will be amazed at the variety of plants, flowers, and trees that you will be able to identify in the rainforest, thanks to the in-depth training of all Rios Tropicales head guides. Your bilingual guide will point these out, along with wildlife or birds you come across. Bring binoculars and cameras!

The larger Pacuare Protected Zone, of which we are a part, possesses a practically endless number of trails. Many of these trails were, and continue to be, used by the indigenous Cabecar population to travel from village to village. These trails have existed for many generations and are not always well maintained. We offer maintained trails inside our reserve to access scenic sites such as natural water slides, waterfalls, and pristine pools in the rainforest.

Our hanging bridge across the river just below the lodge provides access to several waterfalls with private pools as well as our 1.5-mile trail with 45 identified species of trees that you can follow on your own.

Zipline Canopy Course

Enjoy a wonderful nine cable zipline course through the tree canopy, with six ziplines crossing over the Pacuare River. Multiple tree platforms and ziplines make this a thrilling, must-do experience. Ríos Tropicales guarantees not only the safety in construction but also its operation through all the equipment (helmets, harnesses and gloves) provided. The tour starts just 10 minutes from the lodge by walking a trail through the forest. Then, you’ll see what it’s like to fly on ziplines connected by a series of aerial and land platforms from which you can appreciate the incredible Pacuare River and rainforest, in addition to seeing butterflies, birds, reptiles, and impressive nature.

Combo Canyoning & Canopy

This tour includes hiking through the rainforest, rappelling down the face of a waterfall and then three ziplines high over the river. You start right from the Rios Tropicales lodge and head into the Pacuare River Gorge, views of the river and a hike to the base of Wake-Up Falls.

Once at the foot of this Pacuare landmark, a 200-foot hike leads you to the safety platform. Here Rios Tropicales guides will fit you with professional climbing equipment and provide a safety orientation for this canyoning adventure.

You will rappel for 60 meters down the face of the waterfall in two different sections, the last of which is inside the waterfall! Be ready to be very wet.

From here, you can zip high over the river with a bird’s-eye view of Wake-Up Falls, Terciopelo Creek and the Pacuare Gorge. One more zipline takes you over the river again, upstream toward the trail leading back to the Lodge.

Horseback Riding & Local Community Tour

You’ll hike from the Rios Tropicales Lodge up to the Bajo Del Tigre community on the main trail and then ride horseback through this local village. Your guide will introduce you to their agricultural way of life, economy, population and culture. You’ll tour their sustainable farming projects and hear about what sustainable development means to them and their community.

You can also ride horseback all the way to Terciopelos Farm, which is part of the Rios Tropicales Private Reserve. There, you can help our reforestation project by planting one or more trees (optional, ask your guide).

Then, you will continue to the Mariposas del Pacuare Project developed by one of our community neighbors. It is a butterfly garden with more than 10 different species of butterflies, and also offers incredible views of the Pacuare Canyon. While there, you will enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to the lodge, part by horseback riding and part by walking.

Special “Old World” Activities to Enjoy at our River Lodge

We call these activities “Old World” because it seems that we just don’t slow down enough to enjoy them anywhere but on vacation. They used to be a common part of life before 24/7 schedules.

• Relax in a hammock overlooking the beautiful Pacuare River.
• Read your favorite book or a lodge magazine.
• Play a board or card game with a friend or family member.
• Bird watch (how many species can you find?).
• Contemplate life, or perhaps sustainable living.
• Walk to nearby waterfalls and gentle soaking pools (easy walk).
• Practice your rusty high-school Spanish.