This is the longest rafting day we run out of the Jaco area, and the reason is geography. The Savegre is well south of town, so the van starts collecting people at 6:30 am from hotels in Jaco, Herradura, Los Sueños, and Esterillos before heading down the coast. Budget about eight hours door to door, against five for the same trip booked in Manuel Antonio. Fruit and snacks travel with you and lunch waits at the end, so the early start does not mean a hungry morning.
The last road leg to the put-in takes roughly 80 minutes past African palm plantations, small towns, small rivers, and jungle. At the water you get a safety briefing and practice time before boarding six-passenger rafts. Every raft has its own guide calling strokes, and a kayaker stays close to the group the whole way down for backup.
You are on the river about two and a half hours. The Savegre has a reputation as the cleanest river in Costa Rica, and the run alternates class II and III rapids with quiet green stretches where you can slide over the side and swim. A 30-minute ride returns you to base camp to dry off, change into the clothes you packed, and sit down to a cooked meal before the drive north. Children need to be at least eight. Staying in Manuel Antonio or Quepos? The Manuel Antonio departure is three hours shorter and leaves at 8:00 am.
Bring sunglasses with a retainer cord, a change of clothes, a bathing suit, a waterproof camera, sandals, and a beach towel. Pickup at 6:30 am. Minimum age is eight.
Before you book, one honest note. Prices, departure times, and what is included move with the season here. Rivers rise and drop, tides reset the schedule, boats come out of the water for maintenance, and operators adjust rates without telling anyone first. The details on this page are what we last confirmed directly with the operator, and we go back and check them, but your booking is with the operator and their confirmation is the final word on price, timing, pickup, and what you get. If a detail matters to your trip, whether that is a dietary need, a mobility question, a birthday, or a tight flight, ask us before you book and we will confirm it with them directly rather than guess.
Traveling with kids, limited mobility, or a tight schedule? Tell us your situation and we will match you to the right day and departure.
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