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Trips

The Pacuare Challenge

Trek through the remote, spectacular and mountainous Pacuare River Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty, just inland from Costa Rica’s Caribbean east coast.

Location

Costa Rica

Difficulty

Intermediate

Accommodation and Meals

Wild Camping, Guesthouse, Lodge

Duration

8 days

Meeting Point

San Jose, Costa Rica

Annual Leave

5 days

Group Size

Up to 20

Seasons

November to May

Walking Distance

89km

It is hard to sum up the raw beauty of this trek, or the experience of seeing the Caribbean sea at the end!  It is the complete jungle experience, in a remote part of Costa Rica, and I recommend it to anyone looking for something that little bit different.
The Pacuare Challenge
Charlie

Meet Charlie, a director of, and one of the co-founders of Tribal Tracks.

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I was very worried about creepy crawlies, but I needn't have worried! I loved every minute of this!

Emma B

I had never trekked in this sort of terrain before and I was just blown away by it.  Tribal Tracks - thank you.  It is the best thing I have ever done.

George T

I will never forget camping next to the river we were following, listening to the calls of the jungle and the rushing of the river as I fell asleep.  10/10 TT!

Fi R

Trip Highlights

Be a part of this unique trek, in the spectacular rainforest of the Pacuare Valley.

Experience the best of the jungle, and get to see nature up close, as we trek along jungle paths and trails.

Chat to the locals in the communities we pass through, and learn about their way of life and the crops they farm.

All the info you need

Trip Details

Trip Details

At a Glance

This challenge is truly tropical adventure through the beautiful scenery of the Pacuare River valley.

Located in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, this is one of the most important protected areas in the whole of Costa Rica. Its proximity to the lowlands and its high annual rainfall nurture the complex life systems which makes for extraordinary scenic beauty.

The area is most famous for the Pacuare River, which flows over 100km into the Caribbean Sea.  We have the privilege of trekking along its valley, following the course of the river and experiencing the best the jungle has to offer.  We wild camp in remote locations, listening to the calls from the jungle, and also close to villages, where we can learn from the local communities.

Trip Details

Itinerary

Trip Details

Dates & Prices

Please enquire for 2024 and 2025 dates.  Prices start from £2195 depending upon the time you want to go, including the deposit of £600.  It is a fabulous trek and you won't regret it!

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Trip Details

General Notes

In a nutshell, almost everything!

  • Tribal Tracks UK qualified mountain leader;
  • All accommodation as specified in the itinerary;
  • Supporting in-country guides;
  • Logistical support crew;
  • All transfers by private minibus or bus as per itinerary, internal flights (if applicable);
  • All meals from arrival until departure, soft drinks, tea, coffee and drinking water;
  • Virtual pre-departure briefing;
  • Dedicated pre-departure support from a named Tribal Tracks director.

This is what you will need to buy/source yourself.

  • International flights from the UK (but we can arrange these for you at extra cost, which will be ATOL protected);
  • Personal travel insurance which should be valid and cover all activities in the itinerary;
  • UK international departure tax;
  • Immunisation costs;
  • Personal equipment and clothing on the kit list;
  • Tipping for local guides and drivers;
  • Single supplement (for sole occupancy of accommodation where available);
  • Expenses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight cancellation and delays;
  • Alcoholic drinks.
  • Visas (where applicable)

It is important that you read the itinerary carefully, and take account of the rating we have given it.  

Although our challenges are not technical, they do require a good degree of physical fitness. The conditions will require stamina and strength, which you should recognise and train for. This will be a much better experience if you are fit and prepared. You should feel comfortable walking 6-8 hours per day.

In setting the maximum size of our groups, we take a number of factors into account.

Altitude, degree of difficulty, the terrain, the climate and time of year, all determine the maximum group size.  Sometimes it will be 20, sometimes it will be 8-14, but safety is always our priority.

The minimum number to participate is 2. You will be accompanied by a Tribal Tracks UK Leader, Mountain Leader qualified, as well as supported by our local, in-country guides.

It is a requirement of Tribal Tracks booking terms and conditions that each supporter must hold their own travel insurance which covers the trip and the activities they are doing.

We advise you to put insurance in place as soon as possible. Your insurance must be valid and in date, covering the entire period that you are travelling for, including the return journey home.  It should cover medical and personal accident risks, and should include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services, where appropriate. We are happy to help you if you have any queries about this or have any difficulties. 

Tribal Tracks has 100% Financial Protection and has a trust account with the Protected Trust Service, member number 5566.

This means that all client monies paid to Tribal Tracks are held in our dedicated trust account, which is supervised by an independent trustee. This means that in the very unlikely event that Tribal Tracks ceases to trade, your money is safe. For more information, please visit this link. Any flights booked for you by Tribal Tracks will be ATOL protected under our own ATOL certificate.

Tribal Tracks considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have thorough safety systems in place.

In the event of an injury, we have an evacuation plan in place for all elements of the trek route. We do ask that you look after yourself during the trek in the following way, as this will help avoid unnecessary problems:

  1. Trekking is a major challenge so make sure that you are well hydrated throughout.  You will be provided with plenty of water so please ensure that you fill up your water bottles with at least 2 litres at breakfast and again after lunch.
  2. Don't let a hot spot become a blister! The moment you feel any rubbing, stop and apply some zinc tape.  This will ensure that the tape gets rubbed, not your foot.  If you don't do this, you will get a blister.  While blister plasters are good, it is better not to have a blister in the first place.  Please also tell the Tribal Tracks leader as they are very good with feet and can help you!
  3. Hygiene. It is very important to wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom.  If you can't wash your hands, apply lots of anti-bacterial gel.  The 'gold standard' is hand washing, followed by gel.
  4. Communication.  If you are not feeling well, or have any sort of issue, please tell the Tribal Tracks leader.  They are there to help and are very discreet.

We know that the unexpected can happen.

While you are away, things can happen at home and people may need to get in contact with you.  This can be tricky when you are in remote areas.  So, shortly before departure, we provide you with an Emergency Procedure document to distribute to your nearest and dearest.  This sets out how to contact Tribal Tracks and the steps Tribal Tracks will then take to get in contact with you.

It is really important that you are well prepared for your physical challenge and that you are confident that you will be able to fully participate.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in the trek, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to step out of the trek. Although this is a very rare occurrence, by booking this trip you agree to section 11 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances, we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

At Tribal Tracks, Responsible Travel is enormously important to us, and our commitment to responsible travel is evidenced in every itinerary that we prepare.

Core to our business is the belief that holidays can and should be enjoyable to the traveller but should be conducted in a socially, environmentally and economically responsible manner which brings benefit to local communities. This is implemented through a variety of measures which can be found in our Responsible Travel policy - http://www.tribaltracks.co.uk/responsible-travel-policy. We encourage you to read this and to play your own part in travelling responsibly.

Trip Details

Optional Extras

Costa Rica is a beautiful country in a wonderful region.  Why not make the most of being here, by extending your stay?  Contact us and we will arrange an itinerary for you.


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Speak to Charlie or Gaynor - Tribal Tracks

Speak to Charlie or Gaynor

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Call Charlie or Gaynor

01242 895272