Good to know: This tour doesnt include transport to and from the park. However, this post focuses on the Ostional Wildlife Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula. There is a swimming hole located just past the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, and it is completely free! From the Liberia International Airport it will take about 1.5 to 2 hours to drive here. If you are looking to visit a volcano without the hassle of the crowds, you will love Miravalles. However, if you have a bit more time, the area around Rio Celeste is worth a visit for a few nights. The waterfall of Rio Celeste is one of the most beautiful sights on any Costa Rica trip. Tours often follow a five-hour circuit that stops at picturesque vistas, thermal springs and boiling mud pots. Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica and have more questions? The hardest part is the stairs leading from the trail to the waterfall. Do you have more burning questions about visiting Rio Celeste? What a stunning waterfall! Hike alongside the sky-blue Rio Celeste. Other Waterfall Hikes. Expect to spend 2-4 hours total including the hike in and back out. The first half of the drive will be on Route 1, which is the nicest highway in Costa Rica. However, in reality, its an optical illusion caused by white minerals that coat the rocks underneath the water. To get to the waterfall, youll take the spur trail heading pointing down and to the left (catarata). A local lunch is included. Rio Celeste and the stunning waterfall are definite highlights. Definitely one for the list when I get to Costa Rica! Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Costa Rica, Fun Things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, Best Things to Do in Santa Teresa & Montezuma, Costa Rica, North Coast 500: Guide to Scotlands Most Scenic Road Trip Route. The sign for the park entrance is located in the small town of Bijagua. If you are traveling from San Jose, you can count on a traveling time of around 4 hours. During rainy season, it is best to arrive early before the rain rolls in and the water loses its vibrant color. Bijagua -> Sueo Ro Celeste B&B Book Today! Their drive took almost three hours and occasionally involved ending in cow pastures. The mineral that remains in suspension explains the sky-blue color of the river. Most of these are located in Bijagua de Upala. What an absolutely beautiful waterfall to visit! Here you can take an amazing night walk through the Tapir Valley! The beautiful color of the river and waterfall is something out of this world. 6 Fun Things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica, La Paz Waterfall Gardens: The Best Place to See Waterfalls in Costa Rica, La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Costa Rica's Best Waterfalls - Simply Wander, 6 Fun Things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica - Simply Wander, Costa Rica Hidden Gems: Catarata del Toro & Blue Falls - Simply Wander, The Perfect 5 Day Costa Rica Itinerary - Simply Wander, Piestewa Peak: The #1 Hiking Trail in Phoenix, Arizona, Hieroglyphic Trail: One of the best family hikes in Phoenix Arizona. Id love to visit one day, thanks for the great guide! To get to the Rio Celeste Waterfalls, you can only follow one trail, around 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) each way. We get Costa Rica is home to several beach resorts that offer the perfect luxury destination for your next vacation. 13 Plastic Products to replace when Traveling, Best Travel Insurances in 2023 (COVID-19 coverage). Start at the rangers station, following signs for the trail. However, it was later found out that there is no copper in the river to turn the river this shade of blue. The Celeste River also borders several hot springs and has one large waterfall. Their onsite restaurant will also cover anything from a food perspective. Youll want to have supportive and sturdy shoes, especially if the trail is muddy. The property itself has over 860 private acres of land full of walking trails, wildlife, and volcano viewpoints. From the entrance of the park, youll make a right and drive until you see the bridge and a parking area on the left hand side of the road. The best time to visit Rio Celeste Waterfalls is in the dry season (December to April). The water is fiercely blue almost bluer than the sky! Youll spend a better chunk of the morning or afternoon hiking to and from the waterfall. We made it easier for you! In fact, its an optical illusion, rather than a chemical phenomenon, caused by the white minerals that coat the rocks along the bottom of the river bed. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the waterfall and hike. From the parking area, there is a small dirt trail that will take you down to the river. You can find out more on the Rafas Maze website. If you end up on any crazy dirt roads, you are in the wrong spot. I will list out a few options for La Fortuna if making the day trip, and Bijagua if you want to stay in a town closer. This Rainleaf microfiber quick dry towel has been my go to when it comes to traveling. This could be my favorite option if you want to stay right near the waterfall. This can be a great option either if you have a rental car or if you are using Costa Ricas bus network. As you explore and swim around, be mindful of the river current and slippery rocks. On and off sprinkles wont impact the water color too much, but it will get muddy if there has been a lot of rainfall. However, there are 4 additional highlights further along the way listed below. I hadnt been paying enough attention when I downloaded the map, so I take full blame for the mistake. A fraction of this mineral reaches the bottom of the river and it can be seen as a white sediment, whereas the majority of the mineral remains suspended along the river. It costs 2,000 colones per car to park at Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park. From here on out the trail is not as maintained and it will get more technical as well as much muddier! For more general travel information about Costa Rica, check out my post about Backpacking Costa Rica! After reaching capacity, you must wait for people to exit before entering. If youre visiting in the wet season from May to December, youll need to be more mindful of the weather. Below are some highly rated tour options to choose from depending on where exactly you may be based: At the entrance of the trail you can find the below map of the area. For more info on what to bring on your trip to Costa Rica, check out my Costa Rica Packing List! Also, if you have visited Rio Celeste and have some advice to share with fellow travelers, wed love to hear what you have to say! The water might not be as blue during the rainy season due to the heavy rains and the mud. I personally dont love the idea of rental shoes for sanitary and comfort reasons. No, a 44 vehicle is not necessary to get to Rio Celeste. The national park is large and unfortunately, Google Maps directed them to the opposite side of the national park. The Tenorio Volcano National Park sits in the beautiful Guanacaste mountain range north of Costa Rica. I would suggest shorts, a t-shirt, a hat for sun protection, and sneakers. The entire trail is about 6km (3.7 miles) and can take anywhere from 2-4 hours. I recommend getting to the park as soon as it opens to experience the waterfall before it gets too crowded. I think it was about $15 per person. I arrived at 8am, was the very first person in the park and it felt like I had it all to myself, which was truly magical. Guests can expect the company of toucans, monkeys and colorful butterflies while enjoying breathtaking views of the Rio Celeste and surrounding scenery. 36 Likes, TikTok video from Cass (@simplyck_): "Rio Celeste, Costa Rica. The best time to visit Rio Celeste is in the dry season from December to April, when the water is at its bluest and the weather is the most favorable. Nowadays, it's one of the top attractions in Guanacaste Province. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! Make sure to do the latter and benefit from the rivers magical healing properties. It is much more than that and this guide will go through all you need to know for a visit here. If you have a rain jacket with you it might be a good idea to bring it. Below are some of my favorite shots taken throughout the staircase from top to bottom: Now you have a decision to make. The volcano's slopes form an incredibly biodiverse cloud forest environment, further adding to the mysticism of this hike. That being said, Dominical isnt all, Read More Dominical Surf Guide- Your Ultimate GuideContinue. During this time the color of the river and waterfall is the most vibrant. Make sure to arrive at the falls before 10 AM to see the area at its most peaceful. Please note: You cannot swim anywhere in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. At this point, it is worth finishing the entire hike by going a bit further to the spot marked Tenideros on the map. On this Rio Celeste Tubing Tour, youll navigate exciting rapids and float through dense, lush rainforest while trying to spot a myriad of local wildlife. The Rio Celeste waterfall is one of the most enchanting places to visit in Costa Rica. This is going to be more so an issue during high season and during weekends/holidays. Discover beautiful rainforest trails, lagoons, geothermal pools, and the breathtaking sky-blue waters of Rio Celeste. If youre into wildlife spotting, youll get good use out of these! That is something you can definitely do on your own. I suggest spending a little bit of time here because the stairs back up are a killer! If you pull your car off here (dont leave anything of value in your car) you can walk down to the river and hop on in. If you are staying at a hotel near the national park, we suggest asking if they can call someone in the morning to see if the river is actually blue that day. When he finished, he washed the brushes in the river, creating the beautiful blue color that we see today at the Rio Celeste Waterfalls. This birdwatching lodge is surrounded by greenery and nature but at the same time is located just within the town itself. Otherwise, there are two restaurants at the entrance that sell reasonably priced local food. The 180-degree views, wildlife, nature trails, and local community make this an incredibly unique stay. During the dry season the park can fill up and if it is at capacity they will not allow more visitors. Even on a dry day the waterfall can get you wet. Rio Celeste Waterfall is one of the most anticipated destinations on any adventure around Costa Rica. You'll depart early in the morning for a 1 hour drive to the Tenorio National Park. There are around 200 or so stairs to follow downwards as you get to a platform overlooking the waterfall. Thank you! If you arent comfortable driving, guided tours are the next best way to visit the waterfall. Rio Celeste Highlights: There are 5 main highlights to visit once you are past the entranceway. The drive from La Fortuna takes about 1.5 hours. This takes approximately 1 hour walking one way. Rincon de la Vieja combines adventure and an incredibly diverse ecosystem with mud pools and waterfalls. If you have it in you, I would highly recommend taking part of the entirety of the trail during a visit. Huge waterfall at Rio Celeste. Below is an excerpt from the information board along the Rio Celeste trail that explains the research: The particular color of Rio Celeste appears at the point known as Tenidero. Avoid flip-flops or any kind of open-toed shoes. But when it comes to sheer beauty, Rio Celeste could be on top of the list. But if you would like to swim and enjoy the therapeutic waters, you can still do so. The river then turned this beautiful sky blue color because of that. Having hiking shoes or closed toe sandals will be your best bet here. Flying into the San Jose Costa Rica airport (otherwise known as Juan Santamaria of SJO) can be a bit nerve-wrackingif it is your first time in the country. During the rainy season, the water can appear brown due to all the rain and lack of sun. If you would like a completely fun-filled day with a guide and transportation, we strongly suggest booking a combo day tour. About 3.7 miles if you also take the stairs down to the waterfall. The waters of the Rio Celeste Waterfall are a force to be reckoned with, rivaled only by a handful of other destinations in the world, like the Blue Lagoon or Havasupai. See the beautiful Rio Celeste waterfall that cascades into a clear turquoise lagoon, and watch the mysterious color-changing rivers of Los . 2,121 likes, 34 comments - Backpacker (@backpackerstory) on Instagram: "New post on Backpackerstory.org by @skye__evelyn 'Rio Celeste/La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica' (." Backpacker on Instagram: "New post on Backpackerstory.org by @skye__evelyn 'Rio Celeste/La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica' (link in bio) ------------- "Rio Celeste is a . Waterfalls Wildlife Rio Celeste, Sloth Sanctuary, and Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour Book online now! I think your main focus here is probably on seeing the bright blue color of the water. It was believed that when God was painting the sky blue, he then use the river to wash the paintbrush. Its just past the Mirador and Laguna Azul along the trail to Rio Celeste. A guide is always nice to point out wildlife and to tell you more about the history, plants, the science behind Rio Celeste etc. We recommend to rent a car in Costa Rica through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Just outside of Tenorio Volcano National Park, you can go on an adrenaline-filled and refreshing tubing adventure along the Celeste River. Make sure you also visit the hanging bridges and the largest human-made lake in Costa Rica! You will then get further down the staircase before reaching the final platform.