Enjoying the Rio Celeste Waterfall hike in Costa Rica.
It was like walking through Jurassic Park…
Loud noises from the park’s inhabitants, vast nature, and a picture-perfect waterfall deep in Tenorio Park…
The Rio Celeste waterfall hike was awesome!
If you are visiting Costa Rica soon and you want to go and discover the country’s most picturesque waterfall, then you have come to the right place.
During my recent Costa Rica trip I visited Tenorio National Park, which is home to Rio Celeste, among other treasures.
I have included practical information for your day trip to Tenorio National Park, along with original photos, tips, and some details about the difficulty of the hike, which can vary depending on which time of year you visit.
Let’s start with the park’s location and some directions on how you can visit Rio Celeste waterfall.
Rio Celeste is picture perfect!
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.
How to get to Rio Celeste waterfall?
Tenorio National Park, home to Rio Celeste is located in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, which makes it accessible from some of the best tourist spots in Costa Rica.
Directions if you are coming by car.
Car rental in Costa Rica is a great option if you are travelling as a family, or in a group to split the costs.
Here's how from your likely starting destinations:
From La Fortuna:
You need to take Route 142 heading west towards Tilarán, before changing to Route 6 - north towards Bijagua.
Once you are close to Bijagua, you should look for signs to Tenorio Volcano National Park, then follow them to the park entrance.
Roads are a good standard most of the way, but the last stretch to the car park can be tricky in wet months, as it is uneven.
From Liberia:
Head southeast on Route 1, then turn onto Route 6 toward Bijagua, and as above follow signs to the park entrance.
From Monteverde:
Reaching Tenorio Volcano National Park from Monteverde involves a scenic but longer drive due to the mountainous terrain and gravel roads in the region, making it more difficult for a day trip.
Start on the road from Monteverde toward Route 606 (the main road out of Monteverde).
Drive north to join Route 145, heading toward Tilarán.
From Tilarán, connect to Route 142 and drive east toward Cañas.
In Cañas, take the exit for Route 1 (Interamericana Highway) and head north toward Bijagua.
Turn onto Route 6 at Bijagua and follow the signs for Tenorio Volcano National Park.
If driving, make sure you bring some change for the car park, as our driver had to pay a guy around $4 to enter.
Public transportation.
Public transport can be challenging but possible from both La Fortuna and Liberia, but it will be long and drawn out. I took the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna and it took around 5 hours due to the geographical landscape of Costa Rica.
This was longer than I would have liked after a few days exploring the capital!
From La Fortuna or Liberia, you need to take a bus to Bijagua, where you can change for a taxi to the park entrance.
By official tour.
There are plenty of tour operators in La Fortuna, Liberia, and other nearby towns offer guided day trips to Río Celeste.
These tours often include:
Transportation (pickup and drop-off)
Park entry fee
A guide to explain the legends and ecology.
I found this option to be fantastic, and I made some friends on the tour, which led to an awesome few days in la Fortuna.
At the entrance to the National Park.
Some fresh water to swim in outside of the park.
A fun detour on the way.
Just before we arrived at Tenorio National Park we were treated to a fun detour to see the oldest tree in Costa Rica.
That’s what our guide claimed anyway, but there is a lot of competition in the nature-dense country!
At over 500 years old, and 190 feet tall, the ceiba tree was magnificent, colossal, and put us humans into perspective.
The Ceiba tree is native to Central America, from the Malvaceae family and our guide said it is also known as the Kapok tree.
We saw some colourful frogs chilling at the base of the tree, but apparently they are poisonous, so we didn’t get too close!
We only spent around 10 minutes at the tree, and grabbed some awesome photos, with some of the group giving the tree a hug farewell as we left!
The oldest tree in Costa Rica.
Ceiba trees are native to Central America.
Introduction to Rio Celeste Waterfall.
Waterfalls are a big draw of Costa Rica, and none more so than the picture-perfect Rio Celeste!
Located in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, which is close to several popular areas to visit in Costa Rica, the sky blue waterfall can be found deep in Tenorio National Park.
Tenorio Volcano National Park was officially established in 1995 as part of Costa Rica's efforts to protect its rich biodiversity and unique volcanic landscapes
Our guide was saying that Río Celeste was known to locals and indigenous communities long before the park was created, however, the rise in tourism in the area has raised global awareness, and it is now one of the first attractions on many tourist’s Costa Rica itineraries.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best day tours from La Fortuna, so make sure you head to Tenorio National Park if you are staying in the popular jungle town!
There are some strict rules in place at all of the national parks in Costa Rica.
How much does it cost to enter Tenorio National Park?
Foreign Visitors:
Adults: ₡9,420 CRC (£12.00 GBP).
Children (2-12 years): ₡3,925 CRC (£5.00 GBP).
Costa Rican Residents (National Citizens):
Adults: ₡1,800 CRC (£2.30 GBP).
Children (2-12 years): ₡900 CRC (£1.15 GBP).
Students (With Valid ID):
Costa Rican Students: ₡900 CRC (£1.15 GBP).
Foreign Students: ₡3,925 CRC (£5.00 GBP).
Our tour guide buying our tickets.
Tenorio Park opening times:
8am - 4pm daily.
Entrance = 8am until 2pm.
You have to leave the park by 4pm.
Tenorio National Park site map.
Learning about the park’s inhabitants.
As you would expect from a national park in Costa Rica, there are hundreds of species of wildlife who live in the area, however, you will see a lot more of the creatures at Mistico Hanging Bridges Park in La Fortuna.
This tour is more about the waterfall, and other rare phenomenons.
Each group has to wait for a specific entrance time to control the crowds inside the park.
Before entering the park, Samuel (our guide) was explaining which animals we may see on the tour, with these ones being common sights in the park:
Green Iguanas.
Poison Dart Frogs.
Raccoons.
Vipers.
Sloths.
White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys.
Many rare bird species.
Exploring with Samuel was better than a self guided hike, as he knew where to look for the animals!
The really humid conditions on the day we visited made it less likely for animals to be exploring near the trails, but we did see some frogs, raccoons, birds, and lizards.
An interesting lesson about the park to begin our tour.
Starting our hike.
Once the park had emptied slightly, we began our hike on the marked trails.
You have to walk right to the end of the trail before you notice the blue river starts, but more on that below.
How difficult is the hike?
I would class the trail as moderate, as it is very well-marked, however, in certain spots it was muddy and slippery, but I did visit at the start of the rainy season.
There were some families, and hikers of an elderly age inside the park when I was there.
How long does the hike take?
The full loop hike at Tenorio Volcano National Park, which includes all the main attractions, is approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) round trip.
This loop typically takes 3 to 4 hours to complete, depending on your pace, the weather, and how much time you spend at each sight.
Our group took just over 3 hours, as we stopped several times for our guide to teach us about the forest.
What should you bring for the hike?
The main three things I suggest you bring are:
Sturdy hiking shoes/boots - there are uneven spots, so you want plenty of grip on your shoes.
Poncho/raincoat - once you are inside the park, you can be miles from the car park during torrential downpours, so you would be wise to prepare in advance.
A good camera - the park is full of surprises, and it doesn’t get more aesthetic than Rio Celeste. You want memories of your fun day in nature.
Entrance to the hiking trail.
Were we in Jurassic Park?
The first section of the hike felt as though we were in a different world… a Jurassic Park world!
The sensory attack…
The ancient trees rustling, birds calling, and the noise of cricket chirps..
I was just waiting for a T-Rex to pop out of the trees in the distance!
Then as you get closer, the distant sound of rushing water from Rio Celeste is unique.
Hiking through the vast rainforest.
An abundance of nature.
There is so much more than Rio Celeste to enjoy at Tenorio National Park.
The park boasts a remarkable variety of flora, shaped by its elevation, climate, and volcanic soil.
While the flora shares similarities with other parts of Costa Rica, certain features and ecosystems make it distinct.
Here’s an overview:
Tropical rainforests are ideal locations for the iconic ceiba trees as I mentioned above, along with Epiphytes such as orchids, bromeliads, and mosses.
Thermophilic plants are unique to volcanic soil, so you will find them near the park’s geothermal features (e.g., hot springs). Plants tolerant of high heat and mineral-rich conditions thrive.
Samuel taught us that the park is also home to many plants traditionally used for medicinal purposes, such as Guarumo and Balsa.
So much beautiful nature.
A walking palm tree.
Another surprise in tree terms was a walking palm tree, also known as ‘Socratea exorrhiza’.
This fascinating species is also native to Central and South America, and certainly captured the imagination of our tour group, due to its unique structure and rumored ability to ‘move’ over time.
Popular belief suggests that the walking palm can ‘move’ across the forest floor to find better sunlight or richer soil. This idea comes from the tree's ability to grow new roots in one direction and abandon old ones in another.
Sam was showing us the spot where the tree was the year prior, as he claims that specific tree does move.
But who knows?
He did say that this process happens very slowly and does not result in actual, observable movement over time.
The walking tree in the national park.
My first view of Rio Celeste Waterfall.
After around 90 minutes of hiking, the iconic blue waterfall came into view, after hearing the gushing water for a little while before.
There we were, my favourite photo spot in Costa Rica!
My first impressions were that I was amazed at how untouched and natural it looked.
In other places in Costa Rica, there always seemed to be tourists near the nature spots, or weather and time damage.
The stunning 30 metres (98-foot) cascade of turquoise water seems so perfect.
You don't have to go all the way down the stairs to enjoy it, as you can see below.
An enchanting place.
Walking down to the viewing platform.
Once you spot the picturesque waterfall, you will face a steep walk down to the viewing platform.
There are over 250 steps down to the waterfall, however, It is well worth making the effort to go down to see it, even though it isn’t easy to walk back up.
The steps are well maintained, but they can become slippery in wet weather, so sturdy shoes with good grip are recommended.
As I walked further down the forest opened up some beautiful scenery.
It really is picture perfect down there!
Although there are many tourists on the platform, when I visited, everyone was respectful and helped each other take photos etc.
Very humid conditions in the forest
Beautiful views.
Can you swim at Rio Celeste Waterfall?
Unfortunately swimming is not allowed at Rio Celeste as the park tries to preserve the environment, ensure visitor safety, and protect the delicate balance of its unique ecosystem.
As the river’s vibrant turquoise colour is a result of precise chemical and mineral conditions, human activity such as swimming could disrupt this delicate balance.
I can imagine it wouldn’t be very healthy for humans either!
Many visitors do swim in the river at the park’s entrance though, which is really nice in the humid conditions.
We spent around half an hour in the water before heading back to La Fortuna.
If you do want a nice waterfall to swim at, then La Fortuna Waterfall is my recommendation.
It is a great place to chill out and admire some beautiful scenery.
No swimming sign.
Heading to the next section of the hike.
Rio Celeste Full-Day Tour From La Fortuna.
During my solo trip to Costa Rica I enjoyed several tours which helped me to meet fellow travellers to share the awesome experiences with
This popular day tour was an all day tour with an early morning pick up from my accommodation, as it is a couple of hours driving over to Tenorio National Park.
Our guide ‘Samuel’ spoke English very well and kept dropping knowledge bombs for the whole hike.
He also took his time to look for as many animals as possible for us, and he snapped a lot of great photos for us all!
The 5/5 star rating from over 350 reviews was a deal breaker for me booking in advance of my trip.
My experience matched my expectations beforehand, so I am very happy to have used Viator.
Enjoying our tour.
Why is the water so blue at Tenorio Volcano National Park?
The water at Tenorio appears vividly blue due to a unique natural phenomenon involving the interplay of light, volcanic minerals, and water chemistry.
This is my favourite spot in the park to admire the strikingly blue/turquoise colour:
Laguna Azul.
This calm pool of vibrant turquoise water made our group want to jump in the water as it looked so calm, however, this is just an illusion, as the water has a high concentration of natural chemicals.
A feature of the water in the park are ‘hotbeds’ or ‘borbollones’, which are fissures and cracks that leak high temperatures, and volcanic gases.
These bubbling spots reminded us of the park's volcanic origins.
As we paused to enjoy the stunning views, Samuel, our guide shared this interesting Costa Rica fact, as we stopped briefly to enjoy the views.
Sky blue waters.
A unique meeting point at El Teñidero.
As you enter deep into the forest towards the end of the trail, you arrive at another unique highlight of the national park - El Teñidero.
Also known as ‘The Dyeing Point’, this iconic spot is where two rivers converge, and the blue colour water phenomenon begins.
Although the turquoise water is present in many places in the national park, this is the only spot where you can witness the two different colours together.
The reason why El Teñidero is located at this exact spot in Río Celeste National Park lies in the unique geological and chemical processes that occur here, specifically, it is the point where the two rivers, Quebrada Agria and Río Buenavista meet.
Although Rio Celeste is the highlight of the park, this is a fascinating spot also!
The El Teñidero meeting point in the river.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Rio Celeste Waterfall.
What makes the water blue at Rio Celeste?
The river’s vibrant turquoise colour is caused by a chemical reaction between volcanic minerals.
La Fortuna waterfall vs Rio Celeste, which is better?
It depends on what you are looking for, as Rio Celeste is more unique and aesthetically pleasing, but La Fortuna waterfall is also stunning, and you can swim there.
Rio Celeste was my personal favourite.
What is the best time to visit Rio Celeste for clear blue water?
If you want clear blue waters at Rio Celeste then you should visit during the dry season, which runs from December to April in Costa Rica.
Heavy rain during the wet season can muddy the river and dilute the minerals, making the water appear brown or less vibrant. I visited in May and you can see in the photos that it was still awesome.
Is the Tenorio Volcano active?
While Tenorio Volcano has not erupted in recent centuries, its geothermal features indicate that it is still geologically active beneath the surface.
Some of the trees are toxic.
Park rules and tips for a fun adventure.
You will notice the information board which displays the visitors rules for the park, but here are of the most important ones:
Stick to marked out trails - we saw many snakes and spiders, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally touch them.
No alcohol permitted.
Feeding wild animals is not allowed.
Don’t touch trees and rocks outside of the marked trails - they can be toxic to humans, or have poisonous insects on them.
No Littering.
Keep noise levels low and respect the experience of others. The park is a place for tranquility and connection with nature.
Some personal tips.
I advise using mosquito repellent in the car park before entering the park, it will help protect you, however be mindful that you won’t be allowed to spray it once inside, so you are best off being prepared in advance!
Bring Swimwear as even though you can’t sim at Rio Celeste waterfall, you can swim in the river outside of the park, and many tourists do. We really enjoyed cooling down afterwards.
As I mentioned earlier in the blog, bring a poncho if you are visiting in the rainy months, and don’t worry you can purchase them in teh shop outside th park entrance.
All done. A brilliant tour finished!
Some places to eat after your hike.
One of the first things that I recommend in Costa Rica is to carry a reusable water bottle with you, as you can fill it up before day activities such as this one, and the national park’s are strict on plastic.
I recommend taking a full bottle and some snacks for this hike, as it is a lot harder to hike in hot sunshine and high humidity, and you won’t cool down until after you have left the park.
At the park entrance there are street food and fast food options, along with a shop selling snacks and drinks, therefore, you have plenty of choices to refuel after your few hours in ‘Jurassic Park’.
I bought BBQ chicken and pork on sticks after my hike, followed by a pineapple, which were all relatively cheap for Costa Rica prices.
Food and souvenirs available.
Some other awesome nature spots in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is abundant with beautiful destinations, so it is difficult to mention them all, however, here are some of the favourites from my last trip!
Montezuma.
Montezuma is abundant with things to do, and the small bohemian town is the perfect mix of Pacific Ocean and beautiful rainforest.
I really enjoyed a beach hike every morning, and if you do like to walk and explore, then heading to Montezuma Waterfalls is a nice challenge.
The rewards of reaching the waterfalls are picturesque surroundings and some nice swimming.
The canopy above the three tiered waterfall is also one of the best zip-lining spots in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna.
The small jungle town in the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica needs no introduction, as it is famous for the mighty Arenal Volcano which overlooks the town.
There will be plenty of beautiful nature on your La Fortuna itinerary, with international visitors seeking sloths in their natural habitats in the vast rainforests in the region, with hanging bridges, and volcano hikes providing adventurous days.
If you are looking for a free activity in nature, then El Salto Swimming Hole and El Choyin Natural Hot Springs are the two most popular, with both providing several hours of entertainment!
Tamarindo.
Tamarindo is less rainforest, but it more than makes up with the beautiful Pacific Ocean!
Surfing activities are one of the fun things to do in Tamarindo which attracts guests from all over the world, with waves suitable for all levels.
I loved my surfing lesson, and couldn’t think of anywhere better to do it than the Pacific!
The Estuary tour is popular for crocodile spotting, with the beach bars and restaurants providing the perfect location for a special sunset each evening.
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.