If you're reading this, you probably know that the Rio Celeste is a gorgeous blue river located in Costa Rica's Tenorio Volcano National Park, featuring a huge waterfall that descends into a blue pool below. There are some things you need to know before your visit such as – Do I need hiking boots? How muddy is it? How to make sure the water is the distinctive blue color when you visit. We've rounded up 17 things you need to know before visiting Rio Celeste.
How to get to Rio Celeste?
Rio Celeste is located about halfway between Liberia and La Fortuna in north-central Costa Rica. It takes about an hour and a half to get to either city. There is no direct bus service to Rio Celeste, so you must either have your own car ($5 parking), take the bus to Pijagua and a taxi to the entrance ($30-40), or book a tour (about $115 including admission Evidence, and lunch).
How far is Rio Celeste from La Fortuna?
Although Rio Celeste is only 30 miles from La Fortuna, it is a 65-mile drive one way.
How good is the road to Rio Celeste?
We went in February 2018, and the road was paved all the way to the park. The horror stories you may have heard about needing an SUV or high-clearance vehicle are a thing of the past. Any car can reach Rio Celeste easily.
When is the best time to visit Rio Celeste?
The best time to visit Rio Celeste is from December to April, during the dry season. This is also the best time to visit Costa Rica and the peak of peak season.
How much does it cost to enter Rio Celeste?
Admission to Rio Celeste costs $12 per person and $5 to park. You won't need a guide for the hike but you may want to rent boots, but I'll talk about that more in the mud section. The real cost of going to Rio Celeste is the transportation to get there.
How muddy is the ride to Rio Celeste?
In one word – muddy. It was mud! Yeah, dang too muddy. We went in early spring, and there was a fair amount of rain on the trip. I think peak season traffic causes a lot of mud to build up on the road as well. I'll plan on claying and will be pleasantly surprised if I find anything else. If your lodge has hiking poles, you can bring one for the trail, but I wouldn't worry about bringing them to Costa Rica just for this trip.
Can/should I rent shoes for Rio Celeste
It is possible to rent shoes from several vendors around the parking lot. I wore my Chaco sandals, which was kind of annoying. They were almost done after the trip, so I left them in the parking lot after I finished in case anyone wanted to rescue them. If you have a pair of shoes that you're bringing anyway, and you want to get them dirty, you should be fine. Renting shoes only costs $5, which is worth not having to worry about shoes.
How far is it to Rio Celeste Waterfall?
The waterfall is located about a mile from the parking area. Furthermore, this elevation is relatively flat and even paved in sections. There is much less mud here than on the trail through the falls. It's about 500 feet down to the waterfall or 327 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Rio Celeste?
In total, the distance is 3.7 miles (6 km) round trip. Expect to spend about 3-5 hours depending on fitness and mud. In fact, go ahead and plan for 5 hours and be happy if you get out a little early.
Is Rio Celeste a difficult journey?
The difficulty of the Rio Celeste trek depends on the mud. If it has rained recently, the road becomes slick and your shoes feel heavy. Otherwise, it's a relatively short hike from the parking area to the falls with a moderate hike.
Is it worth hiking through the Rio Celeste Waterfall?
maybe. We had people in our group hiking, and others stayed behind. Everyone was happy with their decision. If you're okay with the mud, and feel fine after climbing off the waterfalls, then definitely go ahead. If you really think you have to go back, go back. Let your body be your guide but know that there are some amazing things to see.
Deciding what to do in challenging sections of choice, such as hiking through the Rio Celeste Waterfall, is an essential skill for adventurous couples to master. You can see by our photos that we chose to push, but slowly and carefully.
Why is the Rio Celeste blue?
Folklore says that the Rio Celeste is blue because God dipped his paintbrush in water when he was painting the sky. Science says it's because of the high concentration of small-diameter aluminosilicate particles in the Buenavista River that aggregate when they reach the low pH of Sur Creek. Suspended particles produce Mie dispersion which gives the river a beautiful turquoise colour.
Is Rio Celeste always blue?
No, if there is fast moving water or suspended mud, the river will not be blue. It's a good idea to check a day or two in advance to make sure the Rio Celeste is actually blue. The good news is that this only happens on two days of the year, so you'll probably be OK, but your tour guide or hotel concierge/host can double-check your status.
Can you swim in Rio Celeste?
Yes and no. You cannot swim or enter the water anywhere within Tenorio Volcano National Park. However, there are no restrictions once the river leaves the park. There is a swimming hole next to the bridge near the Rio Celeste Hideaway or you can pay $6 per person at Piruri Cabinas to swim in the river.
Why can't you swim in Rio Celeste?
Deaths have occurred due to the hydraulics and deep pool of the waterfall. This, combined with all the mud from tourists' shoes, would cause the water to lose its blue color, and in essence lose its charm and appeal.
Our experience at Rio Celeste
We went to Rio Celeste as part of our Costa Rica adventure trip. The forest path was a bit disappointing. It was wide, muddy, and had a lot of fallen trees. Any hint of disappointment disappeared when we reached the falls. The main falls looked surprisingly similar to Havasu Falls, although the blue color in Havasu is caused by calcite.
We were so happy that we pushed through to the end of the trial. Laguna Azul looked like something out of a fairy tale. I couldn't believe how the water suddenly turned blue at the confluence with Sour Creek. The more you look, the more surreal it gets – Pura Vida. I would highly encourage everyone who has a car and loves nature to check it out. It's worth the $20 or so per person you'll spend. It's a bit far, but you can add it to a trip between La Fortuna and Monteverde or Liberia.
If you're considering a guided tour for $100+, it might be worth it. Rio Celeste has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor because it is a truly unique experience. When a park has to limit itself to 1,200 people at a time, that's saying something!
Hello! We are Jane and Ed Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
