Hiking Rio Celeste, Costa Rica

Bridge over blue water at Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park

Our guide to hiking Rio Celeste in Costa Rica, including the easy Rio Celeste waterfall hike and the complete Rio Celeste trail in Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Table Of Contents

Rio Celeste Waterfall
- Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike
The Complete Rio Celeste Hike
- Hiking The Rio Celeste Trail
- Sights Along Rio Celeste
FAQ

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Rio Celeste Waterfall

Visiting Rio Celeste Waterfall In Tenorio Volcano National Park

Rio Celeste Waterfall or Catarata Rio Celeste is one of the most unique waterfalls in Costa Rica. It has the bluest waters off them all, which you can’t find anywhere else like this in the country!

The incredible Rio Celest Waterfall plunges almost 100 feet deep into a pool of bright blue water. The contrast to the surrounding tropical green forest makes the turquoise blue color pop even more.

Fed by a volcanic river and due to a process called miescattering the water of Rio Celeste is actually as turquoise as you see it in the pictures.

Rio Celeste Waterfall Location

Catarata Rio Celeste waterfall is located inside Costa Rica’s Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Rio Celeste Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to Rio Celeste is 12 USD for adults. Parking is an additional 5 USD per car and is located right at the entrance to the national park. Tickets can only be purchased on site.

Opening Hours

Tenorio Volcano National Park, where Rio Celeste is located, is open daily from 7 am – 2 pm. 2 pm is the last time you can enter the park in order to do the Rio Celeste hike.

Rio Celeste Waterfall Swimming

Unfortunately, even though the turquoise water looks very inviting to take a dip, swimming in Rio Celeste and the waterfall is not allowed.

Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike

Admiring the turquoise water of Rio Celeste waterfall at Tenorio Volcano National Park — Hike to Rio Celeste waterfall

Rio Celeste waterfall is located in Tenorio Volcano National Park. From the park’s entrance, the waterfall is reachable via an easy hike on a mostly paved or graveled path.

Stairs To Rio Celeste Waterfall

Once you reach the turnoff to the waterfall you will have to climb down quite a few flights of stairs to actually see the turquoise waterfall from up close. It is about 250 steep but paved stairs.

The way back from Celeste waterfalls is harder, as you have to climb all those stairs again.

Complete Rio Celeste Hike

Crossing bridges in the jungle at Rio Celeste Waterfall hike Costa Rica — Rio Celeste Hike

If you want more of a challenge and want to see and explore more, there is the option to hike further along the Celeste River. This challenging in-and-out hike is about 3.5 miles long in total.

At the end of the Rio Celeste hike is where the blue river meets another river and the turquoise water is created.

This process of mixing two types of waters is called miescattering and the reason why Rio Celeste is so incredibly blue.

Hiking Rio Celeste Trail

The continued Rio Celeste hike can be rather strenuous, especially when it’s raining and temperatures are high. It’s not for everyone. You also have to be prepared for the hike.

However, it is definitely worth it and we can only recommend doing it if you are fit and up for it!

It is highly recommended to bring proper hiking shoes, as it can get very slippery and muddy on the paths (mostly during the rainy season).

A rain jacket, umbrella, and waterproof backpack can certainly be useful too during the rainy season.

Sights Along The Rio Celeste Hiking Trail

Laguna Azul

Los Borbollones

Blue river Rio Celeste hike in Tenorio National Park — Los Borbollones at Rio Celeste

Los Borbollones is a spot along the Rio Celeste hike where sulfuric gases from the Tenorio Volcano bubble up through the blue water.

Rio Celeste Bridge

El Teñidero

This is where the two rivers meet and the blue Rio Celeste is created through a process called miescattering.

Rio Celeste Tours

Exploring Rio Celeste & Tenorio National Park

There is a full-day tour from La Fortuna to Rio Celeste which will take care of the transfer from your hotel to the Tenorio Volcano National Park and guide you through the park and to the waterfall. After the 4 hour hike, you will enjoy an authentic Tico lunch and make the way back to La Fortuna.

You can also take a full-day tour from San Jose to Rio Celeste.

If you are staying on the Pacific Coast near Tamarindo you can take this day tour from Tamarindo to Rio Celeste Waterfall.

Find more Rio Celeste waterfall tours here!

FAQ

When Is The Best Time To Visit Rio Celeste Waterfall & Do The Rio Celeste Hike?

The best time to visit Rio Celeste Waterfall is during the dry season as during the rainy season (May – November/December) the heavy rain stirs up the mud in the river and turns the river and waterfall brown.

The same goes for the Rio Celeste hike, which will be very slippery due to the rain and the river will most likely not be blue. Light rain is fine and you will probably still see the amazing blue if it hasn’t rained heavily the days prior.

We visited Rio Celeste in November and thankfully only had light rain and therefore still got to see the amazing blue.

Is Rio Celeste Worth It?

For us, visiting Rio Celeste and doing the hike to the waterfall and river source was absolutely worth it. However, doing the entire hike, especially, can be strenuous and is not for everyone. Seeing the waterfall only is much easier and probably more appealing to the majority of people.

Can You Swim In Rio Celeste?

We know, the blue water looks so inviting, but swimming in Rio Celeste is not allowed.

Rio Celeste Waterfall & Hiking Rio Celeste Trail

We hope you found our Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike Guide helpful and got inspired to visit Rio Celeste and the Tenorio Volcano National Park in Costa Rica.

Julia & Felipe

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier