Complete Guide to Rio Celeste Costa Rica
Is Rio Celeste Worth Visiting?
Rio Celeste in Costa Rica is famous for its breathtaking blue water. We were so excited to see the magical water for ourselves.
If you enjoy nature, hiking, and waterfalls, you are in for a treat.
Rio Celeste is worth visiting!
In this guide, we answer the most common questions about Rio Celeste.
We cover location, cost, parking, main sights, rain boot rental, guides, food, and other tips to have a fantastic hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something using the links, we will receive a commission. Using the link is at NO extra cost to you. We appreciate it when you buy through one of our affiliate links. It is a great way to show your support for us. It will allow us to continue to bring you valuable, free content.
Where is Rio Celeste located?
Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio (Tenorio Volcano National Park) is the national park to visit the Rio Celeste waterfall and do a Rio Celeste hike.
The drive to Rio Celeste from San Jose is around 3 1/2 hours.
What is the entrance fee for Tenorio Volcano National Park?
On the national park's website, the cost is $12 for non-residents. It is 800 colones for nationals and residents of Costa Rica.
We paid with a credit card, and it was $13.50 each for entrance.
Is there parking at Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes! We got there when the park opened at 8 am, and there was plenty of parking available right across the street from the park entrance.
It cost 2,000 colones ($3). There is a parking attendant collecting money in the lot.
During our time in Costa Rica, we always tried to keep colones with us to pay for parking.
What should you bring for the Rio Celeste hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Because the weather in Costa Rica is often unpredictable, we recommend bringing a rain jacket. We used ours several times throughout our hike.
We also recommend having a backpack cover if you bring a backpack.
We also brought our camera and GoPro to take photos and videos.
Can you rent rain/mud boots at Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes! There was a place to the right of the entrance renting rain boots.
It cost 2,000 colones ($3). We are glad we rented the boots because we had to walk through water and mud. The boots were comfortable and worth the rental price.
We debated buying rain boots before our trip but decided against it because we did not want to lug around the boots during our trip.
Do you need a guide for Tenorio Volcano National Park?
If you want to experience the hike with a guide, they are available. The tour guides are in the parking lot waiting for tourists.
After talking to a local, they said we did not need a guide for the hike. The reason for not needing a guide was because the park is well marked, and there would not be a lot of wildlife to spot. We opted for doing the tour ourselves and had no trouble navigating it.
What are the main attractions at Tenorio Volcano National Park?
These are the items of interest when visiting Rio Celeste: Rio Celeste Waterfall (Catarata), Mirador (lookout point), Laguna Azul (blue water lagoon), Los Borbollones (gases from the volcano bubble up through the water in this area), and El Teñidero (where two rivers meet).
Once you pay the entrance fee, you can start exploring.
We did not see much during the first 1,500 meters of the hike aside from lots of jungle, but it was relatively easy and enjoyable to be in nature.
Rio Celeste Waterfall (Catarata)
After hiking 1,500 meters, this is the first site we came upon during our hike. There are a lot of stairs to climb to get to the waterfall, but it is worth it!
Once you make it to the bottom of the staircase, there is a small viewing area. Here you get up-close views of the Rio Celeste Waterfall. We were in awe of the color of the water and the stunning waterfall.
Is swimming allowed in the Rio Celeste waterfall?
Swimming is not allowed in the waterfall. No one is permitted to swim in the Rio Celeste while inside the national park.
However, there are places in Rio Celeste where swimming is allowed.
After enjoying the lovely views, it was time to make the dreaded climb back up the staircase.
Mirador (Lookout Point)
The next stop on the Rio Celeste hike is Mirador. Mirador was 500 meters after the waterfall, but we did not go up to the lookout point. We continued hiking toward Laguna Azul.
Laguna Azul (Blue Water Lagoon)
Only 150 meters from Mirador was the Laguna Azul.
The water in the blue lagoon was the most beautiful shade of blue. We were so glad that it was this color when we visited because we had heard that if it had been raining a lot, the water would not have the same magical blue.
Los Borbollones
Los Borbollones was only 50 meters from Laguna Azul.
Gases from the Tenorio Volcano create bubbles in the water. You will notice the smell of sulfur when you are getting close to Los Borbollones.
There are several bridges that you will encounter on your Rio Celeste hike.
El Teñidero
El Teñidero is 300 meters from Los Borbollones. It is the area where two rivers meet.
The two rivers are the Rio Celeste and Los Teñideros.
Why is Rio Celeste so blue?
The color of the water is an optical phenomenon instead of the result of a chemical reaction.
The rays from the sun pass through some of the water. The sun's rays reflect a blueish tone due to a white mineral substance found on rocks in the Rio Celeste.
El Teñidero is at the end of the hiking trail, so we started the journey back to the entrance. It was 2,500 meters from El Teñidero to the park entrance.
How long does the hike take?
The entire hike is 3.7 miles round trip.
It took us around 4 hours to complete it.
Where is there to eat after the Rio Celeste hike?
After making our way back to the entrance, we had worked up a hunger. We got lunch from the restaurant across the street from the park, Soda el Parque.
Ali got the Casado. Casado is considered the national dish in Costa Rica. It is a protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish, or eggs), rice, beans, vegetables (picadillo), salad, and plantains. We ate this meal quite a few times during our Costa Rican road trip.
I got a taco at Soda el Parque. I’ve never seen a taco made this way, but it tasted great!
Where did we stay while exploring Rio Celeste?
The accommodation was unique because it was in the shape of an egg. It was also in a prime location on the Rio Celeste and only a short drive to the Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Just a short walk from the Airbnb is the Rio Celeste. Guests at the Airbnb can swim in this part of the Rio Celeste. We were so excited to walk down to the river to see the blue water for the first time.
Click here to check out this unique accommodation at Rio Celeste.
Where did we go after Rio Celeste?
After the Rio Celeste hike, we made the drive to La Fortuna.
It was only about an hour away.
We spent two nights in this area of Costa Rica in a treehouse with volcano views.
While there, we marveled at Arenal Volcano, relaxed in the volcanic hot springs of Termalitas del Arenal, saw plenty of wildlife, and ate delicious food.
What to pack for Costa Rica?
We recommend bringing a good pair of hiking sandals and a raincoat.
We bought both of those items before our trip, and they came in handy each day. The weather in Costa Rica is unpredictable, so you never know when it might start raining.
We were not sure whether or not to buy rain/mud boots. We decided against it, and I am glad that we did not purchase rain boots. They would have been bulky to pack and not fun to clean. Instead, we rented rain boots. It was worth it to not have to deal with the hassle of lugging around boots.
We try to pack only the essentials. Aside from t-shirts, pants, sweatshirts, and undergarments, we also brought:
-swimsuits
-water shoes
-hiking sandals
Looking for more Costa Rica inspiration? Check out our Ultimate Costa Rica Road Trip!
Want to know how we captured our Costa Rica photos and videos?
Check out our Vlogging Gear Blog or Vlog to find out what cameras and equipment we use.
*The links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something using the links, we will receive a commission. Using the link is at NO extra cost to you. We appreciate it when you buy through one of our affiliate links. It is a great way to show your support for us. It will allow us to continue to bring you valuable, free content.
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