You are probably wondering what to do on Rio Celeste in Costa Rica, as it has become the most popular destination in the country over the last couple of years, and I’m going to tell you exactly what to do on Rio Celeste in Costa Rica! The first thing you need to do is decide if you want to spend the day at the River or around Arenal Volcano.
Where is Rio Celeste?
If you’re wondering where is Rio Celeste in Costa Rica, it’s a 45-minute drive northwest of La Fortuna, an hour east of Tilarán. Both are along Highway 34, also known as The Gold Route or The Interamerican Highway. You can visit after seeing Arenal Volcano or just for its beauty alone. It’s about 2 hours from San Jose (most of which is the beautiful winding drive through towns like Ciudad Quesada and San Ramon). It’s at a high elevation so get ready for that too! If you don’t have time to visit both, I highly recommend visiting Arenal first (you will be blown away) and then head over to Río Celeste after.
How do I get there?
The most common way to get there is by car. A friend of mine used a local tourist agency and I used a company called Crystal Adventures, which was pretty good. I don’t know how it works if you’re not staying at a hotel/resort with shuttle services or if you are coming from outside of Fortunas (most tours seem to go from San Jose or Santa Elena), but if that’s your case, it may be possible for them to pick you up from where ever you’re staying. A round trip ticket can range anywhere between $70 – $100 US per person and will take about 4 hours depending on traffic, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
What should I bring?
The water in Rio Celeste is incredibly clear, and as a result, you may not need your snorkel gear. Bring along a camera, because no picture can truly capture how incredible it looks as you float downriver. It’s also worth noting that there are only two small restaurants between where you park and where you leave, so while good food is available, it’s not plentiful or cheap. You might want to pack snacks for part of your trip; however, fresh fruit is abundant at most points along your route. Some travelers also recommend bringing trekking poles for balance and stability when crossing rocks or narrow walkways.
When is the best time of year?
Costa Rica’s wet season falls between December and April. This is a great time to explore waterfalls in cooler temperatures, but also remember that rain is much more likely. If you plan your trip between May and November, you’ll have many of Costa Rica’s best parks to yourself, including Río Celeste National Park. The temperatures are tropical year-round, with highs between 75°F and 90°F (24°C–32°C) during the day. However, mornings tend to be cooler in high altitudes or jungle areas. Evenings can get chilly at higher elevations after sunset and especially when visiting waterfalls.
Is it safe?
The short answer is yes, it’s 100% safe! The area around and within Río Celeste is a national park so it has strict rules. Plus, all of our tours are conducted by experienced local guides. We are NOT allowed to leave our path for anything other than emergency purposes (in which case we let you know ahead of time) , so please don’t ask. Please don’t think you can walk to another side, because it isn’t possible.
Tubing down Rio Celeste
Tubing down Costa Rica’s famous blue river, also known as Rio Celeste, is a fun and easy way to spend a day with friends and family. All you need are some waterproof shoes or socks and you’re good to go! The water is refreshing and not too cold, so we highly recommend trying it out. Our favorite part of tubing down the river was getting splashed by other tubers floating around above us! It was quite an adventure and really made for an interesting afternoon. We definitely recommend it if you are visiting Arenal or Monteverde, but keep in mind that we didn’t see anyone tubing down any other rivers during our visit.
Hiking Rio Celeste
If you’re looking for a fun way to explore Rio Celeste, we recommend hiring a guide who can take you on an exciting hike through its beautiful landscape. To get into and explore every nook and cranny of this amazing river, consider taking your guide up on their offer of bringing you backpacking through it. If you’re an experienced hiker, skip right over that part of your tour; guides are happy to tailor each trip so that both your group and those less experienced can enjoy themselves. Of course, we don’t expect anyone in their right mind would skip a trip along Río Celeste entirely!
