Your Travel Guide to Rio Celeste Waterfall
Located deep in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica, Rio Celeste Waterfall isn’t the easiest to get to—but the trek is worth it when you see this natural wonder in person. Home to some of the bluest waters on earth, Rio Celeste Waterfall is one of the most stunning natural wonders in all of Costa Rica, but there are some factors you should be aware of before planning your trip. This travel guide will help you plan out your journey to this tropical paradise, and you’ll be soaking up those blue waters in no time!
Planning your trip
The region surrounding Rio Celeste is a very active, outdoorsy sort of place, full of spectacular waterfalls, rivers, and volcanoes. Even though you won’t need to make reservations for your visit to Rio Celeste Waterfall, it’s a good idea to have someplace in mind to stay while you plan your trip. Options include accommodations in Bijagua, Katira or Fortuna. Rio Celeste can be visited by day tour from either of these locations.
Flight details
The nearest airport is Liberia International Airport, which serves Liberia and the neighboring regions of Costa Rica. It’s about a one-hour drive from the waterfall on paved roads. From other major cities in Costa Rica, you can arrange for private transportation to get you to Rio Celeste National Park. However, most people choose to fly into or out of Liberia as it’s the easiest way to reach the park. The airport is situated about one hour away from the national park entrance.
Where to stay
The Best place to stay if you love nature is Onca Tours’ treehouses. For an unforgettable experience of Costa Rica’s nature, staying in tree houses is a great choice. Onca Tours offers eco-friendly accommodations near Rio Celeste. The River runs turquoise blue, clear as glass and makes for a fantastic view from your porch or bed. You can also go tubing down in an exclusive location.
Best time to visit Rio Celeste Waterfall
In order to avoid the crowd and get early at the main entrance of the park, it is better to visit in the morning from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Rio Celeste is a protected area which means you have to pay an entrance fee of $12/person for foreigners ($1.2 for Costa Rican citizens). Once at Tenorio Volcano Park, hikers often spend around 1 hours getting there.
Tenorio volcano park wildlife
The park also protects Tenorio Volcano, which has been dormant since an eruption in 1814. As a result of its isolation, vegetation at Tenorio is more lush than other parts of Costa Rica and wildlife is abundant; you may see toucans and sloths as well as several types of snakes on your hikes . The park protects one of Costa Rica’s largest populations of howler monkeys—and they’re not shy about letting you know it.
