Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike from Arenal
Recommended by 94% of travelers
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Hike among the mystical aquamarine waters of Tenorio Volcano National Park without worring about getting lost on this full-day trip from La Fortuna. Discover the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica’s rainforests while accompanied by a naturalist guide who can help you spot more wildlife than you would alone. See the beautiful Rio Celeste waterfall that cascades into a clear turquoise lagoon, and watch the mysterious color-changing rivers of Los Teñideros.
- Let someone else take care of logistics so you can focus on the sights
- Take a moderate-level hike (roughly two hours) through a lush rainforest jungle
- Spot and learn about local plant and wildlife from an expert guide
- Stay active while on vacation with this nature-focused experience
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Local guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.7:30 am
What To Expect
Spend a delightful day exploring the natural wonders of Tenorio Volcano National Park. Your tour begins with morning pickup at your La Fortuna hotel, and then a drive that takes you through the scenic hillsides of Arenal Volcano National Park. Stock up on snacking provisions at a local store if you like (own expense) before entering the majestic beauty of Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Embark on a moderately challenging roughly 2-hour hike through the lush rainforest of the park. The terrain is steep and rocky at parts, so feel free to hike at a pace that works for you. Your guide will point out highlights of the landscape, including interesting plants and the many types of wildlife that call this area home. Keep an eye out for blue morpho butterflies, tropical birds, tapirs, ocelots, sloths and spider monkeys.
When you arrive at the Rio Celeste waterfall, you’ll immediately see how this cascade got its name, which means ‘sky-blue river.’ Admire the crashing waters that empty into a lagoon, which takes on a brilliant blue hue courtesy of natural mineral deposits in the river. Relax along this picturesque scene as your guide shares local myths about how the river got its eye-catching color.
Continue on your hike to the Los Teñideros, which features the convergence of two rivers in the jungle. Behold the clear waters turning bright blue when they merge as if by magic — a natural spectacle caused by a chemical reaction of volcanic minerals in the water.
At the end of your hike, rest and refuel with delicious regional cuisine at a local restaurant before the return drive to your La Fortuna hotel.
Embark on a moderately challenging roughly 2-hour hike through the lush rainforest of the park. The terrain is steep and rocky at parts, so feel free to hike at a pace that works for you. Your guide will point out highlights of the landscape, including interesting plants and the many types of wildlife that call this area home. Keep an eye out for blue morpho butterflies, tropical birds, tapirs, ocelots, sloths and spider monkeys.
When you arrive at the Rio Celeste waterfall, you’ll immediately see how this cascade got its name, which means ‘sky-blue river.’ Admire the crashing waters that empty into a lagoon, which takes on a brilliant blue hue courtesy of natural mineral deposits in the river. Relax along this picturesque scene as your guide shares local myths about how the river got its eye-catching color.
Continue on your hike to the Los Teñideros, which features the convergence of two rivers in the jungle. Behold the clear waters turning bright blue when they merge as if by magic — a natural spectacle caused by a chemical reaction of volcanic minerals in the water.
At the end of your hike, rest and refuel with delicious regional cuisine at a local restaurant before the return drive to your La Fortuna hotel.
1
Desafio Adventure Company
2
Rio Celeste
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not wheelchair accessible
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes
- Please bring a change of clothes, sunglasses, insect repellent and water
- Tour departs from La Fortuna
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Peter_S
Very enjoyable experiance which was made even better by our guide Cathys. She was very knowledgeable about the area, answered all of our questions and just had a really nice vibe.
Would recommend
Reviews
4.7
based on 35 reviews
K_K, Jan 2026
Amazing experience! The hike was moderate with some slippery parts. Carlos and Stephen did an AMAZING job! Easy to talk to and very helpful and mindful. We felt safe with them!
Ive_C, Jan 2026
My husband and I had a great day. Santos was knowledgeable, patient and just great company overall. The views are amazing, and the hikes quite acceptable. It’s a lot more waiting than walking, though the stairs can get pretty steep. We couldn’t swim which was a bummer, but the view is still worth it
jnealbeach, Dec 2025
The tour isn't for everyone. People who wish to see nature and enjoy the beauty that surrounds it. My guide Erika was funny, energetic, and knowledgeable. Unfortunately couldn't go all the way down to the Waterfall area due to a landslide, but it still was amazing. WEAR the proper shoes, it rained hard, and we hiked through the mud, just hilarious to see those people wearing flip flops. It isn't the beach folks. Be careful and listen to people, there are dangerous creatures. We saw a viper, and people were getting to close. Good tour and good company.
William_S, Jul 2025
Tour was awesome with water so blue- we got very lucky even after the rain! Tour guide, Mr. Santos was great and very friendly! We saw a few cool looking insects and small snake but no sloths or monkeys but that’s ok we saw many other wildlife at other stops in Costa Rica. The lunch was very tasty as well.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! 💙🐍 We're thrilled to hear you had an awesome tour and got to enjoy the beautiful blue waters — such a lucky treat, especially after the rain! 🌧️☀️
We're glad you enjoyed exploring with Mr. Santos 🧑🏫, he's truly passionate about nature and making every tour memorable. Even without monkeys or sloths this time, it sounds like you still had a fantastic wildlife experience 🐞🦋. And we're happy to hear you loved the lunch too! 🍽️😋
Thanks again for joining us — we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! 🌿🇨🇷 Pura vida! 🌺
— The Desafío Team 💪😄
Lorenzo_V, Mar 2025
The guide was super knowledgeable and fun. We really enjoyed the tour. She went above and beyond to make the trip a great experience.
Linda_W, Nov 2024
Eco Terra, recovered our day. Unfortunately, while on route to Rio Celeste, our guide was notified that the park was closed for the safety of guests due to the flooding and fallen trees. Our guide Harvin, provided us with options, and we decided to instead explore the Arenal Volcano and the La Fortuna waterfall. We appreciated all the information Harvin provided us about nature in Costa Rica. He was also on the watch for sloths, and found us 3. Such a highlight to see them in their natural environment. We were amazed that they could be spotted.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hola!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're truly sorry that your original plan to visit Rio Celeste was affected by the unexpected park closure, but we’re so glad to hear that Harvin was able to turn the day into an amazing adventure. Exploring the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall is always a great alternative, and spotting three sloths in the wild? That’s definitely a highlight! 🦥🌿
Harvin’s passion for sharing Costa Rica’s nature and wildlife truly shines through, and we’re thrilled he made your experience so memorable. We hope you'll return to see Rio Celeste when the conditions are just right.
Thank you again for your understanding, and for choosing us for your adventure. Pura Vida! 😊🌴
The Desafío Adventure Team
vickie_p, May 2024
This waterfall was worth the drive to see. It was breathtaking! Roy was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable. It was an 1 1/2 hour from La fortuna. We hiked about 2 hours total to see waterfall. It’s about 250 steps down to waterfall. Roy talked about all the foilage in the park. He also showed us a free. Snake, baby viper, and toucan birds. We ate a wonderful Costa Rican lunch on the way back. Roy also stopped when he spotted a sloth in the tree to show us. Totally worth it to see this waterfall.
Jane_N, Apr 2024
Really enjoyed the day, the Rio celeste really does look as blue as the pics. Kenia our guide was great and knowledgeable. We had a fabulous swim at a great swim spot later too.
Peter_S, Mar 2024
Very enjoyable experiance which was made even better by our guide Cathys. She was very knowledgeable about the area, answered all of our questions and just had a really nice vibe.
Would recommend
Kathleen_L, Mar 2024
Unfortunately Viator did not give us the right pick up time and we missed our pick up. Our tour guide JP came back to get us which was very much appreciated. It was a long drive to Rio Celeste but well worth it. There were some in the group that was having a hard to
E with the hike and JP was very in tune to that. They did not go all the way to the end but instead stopped after the waterfall. We kept going with JP. For those that don’t normally hike, it was a tough hike
From $108.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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