RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

7 to 8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Book this tour for a chance to do some hiking, river tubing, and exploring the wildlife in the rainforest from the Rio Celeste from Tamarindo. Your guide will organize the details, including your tubes, helmets, transportation, and a local lunch to keep you energized. Enjoy this tour with just your group and your private guide.

Hotel pickup and drop off provided for ease
Hike and tube, plus visit the volcano and farm in one tour
Enjoy a local lunch provided for you
Go at your own pace on this private tour

What's Included

Pickup and drop-off near your hotel or airbnb or at your specific point for an additional cost
All activities
Private Transfer
Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
Tickets

Gratuities
Alcoholic Beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We pick up travelers in the main lobby of their resort or Airbnb in Pinilla, Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, Potrero, Matapalo, Las Catalinas, Hermosa Beach, Coco Beach and Papagayo area. We also can pick up people near to the hotels on the list. PICK UP FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST IN THE AREA OF Dreams Las Mareas, El Jobo, JW Marriott Guanacaste, Hacienda Pinilla, Riu Hotels, Potrero, Samara, Carrillo, Guiones and Las Catalinas Or your specific pick-up point (Hotel or Airbnb) Please check the Tour options and pricing that you are buying. Since the number of people does not match with the pricing the balance will be pay it at the pick up time in cash. Stroller accessible Private tour What to Bring? Extra clothing, swimsuit, tennis, camera or GoPro, towel, raincoat/jacket and copy of passport

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

09/10/2022 - 04/09/2027
Monday - Sunday : 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Itinerary

Rio Celeste

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Rio Celeste

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Cataratas Llanos de Cortes

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Finca Loma Verde

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infant seats available
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Service animals allowed

Stroller accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Not wheelchair accessible
If you are travelling with pets, we will appreciate you indicating in the comments of your reservation
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Daniel_H

We had a great time and definitely recommend this tour! I was a bit hesitant and nervous to book this due to the negative reviews, but since this was the only tour that covered all the activities we wanted to do, I decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did! The listing clearly states that pickup at your place of accommodation is an extra $25 per person. Our rental is off the beaten path without a clear address and they communicated very well to accommodate our pickup anyway. We were just fine paying that much for pickup and were disappointed that some people gave such negative reviews because of it. The excursion itself was incredible and our driver Mauricio was friendly and very accommodating. Our favorite part was the river tubing, but enjoyed all the stops. Do keep in mind it's a long day. We started at 7 am in Tamarindo and weren't dropped off until after 8 pm, partly due to a bad traffic backup and also taking our time at a few stops. But it was worth it and would definitely recommend it.

Reviews

3.5

based on 13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

DO NOT BOOK, Tour not as advertised.

Joseph_F, Jul 2025

This tour is not at all what was advertised. Out of all of the items you are supposed to accomplish, only one, the tubing, was what was stated in the description. Below is what actually happened: 1). Rio Celeste National Park Hike - we arrived, the bus driver was not the same company as the “guide” and so we were in a parking lot by ourselves while the van driver (who barely spoke English) walked around aimlessly talking to locals until another gentleman came from one of the restaurants across the street, asked us how many people we had, got us through the gate into the national park and in broken English said walk 1.5km this way and then come back. He then left and went back across the street to sit and look at his phone in the restaurant. We did not see where two brooks merged, we did not head to another part to swim. Instead when we were done we walked back across the street to the guy on his phone and told him we were done. He walked off and 20 minutes later our van showed back up and we went along the road. 2). River Tubing - As advertised and a fun experience. This was the only time we had a true guide and only while actually on the river. 3). Cataratas Llanos De Cortes - We didn’t do this portion of the trip at all. 4). Finca Lima Verde - We didn’t do this portion of the trip at all. 5). After we left the tubing we got back in our van and drove to a shack on the side of the road (Photo attached). I had to use Google Translate to order because neither our “guide” nor our bus driver nor the restaurant spoke enough English to understand me. After we ordered, the “Guide” left with no explanation. 6). After lunch we went to our driver and he said (through google translate) “ The guide said we could drive by the paradise tree, do you want to do that or head back to Tamarindo?” We chose to head back after researching said tree on our own. All in all the trip was an ok experience solely because of the tubing, but it certainly was not as described. What’s even more disturbing and dissapointing is Victor’s response to the whole situation. They are refusing to assist me outside of sending an email to the “Tour operator” (Picture included of the persons logo) to have them address the situation. I have no connection to the tour operator, viator charged my card, viator is what I used to communicate and they have been zero help in providing restitution to a tour that was nothing like what was booked. Do not book this tour and Think twice about using Viator. I know I will in the future.

We had a great time and...

Daniel_H, Mar 2025

Very disappointed

Sco_R, Feb 2025

They disclose that they charge a fee for picking up at your location. The fee was 55 dollars per person and when I said I would meet them at hotel that was 15 minutes away from pick up point, my reservation somehow got mixed up and there wasn't enough tickets. They said there was a problem with my booking.

DO NOT BOOK!

Shannon_C, Jun 2024

I wish I had listened to other reviews that warned about this tour provider. Even though I had reached out 5 days in advance of the tour to confirm the pick up time, and our tickets said they would pick us up in the hotel lobby (and the tour description specifically said that hotel pick up in the city we stayed in was included), we got a message the day before (after the 24 hr cancellation window) that we had to pay $25 extra per person for the hotel pick up (an extra $225 for our party of 9). We were out playing and enjoying our vacation with our kids and by the time we saw the message after 6pm, they has cancelled the trip on us and said we would get no refund because they couldn't "confirm"!! To Viator's credit, they backed us up eventually and gave us the refund, but I had to fight for it, and it took a toll on me during the vacation. I was so outraged and angry at our treatment by the tour company. Why didn't they clarify the pick up location when I reached out earlier? Apparently so they could extort more money at the last minute. I have no idea how this tour operator is allowed to list on a reputable website, unless they are exploiting some massive loophole in Viator/Trip Advisor policy. It seems to me that they intentionally mess with people. We booked a separate tour through Viator a few days before this one, and it was wonderful. I was expecting the same easy and happy experience, but was hugely disappointed.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

We are very sorry about this comment, but when we heard from you it was almost 9pm in Costa Rica. We gave you options to change the day of your tour but you did not want to do so. The product description is clear that there is an additional cost for some places mentioned or for picking you up at the exact point of your location. There is no bad intention in the mentioned charge.

BUYER BEWARE

dman627, May 2024

BEWARE - Although the "What's Included" Section of this excursion clearly states HOTEL PICKUP AND DROPOFF IS INCLUDED, this company threatened to cancel our tour the night before unless we added $20 pp for hotel pick-up. In our case, it amounted to an additional $160.00 Their response was - "If you want point-to-point pick up then you have to pay the fee." What the hell is point-to-point? What happened to the "Hotel Pick-up and drop-off included" statement? They hide behind unclear language written in extremely poor English - designed to confuse and justify their ransom money. For me, it's more about the principle than the money. I expected them to be honest and they weren't. I'm sure they will reply with some face-saving BS, but we were robbed. The guide they sent, Emil, was nice enough, but clearly, was not familiar with this tour. He worked hard and provided drinks, but was not very talkative and did not provide much information like most guides we've had in the past. All in all, it was a very disappointing, long day. I will add the two guys at the Tubing Gerald and Fabrizio were very good. But overall, my recommendation is: DO NOT GO ON THIS TOUR. It's not worth the money.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

We are deeply sorry for a comment like this when we strive to do the best for you and your group, the pick-up instructions are very clear when we add that picking you up at the doors of your resort or airbnb has an additional cost otherwise you could have arrived at the nearest meeting point, an option that we offered you, but you did not want to do it, there is no bad intention in the additional charge.

Great

James_L, Jul 2023

It was great The guys doing the tubing were so great and I highly recommend . Great bonding time with family

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for taking your time to leave us your comment. We are waiting for you soon in Costa Rica

Great day out. Julian was...

Katie_L, Mar 2023

Great day out. Julian was a wonderful guide and very accommodating. River was beautiful and guides were very helpful. Lunch was delicious!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for taking your time to leave us your comment. We are waiting for you soon in Costa Rica

Awesome day-long trip!

Jennifer_E, Jan 2023

Our tour guide’s name was Francisco and he was amazing!! He did everything he could to make sure our tour was phenomenal. We hiked to the waterfall, ate fresh pineapple and coconut water, tubed down the blue river, visited a sloth sanctuary and had a delicious meal. A day we will never forget!