5 Best Rio Celeste Tours

Rio Celeste is undoubtedly a stunning waterfall surrounded by lush tropical rainforests and wildlife and has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in Costa Rica. For this reason, many travel and tour agencies are thriving here by helping visitors book their tours before arrival.

Before planning my trip to Rio Celeste, I researched the different types of tour companies in Costa Rica and how they operate. As an avid traveler, traveling has taught me to continually use a tour company because it helps me have a smooth and stress-free trip.

Before then, I thought Rio Celeste was just about hiking to the stunning waterfalls, but after trying out the different types of tours offered by touring companies in Rio Celeste,

I’ve decided to share the best Rio Celeste tours you can embark on when you next visit.

Key Takeaways

Here are some key takeaways from this article if you are too busy to read to the end. However, I recommend you read the entire article in your spare time, as there is more valuable information I cannot summarize in the key takeaways:

• The trail is well-marked. However, it would help if you had a tour guide to gain a deeper understanding of the environment’s flora and fauna.
• The best time to take the river tubing tour is in the dry season, when the water is vibrant and perfect for surfing.
• Considering your fitness level before going on a tour will help you know the type of activities to be involved in.
• The best time to take a photo is in the dry season, early in the morning, before sunset, and during cloudy days.
• The pristine environment of Rio Celeste makes it an excellent spot for yoga and wellness tours.

List of Best Rio Celeste Tours

In no particular order, here is a list of the best tours you can take to Rio Celeste:

1. Hiking Tours

Guided Hike To Rio Celeste Waterfall

Hiking to the Rio Celeste waterfall is adventurous because the park has five tourist attractions with well-marked trails leading to each of them. The trail starts from the entrance and leads you to the Rio Celeste Waterfall, and it takes about 30 minutes to hike.

As you get closer to the waterfall, you will begin to hear the thunderous sound of water. When you get to the end of the trail, you will have to climb the 250-step staircase that leads to the waterfall.

The waterfall is exceptionally stunning and towers at 90 feet, pouring into the turquoise-blue pool beneath it. The turquoise-blue water winds through small rocks and lush tropical rainforests, giving a contrasting color that appears surreal and leaves you imagining this beauty.

After watching this dazzling beauty and probably taking photos, you will climb up the stairs to continue the hike to the next stop, the Mirador, also called the viewpoint.

The Mirador is an elevated spot where you can see Tenorio Volcano Mountain. On a perfect day, you also see the clouds at the top of the mountain.

Following the trail, you will arrive at the Laguna Azul (blue lagoon), where a beautiful turquoise-blue river is. Crossing the suspended wooden bridge takes you to the Borbollones (hot springs), where you see bubbles on the water’s surface due to sulphuric gasses coming from beneath the Tenorio Volcano.

The reaction going on on the surface of the Borbollones is beautiful to watch; however, the smell of rotten eggs around the area due to the sulphuric gasses will quickly drive you away.

Moving away from the hot springs brings you to Los Tenideros, which is the end of the hike. Here is where the magic happens, where two clear rivers, Rio Buena Vista and Quebrada Agria, meet and mix up to form the turquoise color in the water.

My tour guide told me that the reaction was due to the minerals in these two rivers. When they mix, the water disperses the sunlight, giving the turquoise color we see.

Aside from helping me hike through the trails, my tour guide was helpful and knowledgeable in educating me about the flora and fauna of the jungle. He showed me various plants and their uses, both in the medical and cosmetic worlds.

And also the different wildlife in the area and the kinds of sounds they make to identify them. Hiking around the trails is about 6 km, and it took me about 3 hours and 40 minutes.

I learned a lot from the hiking tour with a tour guide that I would not have been able to if I had been hiking alone. I recommend getting a tour guide when hiking the trails for the first time.

Full-Day Hiking Adventure 

Booking a full-day hiking adventure with Centra American Tours was the best thing I did when planning to visit Rio Celeste for the first time. They took off the hassle of planning my trip and made my visit smooth and beautiful.

Firstly, after I arrived at the Liberia International Airport, Centra American Tours sent a poised, level-headed driver to pick me up in a clean, air-conditioned car. We drove for about an hour, and he stopped at a fancy Costa Rican restaurant for breakfast.

I had rice, beans, plantains, salads, fish, and fruit juice for breakfast. That’s a lot, right? But it was filling and delicious. I did not pay for the food because Centra American Tours included it in my booked tour package.

Then, we continued on our journey, and we got closer to the park; the driver drove me to my hotel reservation. I got in, unpacked, and changed into my hiking clothes.

Then he finally drove me to the Tenorio Volcano National Park, where the Rio Celeste is. When I arrived at the park entrance, I showed them the screenshot of the code my tour company sent me, and they let me into the park along with the tour guide that the company provided.

My tour guide was a middle-aged man who was very knowledgeable about the jungle’s biodiversity. He showed me different plant species and animals in the park, explained the phenomenon of Los Tenideros most simply, and held my hands during the most challenging part of the hike.

After the hike, which took about 3 hours and 40 minutes, we picnicked outside the free pool, where the tour had already packed lunch. At the end, I was driven back to my hotel room.

2. Wildlife and Nature Tours

Bird-Watching Tours

Even though my primary aim was to see the Rio Celeste waterfall, after seeing the various kinds of birds in the park while hiking, I told my tour guide we should embark on a bird-watching tour.

The Tenorio Volcano National Park has a rich bird biodiversity and is home to more than 400 species of birds. 

According to my tour guide, the species of birds in the park converge from both the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the migration happens mainly in the dry season from December through April.

There are over 30 species of hummingbirds alone, including many trogons and toucans. However, the most common and exciting species I saw were the three-wattle bird, the tody moth, and the umbrella bird.

Some birds were too small or far away to see correctly, so my tour guide handed me a pair of binoculars for a proper view.

It was quite an exciting experience. Tenorio Volcano National Park is a great place to watch many stunning birds, whether you are a birder or not. 

Night Wildlife Tour

Another adventurous and insightful tour you can embark on is the night wildlife tour, where you experience the wonders of stepping into the realm of the nocturnal creatures in the Rio Celeste.

Their sounds echo through the jungle as an expert tour guide leads you into the shadows of this mystic. 

The night walk starts at 6 p.m. with a maximum of 15 travelers per tour and spans over two hours.

The tour allows you to observe more active wildlife in the dark, like the red-eye frog, reptiles, and amphibians.

Pro Tips 

• Please request a headlamp or torch before setting out.
• Use insect repellent to keep away insects.

3. Adventure Tour

River Tubing or Kayaking Tours

One of the most adventurous tours you can have while visiting the Rio Celeste is river tubing or kayaking.

I will provide more information about river tubing because that was what I experienced on my tour.

River tubing is surfing the waters on a tube. Imagine drifting on turquoise-blue waters along with other tourists or loved ones. It was an adrenaline-filled adventure on a river while watching the beautiful wildlife scenery and the lush rainforest around me.

I did not do this all by myself, though; all the while, I had a tour guide who understood the terrains of the water by my side and helped me out whenever my tube hit a small rock and would not move or the current was too much for me to drift safely.

The river tubing took about 2 hours and cost me nothing because the tour company included it in my tour package. However, it costs $50 for adults and $35 for children.

If you plan on doing this, I recommend you come with a waterproof shoe and extra clothes to change because you might get wet. Wear a life jacket and helmet before entering the river and visit during the dry season for the best experience.

Horseback Riding Tours

Embarking on the exciting horseback riding tour through the beautiful landscapes of Rio Celeste was a thrilling adventure. 

As I saddled up and rode into the pristine environment, I was greeted by the sounds of various species of birds and became surrounded by the giant trees in the rainforest.

I did this tour with a guide of experienced equestrians and other tourists, and as we rode along the horse trails, we came to an elevated point where we saw the majestic Rio Celeste Waterfalls from that high point.

It was such a beautiful moment and the height of the tour for me—the horseback riding tour costs between $40 and $70 per person. However, I had mine already included in my tour package.

Pro Tips

Here are some tips that will guide you before embarking on this tour:

• The horse should be in stable condition.
• The tour company should provide you with a helmet.
• The riding boots should be sturdy, have a small heel, and completely cover your ankle.
• The saddle should fit you correctly.
• A professional should ride along with you.

4. Cultural and Educational Tours

Cultural Experience Tour

After the hike, I overheard some tourists talking about visiting some indigenous reserves in the area and thought it was a fun thing to do, so I joined them. We visited the Maleku Indigenous Reserve, which is located near Guatuso town, not too far from the Tenorio Volcano National Park.

The population of the inhabitants is about 600, making it the smallest tribe in Costa Rica.

When we arrived, the community leaders guided us on a trail to learn about their use of medicinal plants, native farms, crafts, and language.

We watched how they presented an ancient ceremony to the Holy God, nature, and man—and ended the tour by buying souvenirs and handicrafts made by community artisans to support their local economy.

Eco-Tour

Another tour you can embark on when visiting Rio Celeste is the eco-friendly tour. The eco-friendly tour teaches you how to sustain and conserve the beauty of the National Park.

When I first heard of the eco-friendly tour, I told Centra American Tours Tours about it, and they arranged a tour guide who is an expert in this area.

The tour guide started by educating me on the importance of minimizing waste in the park and ensuring that whatever I did had minimal impact on the surroundings so that the environment remains pristine and natural for other tourists and future generations.

You are not to litter waste in and around the park, and be sure to use a reusable water bottle instead of single-use plastic.

Then, he also talked about the need for reforestation and the essence of planting a tree where we live. 

We also went to farms in the nearby town to see how farmers use organic farming methods to grow foods in the area.

The tour ended with my guide advising me to respect the wildlife in and around the park by maintaining a safe distance and not disturbing the natural environment.

And also to volunteer to tell other tourists the need to stay on the trails when hiking and contribute to preserving the Rio Celeste. The tour was worth it!

5. Special Tours

Photography Tours

Whether you are a professional photographer or just starting, you can never go wrong with having a photography tour in Rio Celeste.

I just started with photography, so I hired a professional photographer who knows much about Rio Celeste as my tour guide.

We came in early in the morning when the park opened for the day since it is the ideal time for photoshoots as the soft morning rays improve the color of the landscape and the turquoise watercolor of the Rio Celeste.

Then we began taking photoshoots of the different plant species, wildlife, Rio Celeste waterfall, Los Tenideros, etc. 

There were times when we saw a beautiful bird or wildlife from afar, and we were able to take a good photograph of it because of my tour guide’s telephoto lenses.

After the photography tour, we went to the soda at the park’s entrance to edit the photos with some image editing software.

Pro Tips

• Use a tour guide photographer with a telephoto lens so you can take photos from afar without disturbing the flora and fauna of the environment.
• The best time to have Photoshop is during the dry season from December to April, early in the morning, before sunset, and on cloudy days.

Yoga and Wellness Tours

Rio Celeste is such a peaceful and pristine environment that encourages yoga retreats and wellness programs.

From my adventure of having different types of tours in Rio Celeste, I discovered that most hotels offer yoga retreats and wellness programs, but the one that stood out for me was at Rio Celeste Hideaway.

The yoga and wellness sessions were beginner-friendly and offered a yoga detox, massage therapy, and workout. The instructors who led the session were very experienced as well. I would recommend it.

Tour Tips

Plan Ahead: Planning your trip is an excellent way to have a smooth, hassle-free tour. It helps you do research and become familiar with the estimated amount that you need to make the trip happen.

The weather conditions and seasonal variations of the place, the best time to travel, safety, food, accommodation, and means of transportation are all things to consider when planning.

Fitness Level: Before setting out on a tour, you must consider your physical fitness by consulting a doctor and undergoing medical examinations.

This will not only help you know if you are fit for the tour but also guide you on the kind of activities to indulge in when you travel.

Duration: Before going on a trip, it’s good to ask yourself how long you intend to be on the tour and budget accordingly.

This way, you will be able to save money and plan the activities that you will get involved in to make your stay fun.

Interest: Know what interests you and if the place you plan on visiting has it. You don’t want to tour a place with nothing you enjoy the most.

For instance, your interests can be history, nature, culture, food, adventure, etc. Whatever it is, your interest should guide you on the type of tour to go on.

Basic Amenities: Also consider if the area has access to basic amenities like internet connection, GPS navigation, gas stations, a good road network, etc.

You don’t want to travel to an off-beat area where you cannot reach loved ones easily and vice versa or where it is too hard to navigate on GPS.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly activities, you should explore our list of 25 Free or Cheap Things to Do in Rio Celeste. 

Why take a tour?

Booking a tour is one of the best ways to have a smooth and hassle-free trip, especially when traveling to countries like Costa Rica for the first time.

Booking a tour with Centra American Tours was my best decision when visiting Rio Celeste for the first time. 

They made my trip convenient and smooth, and at no point did I queue for anything or pay for myself.

Before I got to the restaurant, my reservation had already been made; the same was true for my hotel room and other services I saw people queuing for.

The best part was having a level-headed driver and an experienced tour guide who was very knowledgeable and explained the different species of plants and animals. That alone gave me a more profound understanding of the flora and fauna of Rio Celeste and its environs. I highly recommend it!