Rio Celeste & Sloth Sanctuary from Tamarindo: Full Day
Rio Celeste's Blue Waters & a 700-Year-Old Tree in One Day
You hike to Rio Celeste's blue waterfall, visit a 700-year-old tree, swim in the river, walk a hibiscus labyrinth, stop at a magnetic anomaly, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and spend time at a sloth sanctuary. Private transport, snacks, beers, and a guide are included.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Rio Celeste and local attractions
- Hike Tenorio Volcano National Park
- Visit the Tree of Peace
- Swim in Rio Celeste near Katira
- Explore Katira Labyrinth
- Experience Zona Magnética phenomenon
- Lunch at El Barrigón restaurant
- Tour the Sloth Sanctuary in Bijagua
What’s included
- Your day includes private air-conditioned transportation from your Tamarindo hotel, entry to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Katira Labyrinth, a knowledgeable guide for the hike and sanctuary visit, lunch at El Barrigón restaurant, water and Costa Rican snacks in the vehicle, and beers.
- You'll also visit the Tree of Peace and Zona Magnética.
- Return transport to your hotel is included.
Times
- Every day 06:30
Before you book
Operated by Sweet Costa Rica
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts in Tamarindo, with Rio Celeste as the first big goal. The drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park takes you inland, away from the coast, and the air shifts: cooler, greener, louder with bird calls. Your guide leads you across wooden bridges into a moderately challenging hike that winds through dense forest until the Rio Celeste waterfall appears. The water really is that blue. It's not a trick of light or a filter. Two mineral-rich rivers converge just upstream, and the result is this impossible turquoise that photographs don't quite capture. You'll stop at the Teñideros, where you can see the color shift happen in real time as the rivers mix.
After the hike, the day doesn't slow down. Ten minutes from the park exit, you stop at the Tree of Peace, a 700-year-old giant in Guatuso de Alajuela that stands like a monument to the region's history. It's a quiet moment before the swim in Rio Celeste near Katira, a spot locals favor, where you can slip into the blue water. Then comes the Katira Labyrinth: the largest one in Costa Rica, built entirely from hibiscus flowers. Walking it is genuinely disorienting in the best way, surrounded by blooming petals and the smell of flowers. It's the kind of stop that feels a bit surreal after the intensity of the waterfall hike, and that's exactly the point. It's a community creation, which ties into why this tour prioritizes local businesses and attractions that actually support the people who live here.
Lunch happens at El Barrigón in Bijagua, where you eat casados (the Costa Rican standard of rice, beans, plantains and a protein you pick), or ceviche if you want something lighter. The restaurant sits in the countryside, and the food tastes like it was made for people who live there, not tourists passing through. Right before lunch comes a quick detour to Zona Magnética, a spot where cars seem to roll uphill on their own. It's genuinely strange, and no one quite agrees on why it happens, but you'll see it for yourself. After lunch you're at the sanctuary in Bijagua, where a guide walks you through the habitat and you watch sloths move at their own pace, see frogs and snakes and lizards, and hear monkeys calling from the canopy. It's not a zoo. It's a working sanctuary, and the difference matters.
Your private vehicle has air conditioning, water, Costa Rican snacks, and beers throughout the day, which means you're not hunting for refreshments between stops. If you want to see Rio Celeste without renting a car or piecing together a day on your own, this covers it (plus the river swim, the labyrinth, the sloth sanctuary, and lunch), all in one route.
Is this one for you?This tour is built for travelers who want to see Rio Celeste, swim in it, and visit the Sloth Sanctuary without arranging transport, park tickets, or timing the stops themselves: the fixed itinerary and private vehicle mean you move through the day without logistics getting in the way.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How difficult is the Rio Celeste hike?
It's moderately challenging, with wooden bridges and rainforest terrain, but suitable for all fitness levels. Your guide sets the pace.
Can you swim in Rio Celeste?
Yes. You swim in the river itself after the waterfall hike, in the section near Katira where locals swim.
What's included in the price?
Private transportation, entry to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Katira Labyrinth, a guide, lunch at El Barrigón, water, Costa Rican snacks, and beers throughout the day.
What is Zona Magnética?
A spot near Bijagua where cars appear to roll uphill without engine power. It's a brief, unexplained phenomenon you'll experience firsthand.
Is the Sloth Sanctuary a zoo?
No. It's a working sanctuary where sloths, frogs, snakes, and lizards live in their natural habitat, guided by an expert.
Do you need to book lunch separately?
No. A lunch stop at El Barrigón is included, and the menu features traditional Costa Rican dishes.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and comfortable hiking shoes. The vehicle is air-conditioned, so layers help.
Rio Celeste & Sloth Sanctuary from Tamarindo: Full Day
8h–10h · EN · ES
from US$ 290 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.