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Rio Celeste: Blue River Tubing, Waterfall & Wildlife Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (234 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/50

Duration10h–11h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Blue river tubing by Tenorio Volcano with sloths and fruit stops

You’ll hike rainforest trails to Rio Celeste waterfall, tube down its bright blue river with fresh fruit breaks, spot wildlife like sloths and monkeys with your local guide, and share a typical Costa Rican lunch before heading home tired but happy.

10h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Stop at Arbol de la Paz for photos
Hike trails to Rio Celeste waterfall
Tube 1.5 hours down blue river
Swim and snack on regional fruits
Lunch after tubing
Wildlife viewing on best route
Stop at Souvenir Market

The Experience

We rolled out from La Fortuna just after sunrise—still groggy, but our guide Marco was already cracking jokes about the “three volcanoes in a row” we’d soon spot. I pressed my forehead to the window as we wound through patchy clouds and pineapple fields. The bus smelled faintly of wet earth and coffee thermoses. When Marco pulled over by this massive tree (he called it Arbol de la Paz), he explained it’s been here 400 years—older than most countries. I tried to wrap my head around that while touching its bark, rough and cool under my palm.

The hike to Rio Celeste waterfall was muddy but not too tough—just watch your step if it rained the night before. You hear the water before you see it, this low rushing sound that gets louder until suddenly there’s this wild blue pouring down between green walls. Honestly, photos don’t really get it right. We stood there for a while, just letting the mist hit our faces. Some folks tried to name all the birds flitting overhead (I gave up after “toucan”).

I didn’t expect tubing to feel so silly—at first I was worried about flipping over, but you sort of give in and let the current pull you along. The water is colder than you think, especially when you slide into those deeper pools. Marco tossed us slices of pineapple and watermelon from a drybag at one stop; they tasted almost fizzy after all that paddling. There were monkeys somewhere in the trees above us—I kept hearing them, never saw them.

Lunch was at this small place near the park entrance: rice, beans, chicken stew, plantains. Nothing fancy but somehow exactly what I wanted after swimming. On the drive back we slowed down for a sloth hanging upside down like a shaggy hammock (everyone piled out for photos). There was one last stop at a souvenir market where I almost bought a frog magnet but changed my mind at the register—no idea why now. Still thinking about that blue water though.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from La Fortuna or selected beaches (unless you’re driving yourself), all entry fees for trails and tubing on Rio Celeste’s blue water, fresh tropical fruits during your river break, an expert bilingual guide throughout the trip, plus a typical local lunch before heading back in air-conditioned comfort.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by BLUE ZONE TOURS