Rio Celeste Hike & Coffee Tour Private Day Trip

Turquoise water, sloths in the canopy, coffee roasted in front of you

A private full-day tour from Playa Hermosa combines hiking through Tenorio Volcano National Park to Rio Celeste Waterfall and the Teñideros, swimming in the turquoise river, lunch at a family restaurant, wildlife spotting in the sloth forest, and a hands-on coffee and cocoa tour with tastings. Hotel pickup and all park entry are included. The guide speaks English and Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike, wildlife, and local culture tour

• Pick up from Guanacaste accommodations
• Hike Tenorio Volcano National Park
• Visit Rio Celeste waterfall and Teñideros
• Swim in Rio Celeste (weather permitting)
• Enjoy typical Costa Rican lunch at La Soda Doña Carmen
• Explore Spring Paradise Sloth Forest
• Take Bijagua Coffee and Cocoa Tour
• Return transfer to Guanacaste accommodations

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Playa Hermosa hotel: travel time runs 1 hour 45 minutes to the park. Once at Tenorio Volcano National Park, you hike trails through dense forest to reach Rio Celeste Waterfall and the Teñideros, the twin springs where mineral-rich water creates the river's famous turquoise color. The hike is accessible to different fitness levels, and the trails reveal giant trees, exotic birds and reptiles as you move through the park. Weather permitting, you'll swim in one of the public areas of Rio Celeste itself, surrounded by jungle.

After the hike, lunch happens at La Soda Doña Carmen, a family-run restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican dishes: gallo pinto, casado, fresh tortillas, local proteins and vegetables. The meal refuels you before the afternoon's wildlife and agriculture stops. At Spring Paradise Sloth Forest, trained guides lead you through well-maintained trails where you observe sloths in their natural habitat and spot birds and reptiles that share the canopy. The forest is designed as both education and experience, so you learn about sloth behavior and their role in the ecosystem while watching them move through the trees.

The Bijagua Coffee and Cocoa Tour closes the day with a deep dive into two of Costa Rica's signature crops. Local guides walk you through the plantations, showing cultivation from seedling to harvest, then demonstrate the roasting and fermentation processes in real time. You taste samples of both coffee and cocoa, learning how the region's geography and climate shape the flavor of each. The return transfer to Playa Hermosa is in an air-conditioned vehicle, giving you time to rest after a full 9 to 10 hours out.

What’s included

• Private transportation with pickup from your Playa Hermosa hotel and return at day's end.
• entrance to Tenorio Volcano National Park, Spring Paradise Sloth Forest and the Bijagua Coffee and Cocoa Tour.
• typical Costa Rican lunch at La Soda Doña Carmen.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• on-site guide in English and Spanish.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesUp to age 75

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Rolo Transfers and tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to pack four distinct landscapes (volcano hike, turquoise waterfall, wildlife forest, and farm lunch) into one full day rather than splitting them across multiple outings.

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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.

What is Rio Celeste and why is the water turquoise?

Rio Celeste is a river in Tenorio Volcano National Park fed by two mineral-rich springs called the Teñideros. The minerals in the water scatter light in a way that makes the river appear bright turquoise, a natural phenomenon you see both from the hiking trails and up close during the swim.

Can I swim in Rio Celeste on this tour?

Yes, weather and river conditions permitting. The tour includes a refreshing swim in one of the public areas of Rio Celeste, surrounded by the jungle and the sound of the river.

What wildlife will I see in the sloth forest?

Spring Paradise Sloth Forest is home to sloths, which you observe in their natural habitat on guided trails. You'll also spot various bird and reptile species that live in the area, and trained guides explain the behavior and ecology of each animal you encounter.

How does the coffee and cocoa tour work?

The Bijagua Coffee and Cocoa Tour takes you through plantations where guides show each stage of cultivation and harvesting. You then watch demonstrations of coffee roasting and cocoa fermentation and drying, and taste samples of both finished products.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation from your hotel, entrance fees to Tenorio Volcano National Park, the sloth forest and the coffee and cocoa tour, lunch at La Soda Doña Carmen, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle and an on-site guide who speaks English and Spanish are all included.