Tamarindo: Rio Celeste Hike, Sloth Sanctuary & Waterfall
The Rio Celeste turns out to be turquoise, not blue, and the hike to it takes two hours through rainforest.
You're picked up from your hotel at 6:30am and driven to Tenorio Volcano National Park for a two-hour hike to the turquoise Rio Celeste waterfall, then taken to an organic farm to see sloths and frogs up close, fed a traditional Costa Rican lunch, and finished at Llanos de Cortés waterfall for a swim before returning to Tamarindo by evening. Hotel pickup, park entry, lunch, and a bilingual guide are all included. You just need to bring your passport photo.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Waterfall, hike, sanctuary, and lunch
- Hotel pick up and breakfast stop
- Drive 3 hours to Tenorio Volcano Park
- Hike Rio Celeste Waterfall trail
- Visit Jungle Life Sloth Sanctuary
- Enjoy Costa Rican lunch
- Relax and swim at Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
- Llanos de Cortés Waterfall Entry included 1h
- Celeste River Entry included 2h
- Tamarindo Beach passing by
- Flamingo Beach passing by
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Tamarindo, a three-hour drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park, a two-hour guided hike to Rio Celeste waterfall, a visit to an organic farm sloth and frog sanctuary with a naturalist guide, a traditional Costa Rican lunch, entry to Llanos de Cortés waterfall for swimming, and a professional bilingual guide throughout. Park fees are covered.
Times
- Every day 06:30 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Native's Way Costa Rica
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
You don't expect the river to actually be that color. The pickup from your Tamarindo hotel happens early (6:30am from most places, 6:45 if you're staying at RIU Guanacaste or Palace), and after a coffee stop and a three-hour drive inland, you arrive at Tenorio Volcano National Park. The guide takes you straight into the rainforest on a moderately difficult hike that winds along the Celeste River itself. The water really is turquoise, and it stays that way because of minerals in the volcanic rock upstream. You'll hear birds the whole time, and the guide points out plant species and the occasional snake or frog, but mostly you're just walking and listening and watching the river get closer to that waterfall.
The Rio Celeste waterfall hike is the centerpiece, but there's a practical thing to know: on rare occasions after heavy rain, the river runs brown instead of turquoise. It still flows, the hike still happens, but the color is gone. The sanctuary part comes after lunch. You're taken to an organic farm that doubles as a sloth and frog sanctuary. The animals live there, and the guide walks you through the property pointing out sloths hanging in the trees, frogs, tropical plants, birds, insects. It's educational without feeling like a lecture, and you get close enough to photograph them. The whole day is structured around not having to arrange transport, park entry, or figure out where to eat. The lunch is included and traditional: gallo pinto, plantains, fresh fruit, the kind of thing you'd eat anywhere in the country.
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall is the last stop, a chance to actually swim and cool off after the hike. It's a different waterfall from Rio Celeste: wider, more open, easier to get into the water. You get time to relax there before the drive back to Tamarindo, which takes another three hours. The whole day runs from pickup to drop-off, and you need a moderate level of fitness for the two-hour hike and the terrain. One thing the operator needs from you before the tour: a photo of your passport and your full passport details (name, number, issuing country). It's a new requirement from Costa Rica's Ministry of Tourism, and you have to carry the photo with you on the day.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main natural attractions around Tenorio in one day without arranging your own transport, park tickets, or timing: the fixed schedule and included lunch mean you show up at your hotel and the rest is handled.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).
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 long is the Rio Celeste hike?
The hike is moderately difficult and takes about two hours, winding through rainforest along the Celeste River to the waterfall.
What time does the tour start?
Hotel pickup is at 6:30am from most Tamarindo hotels, 6:45am from RIU Guanacaste or Palace. You'll have a coffee stop before the three-hour drive to the national park.
Is lunch included?
Yes. You get a traditional Costa Rican meal with dishes like gallo pinto, plantains, meats, and fresh fruit at a local restaurant.
What happens if the Rio Celeste is brown instead of turquoise?
On rare occasions after heavy rain, the river runs brown due to mineral runoff. The hike and waterfall still happen, but the distinctive turquoise color will not be visible.
Can I swim at both waterfalls?
Yes. You can swim at Llanos de Cortés waterfall. At Rio Celeste, you can take photos and enjoy the view, though swimming is not the main focus of that stop.
What do I need to bring?
Bring a photo of your passport (a new requirement from Costa Rica's Ministry of Tourism) along with the physical passport. Wear hiking shoes, bring water, and sunscreen.
Is this tour suitable for someone with limited fitness?
The tour requires at least moderate physical fitness for the two-hour hike and rainforest terrain. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries.
What is included in the price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, driver/guide, lunch, national park fees, and a professional bilingual guide are all included.
How long is the full day?
The tour runs from early morning pickup (6:30am) through the afternoon return to Tamarindo, typically finishing in the evening after a three-hour drive back.
Tamarindo: Rio Celeste Hike, Sloth Sanctuary & Waterfall
12h · EN · ES
from US$ 135 per person
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