Río Celeste Waterfall & Sloth Watching Tour from Guanacaste

Six hours in the cloud forest watching sloths move through the canopy above the turquoise river

A six-hour guided tour from Guanacaste to Tenorio Volcano National Park includes hotel pickup, park entry, forest trails, and lunch. You walk to the Celeste River waterfall, search the canopy for sloths and other wildlife including tapirs and scarlet macaws, and return by afternoon. The guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Río Celeste and Tenorio Park

• Walk trails in Tenorio Volcano Park
• View Celeste River and Waterfall
• Spot sloths, birds, snakes, and tapirs
• See Scarlet Macaws
• Enjoy typical Costa Rican foods

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Guanacaste and a drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park in Alajuela. Once inside the park, you walk the forest trails on foot, moving through the landscape where the Celeste River flows. The river's turquoise color comes from minerals in the volcanic water, and the waterfall is the centerpiece of the morning. Lunch is included partway through the day, served after you've covered the main trails.

Wildlife watching is the heart of the tour. Sloths hang in the canopy above the trails, and the guide helps you spot them along with birds, snakes, frogs, and the tapir: the largest mammal in Costa Rica. Scarlet macaws appear on the North Pacific side of the park. You move at the pace of the trails themselves, stopping when animals appear and walking between sightings. The guide is trained to find what's there and explain what you're seeing.

An air-conditioned vehicle handles the drive both ways, and the park fees are covered in the price. The tour runs six hours total, ending with a return to your hotel. Children from age one are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Infants can sit on a lap or use a specialized seat if you arrange it ahead of time.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to Tenorio Volcano National Park.
• lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 15

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by AyE Tours Travel Costa Rica

Is this one for you?The tour involves steady walking on forest trails with stops to search the canopy for wildlife, so it suits travelers comfortable on their feet for several hours. If you have cardiovascular concerns, check with your guide before booking, as the elevation and pace of the trails may not be suitable.

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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: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

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 exactly is the Celeste River and why is it that bright blue color?

The Celeste River flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park and gets its striking turquoise hue from minerals dissolved in the water as it passes through volcanic rock. You see it up close at the waterfall, which is the main landmark of the walk.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes walking the trails through Tenorio Volcano National Park to reach the Celeste River waterfall and the wildlife viewing areas. The pace is steady but not strenuous, and you stop frequently to look for sloths and other animals in the canopy.

Will I actually see sloths, or is that not guaranteed?

Sloths live in the forest canopy above the trails, and the guide is trained to spot them. They move slowly and stay high in the trees, so sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day, but the guide knows where to look and will search the canopy as you walk.

What animals besides sloths might I see?

The park is home to birds, snakes, frogs, scarlet macaws on the North Pacific side, and tapirs: the largest wild mammal in Costa Rica. What you encounter depends on the time of day and the season, but the guide will point out whatever wildlife appears along the trails.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is included in the tour price and consists of typical Costa Rican food, served partway through the day after you've walked the main trails. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase separately.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup happens in the morning, and the full tour lasts six hours from start to finish, including the drive to and from Tenorio Volcano National Park. Your hotel drop-off is in the afternoon.