Rio Celeste Waterfall tour: Naturalist guide & sloth sanctuary

Rio Celeste's turquoise water and the sloths at Finca Verde, both in one morning

A guided rain forest tour from Playa Hermosa to Rio Celeste Waterfall and Finca Verde sloth sanctuary, with a naturalist guide, lunch and entrance fees included. You hike 45 minutes each way to the waterfall, then spend an hour at the sanctuary observing sloths, night frogs and birds. Choose private transportation from your hotel or self-drive to meet the group in Bijagua. The guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rainforest tour and waterfall visit

• Enjoy scenic ride from pick up
• Hike to Rio Celeste waterfall
• Return to parking lot
• Hike at Finca Verde to see sloths
• Have lunch at Finca Verde

The experience

Rio Celeste Waterfall sits inside a protected rain forest where the water turns bright turquoise from minerals in the river. The hike to reach it takes 45 minutes downhill, and the same time back up to the parking lot. A naturalist guide leads the way and points out the birds, frogs and other wildlife you'd miss on your own. The night frogs are small and easy to overlook, but the guide knows where to find them. The waterfall itself is the main event: you stand in front of the pool where the water meets the rock face, and the color is the first thing that hits you.

After the waterfall, the tour moves to Finca Verde near Bijagua for a one-hour hike through the sanctuary where sloths live in the canopy. This is not a zoo or a cage. You're walking through their habitat and spotting them where they actually are. Lunch is included here, and it covers local Costa Rican cuisine. The whole day runs between four and seven hours depending on your pace and how long you linger at each stop.

Transportation is your choice at checkout. The standard option includes private roundtrip pickup from any hotel in Guanacaste (Playa Hermosa is the main hub, but the operator will collect you from elsewhere if your group has at least four people). If you prefer to drive yourself, you skip the pickup and meet the guide at the starting point in Bijagua instead. Either way, entrance fees to both Rio Celeste and Finca Verde are covered, along with the guide's expertise and your lunch.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Rio Celeste Waterfall and Finca Verde.
• lunch at the sanctuary.
• a naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• private roundtrip transportation from your Guanacaste hotel (if you choose the transportation option at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish08:00 and 11:00

Guide in English or Spanish07:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 11:00

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Operated by Tropicalia Tours Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Choose the self-drive option if you're already renting a car and want to meet the group in Bijagua. Pick private transportation if you'd rather have the guide handle the route and enjoy the scenic drive without navigating yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

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 24h before the start.

How long is the hike to Rio Celeste Waterfall itself?

The hike down to the waterfall takes 45 minutes, and the return to the parking lot takes another 45 minutes. The trail is steady downhill on the way in and uphill on the way back.

What will I see at Finca Verde besides sloths?

Finca Verde is a rain forest sanctuary where you hike for an hour and observe sloths in the canopy, along with night frogs and colorful birds. The guide points out wildlife as you walk through their natural habitat.

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

Lunch is included and served at Finca Verde. It features local Costa Rican cuisine, giving you a taste of the region's food culture as part of the tour.

Can I arrange pickup from my hotel, or do I have to drive myself?

Private roundtrip transportation from your hotel is included if you select that option at checkout. If your group has fewer than four people, you can self-drive to the meeting point in Bijagua instead and join the guide there.