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Looking for the best tours of Rio Celeste? You’ve come to the right place!
Rio Celeste is the perfect place for any nature lover. It’s full of wildlife, stunning waterfalls, and incredible turquoise water. After visiting many times while living in Costa Rica, we believe the easiest and most fun way to visit Rio Celeste is on a guided tour.
There are many tours to choose from, but not all provide a 5-star experience, which is why we’ve created this guide to the best experiences available. Whether you’re planning to drive yourself or are looking for a guided tour from San Jose, La Fortuna, or Guanacaste we’ve got you covered!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our FAVORITE tour is this full-day experience that includes a visit to 2 different waterfalls, hiking in Rio Celeste, and time at a sloth sanctuary! We love that you can either drive yourself OR get transport from the Guanacaste region.
Check out the 850+ reviews and book this tour here!
Tip: Reserve this tour early to guarantee your spot and get FREE 24-hour cancellation!
The BEST Rio Celeste Tours
1. Rio Celeste Full-Day Tour from Guanacaste Province (Tamarindo, Liberia, Playa Flamingo, etc)
- Price: $135- $145 USD
- Duration: 12 hours
- Highlights: Visit Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, hike to Rio Celeste Waterfall, spot local wildlife, visit sloth sanctuary
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, round-trip transportation from Guanacaste (if option selected), lunch, entrance fees
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 850+ reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes
If you’re looking for a full-day tour to get up close and personal with all the beauty of Rio Celeste, this particular tour is all that and more. The tour will pick you up from your hotel or rental property in a variety of destinations in Guanacaste (check the tour pick-up points for details) with Tamarindo being the most common starting point.
After a scenic drive past all the best beaches, you’ll arrive at the Llanos de Cortes Waterfall. Here you’ll get an hour to relax on the sandy beach, explore the surrounding tropical forest, and swim in the crystal clear waters beneath the falls.
Next, you’ll arrive at Tenorio Volcano National Park for a 2-hour hike to Rio Celeste waterfall. This was my favorite part of the day! The hike was moderately challenging but so much fun. We saw lots of wildlife along the way and were rewarded with an incredible swim underneath the waterfall at the end – don’t forget your waterproof camera!
After the hike and waterfall, the tour stops by Jungle Life Sloth Sanctuary, where you will have the chance to get up close to these magnificent animals. When we went we even saw a bunch of baby sloths!
For only $145 USD, this tour includes roundtrip transportation, lunch, your guide, and national park fees. Or if you’re renting a car, it will save you a couple of bucks at $135 USD per person. We think this is a great deal for the amazing experience you get – just look at the hundreds of 5-star reviews here!
Secure your spot here and get FREE 24-hour cancellation!
2. Rio Celeste Full-Day Tour from La Fortuna
- Price: $89 USD
- Duration: 8 hours
- Highlights: Full-day hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park, spot local wildlife, swim in geothermal pools, see the Rio Celeste and its famous blue pools
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, round-trip transportation from La Fortuna, lunch, entrance fees
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 370+ reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes
If you’re staying in or near La Fortuna, you must try this fantastic full-day tour of Rio Celeste!
Your guide will pick you up in the morning from your hotel and will take you on a scenic ride to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Here you will embark on a four-hour hike to see all that Rio Celeste has to offer.
Our knowledgeable guide was pointing out wildlife the entire way and we even got to see the exact point where the river turns its bright blue color due to a chemical reaction. One of my favorite parts was soaking in the geothermal warm pools, which felt so nice after walking through the forest.
We even got an authentic Costa Rican lunch after the hike, which was the perfect way to refuel before getting on the bus and heading back to La Fortuna.
This amazing nature experience only costs $89 USD, which includes transportation to/from La Fortuna, lunch, and your guide. We can’t say enough great things about this tour – and apparently we aren’t the only ones, because there are over 340 5-star reviews!
Check availability for this popular Rio Celeste tour here!
Related Read: For more options, check out our detailed guide on the best Rio Celeste tours from La Fortuna!
3. Rio Celeste Full-Day Tour from San Jose
- Price: $165 USD
- Duration: Approx 8-14 hours (depending on season and traffic)
- Highlights: Full-day hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park, spot local wildlife, swim in geothermal pools, see the Rio Celeste River & waterfall, go on a sloth-watching tour
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, round-trip transportation from San Jose, breakfast, lunch, entrance fees
- Rating: 5 Stars
- Free cancelation: Yes
If you’re making the trip from San Jose, you’ll be excited to know that you can still experience Rio Celeste as a day trip on this specific guided tour!
It is a long drive at around 3 hours each way, but I think it’s worth it to see this natural wonder! After the long drive, you’ll have plenty of time to stretch your legs as you hike through the National Park. You’ll get incredible views of the bright blue river and the magnificent waterfall along the way and will even stop at some warm thermal pools for a soak if you’d like!
What makes this tour so unique is that it also includes a sloth-watching tour at the end. You will get to see these adorable creatures in their natural habitat and learn all about their quirky habits.
The tour costs $165 USD which includes roundtrip transportation from San Jose, breakfast, lunch, entrance fees, and your professional guide. Don’t forget to pack your bathing suit and hiking boots for this full day of adventure in Costa Rica’s tropical jungle!
Read more about this tour and check availability here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Rio Celeste Horseback Riding Tour (Self-Drive)
- Price: $52 USD
- Duration: 2 hours
- Highlights: Explore the rainforest on horseback, swim in the blue waters of Rio Celeste, try out the epic Tarzan Swing
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, necessary riding equipment
- Rating: 5 Stars (100+ 5-star reviews)
- Free cancelation: Yes
If you already have a rental car or don’t mind organizing your own transportation, then this 2-hour horseback riding tour might be perfect for you!
You will meet your guide in the town of El Pilon, just outside of Tenorio Volcano National Park where you will get paired up with your new best friend. The horses are very well trained and all levels of ability are welcome on this tour – even if you are just a beginner!
We love that this is a private tour, which means only your group will participate. You will get personalized attention from your guide who will be there to help you out and answer any questions you may have on your way to Rio Celeste.
Once there, you will get the chance to swim in the river, or even take the “Tarzan Swing” and jump into the refreshing turquoise water. This is the perfect tour for those who want to see the beauty of Rio Celeste without going on a strenuous hike.
This popular tour costs only $52 USD and we think it is a great option for families with children!
Don’t miss out, book your horseback experience to Rio Celeste here!
5. Rio Celeste River Tubing (Self-Drive)
- Price: $52 USD
- Duration: 2 hours
- Highlights: Float down the Rio Celeste River on a river tube with a guide, spot wildlife along the way
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, tube, helmet, lifejacket, snacks, towel
- Rating: 5 Stars
- Free cancelation: Yes
Don’t just view the Rio Celeste; experience it in all its glory through this adventure tubing on the river!
We had so much fun on this 2-hour tour. You float down the river with a small group and a guide who makes sure everyone is safe and points out wildlife along the way. Floating along the bright blue river is such a unique experience and it was a great way to make new friends!
There were even families on our tour when we went, and the company put a guide with each of the children to specifically ensure their safety, which we thought was great.
The tour only costs $52 USD which includes your tube, helmet, lifejacket, guides, towels, and snacks. You just have to get yourself to the meeting point and then everything is taken care of after that – you just get to sit back and relax (literally!).
Check availability for this fun Rio Celeste river tubing experience here!
Where to Stay near Rio Celeste?
While many people choose to visit Rio Celeste on a full-day trip from popular tourist destinations such as La Fortuna, San Jose, and Tamarindo, there are some really nice hotels and guesthouses located just down the road from Rio Celeste. These are a great option if you have a rental car since you’ll be able to get to the national park earlier than those traveling from the other destination – and beat the crowds!
Some of the best places to stay near Rio Celeste are:
Tenorio Lodge – $$$
Tenorio Lodge is the best place to stay near Rio Celeste if you’re looking for a bit of luxury. Every room here has amazing views of the Tenorio volcano. Although in a remote location, this hotel has modern amenities and the decor is very classy. Breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel is located 12 km (7.5 mi) from the entrance to Rio Celeste.
Rates begin at $173 USD/night. You can reserve a room in advance here on Booking.com.
Finca Amistad Cacao Lodge – $$
Finca Amistad Cacao Lodge is located on a cocoa farm! It isn’t a luxury stay, but it is an interesting and comfortable place to meet a local family and even do tours of the farm. This is also a bird lovers paradise! Many of the rooms feature mountain views and there is a restaurant onsite.
Rates begin at $130 USD/night. You can reserve a room in advance online here.
Posada Rural Rio Celeste – $
For those on a budget, you can’t pass up this cute hotel. Posada Rural Río Celeste is a great choice near Rio Celeste. Although really affordable, all rooms feature an ensuite bathroom and breakfast is included in the room rate. It’s located just down the road from Rio Celeste too.
Rates begin at $45 USD/night for two guests. You can reserve a room in advance here on Booking.com.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
I hope this blog has helped you prepare for your trip to Rio Celeste – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! If you found this blog helpful, be sure to browse around a little more, we have a ton of useful guides about enjoying all that Costa Rica has to offer including: