Río Celeste (“sky-blue river” in English) is one in every of Costa Rica’s most stunning locations and positively price a go to for those who’re within the La Fortuna space. While it’s attainable to go by yourself, it may be tough to get to with no rental automobile, which I didn’t have.
Instead of getting to determine all of the transportation particulars, I opted to go on a full-day tour from La Fortuna. Stick round to seek out out: is the Rio Celeste tour price it?
My Experience
I booked a full-day tour of Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park, probably not figuring out what to anticipate. I had heard about Río Celeste and it was positively on my thoughts once I obtained to La Fortuna, but it surely’s a 90-minute drive from the place I used to be staying, and I hadn’t rented a automobile. A spur-of-the-moment resolution led me to e book the tour, particularly after I did the maths on how a lot it might value to get there by myself, factoring within the admission charge to the nationwide park, snacks, and meals.
The $85 price ticket appeared a bit hefty at first, however on the time, I wasn’t precisely positive the right way to get to Río Celeste through public transportation, and paying a taxi to take me would have been about $50 every approach, in order that was a giant no for me.
Considering that the tour consists of transportation, lunch, the doorway charge to the nationwide park, and a naturalist information, I assumed it was definitely worth the value, and so I booked it the day earlier than. The van got here round to choose me up early, round 6am, and I used to be greeted by my information, Carlos.
The drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park, the place Río Celeste lies, was about 90 minutes however took a bit longer as a result of the information noticed a sloth in a tree on the aspect of the street. How he was capable of see it from so far-off is a thriller to me nonetheless, however I used to be grateful for the cease, as a result of I’m all the time all the way down to see these little guys munching on leaves approach up within the bushes.
Once we obtained to the park, the foggy environment was a bit daunting. I questioned aloud if we’d have the ability to see Río Celeste’s brilliant blue coloration, and our information reassured us that there was time to test it out earlier than the rains got here and made the water murky. I took a deep breath and ready myself for disappointment.
As we hiked by the jungle, trying out the totally different vegetation and animals alongside the best way, I used to be getting enthusiastic about our first cease: the Catarata Río Celeste waterfall. As we approached, I may hear the thunderous roar of the hundreds of gallons of water pouring right into a pool under.
There are a whole bunch of steps main all the way down to the waterfall, and the trail was crowded with different guests, however the view on the best way down was spectacular the entire approach. Unlike the Fortuna waterfall, you possibly can’t swim on the base of the Río Celeste waterfall, however you possibly can admire its magnificence and namesake blue coloration from a platform close to the bottom.
After climbing again up the steps (and getting a very good exercise within the course of), we continued alongside the path and stopped at numerous factors on the river to get the inside track on the way it will get its blue coloration, in addition to the geothermal exercise under it. Two notable stops have been Los Teñideros, the place we noticed the place the river modifications coloration from clear to blue, and Los Borbollones, the place sulfuric bubbles rise to the floor, emitting an eggy scent.
After traversing by the nationwide park (extra on that right here), our information introduced us to a “secret” scorching river only a kilometer away. It was simply starting to rain, so I made a decision to go for a fast soak. It was a blast to take a dip in a scorching river whereas feeling the chilly, misty rain come down.
We then had lunch at a neighborhood soda (a small open-air restaurant), which was filling and scrumptious. The different tour individuals and I had an opportunity to choose our information’s mind, asking every kind of questions on Costa Rica’s geography, wildlife, and extra. Besides having a knack for recognizing wildlife and figuring out the science behind Río Celeste, I discovered that our information had an entire treasure trove of information on the nationwide park and past.
Is the Río Celeste Tour Worth It?
As a traveler who didn’t have a rental automobile, the Río Celeste tour was price it for me. Not solely did it take the strain off of making an attempt to get there through public transportation, however having a information was unbelievable. There are so many issues you possibly can be taught concerning the river itself which may in any other case go unnoticed for those who go to by yourself. I liked having the chance to ask questions on it, in addition to the wildlife and flora.
Additionally, the recent river we additionally visited might need flown beneath my radar, as I hadn’t heard about it earlier than. It got here as a nice shock!
If you’re questioning if the tour will likely be price it for you, there are some things to contemplate. First, transportation. Car leases and fuel costs in Costa Rica are fairly costly, so it’s not price it to lease a automobile only for the day, because it’ll find yourself costing across the similar because the tour, only for transportation alone. If you’ve already rented a automobile and wish to add Río Celeste to your itinerary, go for it with out the tour. You’ll simply be lacking out on having a information until you rent one on the park which is an extra $30-50 on high of the $12 admission charge.
If you’re touring through public transportation by Costa Rica, as I did, this tour is unquestionably definitely worth the value. Since it consists of lunch, the doorway charge, transportation, and a information, it really works out to be about the identical value as for those who have been to go by yourself from La Fortuna through public transportation. I assumed it was an unbelievable bang for my buck and would do it once more if given the selection.
The solely downside of visiting Río Celeste on a tour is that you just don’t have the liberty to decide on when to go. Since the waterfall and different key websites alongside the river can get fairly packed within the late morning and early afternoon, I wasn’t capable of finding some solo time to get pleasure from them. By the time we reached the waterfall, there have been so many individuals there that it was troublesome to snap a very good photograph or simply hang around unbothered. If you’re hoping to get an epic shot of the waterfall or traverse the paths by yourself time, a tour like this one in all probability isn’t for you.
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Río Celeste positively deserves a spot on any Costa Rica itinerary, because it was one of many highlights of my time there.
Are you heading to La Fortuna quickly? Let us know what else you’re excited to do there!
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