Río Celeste brings a startling flash of blue into the green rainforest of Tenorio Volcano National Park. The hike follows the river through the forest, down to the waterfall viewpoint and onward to a series of places where the changing water draws you deeper into the park. The waterfall is the headline, but the full walk is a chance to follow the blue through a living tropical forest.
Entry and the trail
Park entry is managed through the reservation service linked on SINAC’s Tenorio Volcano National Park page. The Misterios del Tenorio trail passes through rainforest to a staircase leading down to the waterfall viewpoint. From there, the route continues toward Laguna Azul and El Teñidero, where the river’s blue meets clearer water from another stream. Continue farther if you want to see more of the river’s changing character; the waterfall alone makes a rewarding shorter outing.
View in GoExploringSwimming is prohibited inside the national park. Enjoy the blue pools and waterfall from the authorized viewpoints along the trail.
The colour of the river
The river’s distinctive blue can vary with conditions, so the exact shade may not look the same every day. That shifting color, set against the rainforest and the white rush of the waterfall, is what makes the walk so distinctive. Compare this outing with our Costa Rica waterfalls guide or find more forest routes in our Costa Rica hiking guide.