Río Celeste (“sky-blue river” in English) is certainly one of Costa Rica’s most lovely locations and positively price a go to in case you’re within the La Fortuna space. While it’s potential to go by yourself, it may be difficult to get to with out a rental automotive, 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 search 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 understanding what to anticipate. I had heard about Río Celeste and it was positively on my thoughts once I acquired 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 automotive. A spur-of-the-moment determination led me to ebook the tour, particularly after I did the mathematics on how a lot it might price to get there alone, factoring within the admission charge to the nationwide park, snacks, and meals.
The $85 price ticket appeared slightly hefty at first, however on the time, I wasn’t precisely positive how you can get to Río Celeste by way of public transportation, and paying a taxi to take me would have been about $50 every manner, 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 believed it was definitely worth the value, and so I booked it the day earlier than. The van got here round to select 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 facet of the street. How he was in a position to see it from so distant 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 manner up within the bushes.
Once we acquired to the park, the foggy environment was a bit daunting. I puzzled aloud if we’d have the ability to see Río Celeste’s vibrant 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 way of the jungle, testing the completely 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 might hear the thunderous roar of the 1000’s of gallons of water pouring right into a pool under.
There are a whole lot 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 manner. Unlike the Fortuna waterfall, you may’t swim on the base of the Río Celeste waterfall, however you may admire its magnificence and namesake blue coloration from a platform close to the bottom.
After climbing again up the steps (and getting a superb exercise within the course of), we continued alongside the path and stopped at varied 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 had been Los Teñideros, the place we noticed the place the river adjustments coloration from clear to blue, and Los Borbollones, the place sulfuric bubbles rise to the floor, emitting an eggy scent.
After traversing by way of the nationwide park (extra on that right here), our information introduced us to a “secret” sizzling 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 sizzling 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 select 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 understanding the science behind Río Celeste, I discovered that our information had a complete treasure trove of data on the nationwide park and past.
Is the Río Celeste Tour Worth It?
As a traveler who didn’t have a rental automotive, the Río Celeste tour was price it for me. Not solely did it take the strain off of making an attempt to get there by way of public transportation, however having a information was improbable. There are so many issues you may be taught in regards to the river itself which may in any other case go unnoticed in case you go to by yourself. I cherished having the chance to ask questions on it, in addition to the wildlife and flora.
Additionally, the new river we additionally visited might need flown beneath my radar, as I hadn’t heard about it earlier than. It got here as a pleasing shock!
If you’re questioning if the tour will likely be price it for you, there are some things to think about. First, transportation. Car leases and gasoline costs in Costa Rica are fairly costly, so it’s not price it to hire a automotive only for the day, because it’ll find yourself costing across the identical because the tour, only for transportation alone. If you’ve already rented a automotive and need to add Río Celeste to your itinerary, go for it with out the tour. You’ll simply be lacking out on having a information except you rent one on the park which is a further $30-50 on high of the $12 admission charge.
If you’re touring by way of public transportation by way of 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 in case you had been to go by yourself from La Fortuna by way of public transportation. I believed it was an unimaginable 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 simply 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 superb 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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