Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike

This just might be one of the all time coolest waterfalls I have ever seen.  The water at this waterfall and along this river is something I had never seen before.  The water looks like blue Kool-aid and makes you stop and stare in awe.

[caption id="attachment_437" align="aligncenter" width="322"] In front of the waterfall- halfway point to where the rivers connect.[/caption]

So why is the river this colour of blue? 

Rio Celeste means light blue river. Legend has it that after God was done painting the sky he washed his brushes in the river and it now bears this color.

Well the change in colour begins at what is know as El Teñidor ("The Dyer" in English) when two smaller rivers merge (the Sour Creek and Good View Rivers).  There have been a number of theories over the years and various studies done, but the most recently accepted reasoning for this magic of nature occurring is suggested to be due to a physical phenomenon know as Mie.  It is thought that the scattering triggered by the presence of certain minerals in the river's water makes it so the sunlight ends up reflecting in a way that gives the water the brilliant blue colour that amazes us.

[caption id="attachment_352" align="alignnone" width="4608"] The two rivers connecting and creating the beautiful blue water[/caption]

So how do you get here?

There are few different ways, and depending on your adventurous spirit it can be an experience and inexpensive, or more structured and comes with a higher price point.

Once you are inside the park there is some hiking involved and it is NOT accessable to for wheelchairs or those with mobility issues.  There is a hike approx 3-4 km round trip through the forest.  There is an incline during the hike, but you are not climbing a mountain by any means.   During the hike you will come across some lizards and birds and some beautiful viewing points.  You will come across the waterfall- which I like to stop at on the way to the end of the hike and on the way back.  The next stop will be where the rivers meet and change colour.  This is a pretty neat thing to see as it is very clear where the two rivers meet.  There are also some pools where the water is warm and considered little hot tubs.  This is only spot in the park where you are allowed to enter the water.  you cannot swim at the waterfall or where the two rivers meet.

For the Tourist

You can purchase a tour from a travel agent (AKA Me!) this tour will include a pick from either La Fortuna, San Jose, Tamarindo, Jaco, and many other locations.  Your travel time will depend on where you are coming from, La Fortuna is the closest tourist town to the waterfall.  I highly recommend a few nights here if you have time as Arenal Volcano is here, as well as some lovely hotsprings.

Your tour will includ transportation, enterance fees, a guide, and sometimes lunch after the hike.

For the Adventure Seeker

Leaving from La Fortuna. Get a bus to Grecia from the SuperMercado in La Fortuna at 6am (this time can change ask at your hotel/hostel).  Take the bus to Grecia and get off at main bus station. Next get the bus that says Santa Gertrudis, Tel the bus driver that you need to get off here because you are going to Las Cataratas de Los Chorros . You will walk down the street on the right a couple of km and you will see a sign for the park on the left. Walk under a km and you will get to the ticket office, pay $6 then go and enjoy!

The most famous, if not the most stunning, feature in the national park is the Rio Celeste waterfall. The base of the waterfall is accessed by descending 250 steep steps. Again, I recommend saving this stop on the trail for last as it is a great reward for having almost completed the difficult hike. The waterfall is fenced off and no swimming is allowed in the national park, but the view here is so savory, hopefully you won’t mind!

Swimming in Tenorio Volcano National Park is prohibited. However, the blue waters of Rio Celeste continue for 14-kilometers, so that means there are sections just as stunning located out of the park. If you drive along the river, you may notice some locals, or ticos, taking a dip in local swimming holes. Warning: the river does have high levels of Copper Sulfate which are known to irritate skin, but this doesn’t stop ticos (or me) from swimming.