Hiking Rio Celeste Waterfall: Everything You Need to Know!

Hiking Rio Celeste Waterfall is worthy of a spot on your Costa Rica itinerary! Aren’t there a million waterfalls in Costa Rica? Why visit Rio Celeste waterfall that is out of the way compared to some of the others?

You aren’t going to find another waterfall like this one in the Monteverde/La Fortuna area! The water really is THAT BLUE.

So, though it is a bit further from the main towns, it is worth the trek!

Here is everything you need to know including where its located, the trail conditions to the waterfall, how to get there, cost of visiting, guided tours to the waterfall, what to wear and pack and more!

The trailhead to the waterfall is about 1.5 to 2 hours from La Fortuna/Arenal and 2 hours north of Monteverde.

There is no direct bus from Monteverde or La Fortuna to Rio Celeste. To use public transportation, you will have to bus partly and then taxi the rest of the way to the trailhead. Truly not an idea way to go about visiting Rio Celeste.

The best ways to get to Rio Celeste waterfall are either renting a car and driving yourself or taking a guided tour from La Fortuna.

We rented a car because we had plans to visit several different areas of Costa Rica that just didn’t have good public transportation options. However, if you aren’t keen on the idea of driving in Costa Rica, you can get picked up in La Fortuna for a full day tour to Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park.

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best Way to Get Around Costa Rica!

The easiest way to get to incredible places like Rio Celeste waterfall is to rent a car!

When you go to rent, I recommend using a company like Adobe that is local and gives you all of your fees upfront!

Rent a Car with Adobe!

The hike to Rio Celeste waterfall is an out and back trail that is about 1.8 miles one way (3.7 miles or 6km round trip.)

The trail is a well-maintained trail that takes you through dense jungle. It is pretty flat and easy until you reach the steps that descend to the waterfall.

The steps are concrete and have a handrail, but they are quite steep and there are about 250 of them. They zig-zag down to the bottom of the waterfall, where you can get close to the pool.

However, you are NOT allowed to swim at the bottom of the waterfall here.

Hike Passed the Waterfall?

The trail to Rio Celeste waterfall continues passed the waterfall.

With thoughts that we may get a view of the waterfall from above, we continued down the trail.

This part of the trail is a little rougher with more climbing over rocks, etc, but still flat and pretty easy.

The trail will follow along the river and you will run into a pool of bright blue water.

However, you do NOT get another view of the waterfall.

In my humble opinion, the peak of the hike is seeing the waterfall. If I were to do it again, I would just hike to the waterfall and back.

Fitness Level Required for Hiking Rio Celeste Waterfall

The hike to Rio Celeste waterfall is not bad and doable for even lower fitness levels.

The trail is rated “moderate” difficulty on the AllTrail app with an elevation gain of about 400 feet. However, MOST of the trail is flat and well-maintained.

The difficulty comes into play when you get to the stairs.

Again, there are about 250 of them and some of them are pretty steep. But, as you may have seen in the pictures above, the stairs are concrete and come with a handrail. So, as far as stairs go, they are pretty safe and reliable.

Once you enter the Tenorio Volcano National Park, continue to the Rio Celeste Trailhead (located on the maps.)

There is parking at the trailhead of Rio Celeste waterfall hike. This parking isn’t free, but it is watched over by the vendors and workers which will ensure that your belongings will be okay while you are hiking.

The cost is about $4 USD and you should have cash.

You can find free parking (sometimes) on the roadside, but its kind of a “park at your own risk” situation.

Amenities At the Trailhead

There are restrooms located near the parking lot of the trailhead. They are nothing special, but they’ll certainly do the job before you begin your hike down!

There are also some vendors in the parking lot that sell food and refreshments.

I purchased one of the best smoothies I’ve ever had in the parking lot of Rio Celeste waterfall!

Luckily this hike isn’t a long one and won’t require you to take much for preparation!

Sunscreen: Though there is a LOT of shade on the trail, you never know when those rays will peak through! Blue Lizard has a stick sunscreen that is good for traveling (especially for carry-on only people.)

Moisture-wicking clothes: The humidity in Costa Rica is real and hiking will only exacerbate that. Avoid the cotton. Patagonia has great shorts called “baggies” that are sometimes on sale. Or, Columbia has a cheaper version.

Small, Hiking Backpack Recommendation

Osprey Daylite Pack

The Osprey Daylite Pack is great for short hikes. Its lightweight but still has a chest and hip strap to help carry the load. I wore it all around Costa Rica!

Buy the Osprey Daylite!

Hiking Shoes or Comfortable Sandals: The trail isn’t strenuous enough to really need a sturdy hiking boot. But its long enough to want comfortable shoes. I hiked in sandals (favorite active ones right now are Teva Hurricanes). But, regular sneakers or hiking shoes will work also (a waterproof hiking shoe isn’t a bad idea, especially if you are visiting during rainy season like we did.)

Bug Spray: You’re going to be in the rainforest. Bring your bug spray! For carry-on travelers like myself, Ben’s has TSA-sized spray bottles and/or you can use the wrist bands for mosquitos (though not as good as a spray which covers other bugs.)

Reusable Poncho or rain jacket: If you are visiting Costa Rica during rainy season, I would pack a poncho or light rain jacket. When the rain comes, it can be heavy. Froggtogg has a good, lightweight reusable poncho that is $20 or less. Or Baleaf has a good, packable/foldable rain jacket as well.

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First off, if it has recently rained or is currently raining, you may not get your bright blue waterfall. The rain can dilute the minerals that cause the bright blue hues and muddy up the river.

So, if you opt to go while its raining and you don’t get the bright blue color, its not because everyone on the internet lied to you about the color. Its because of the rain. In reality, without rain and in the bright sun, the river really IS bright blue.

Also, watch for wildlife. Costa Rica is chock-full of it. And, these include snakes, some of which are venomous. We spotted one on our hike coiled up and lying to the side of the trail. I have no idea what kind it was and it wasn’t aggressive. But, keep your eyes peeled!

Last, after your hike to Rio Celeste, find a spot to swim in the river!

You can’t do it at the bottom of Rio Celeste waterfall.

But, if you hop in your car and drive down the road a little way, there is a spot where you can park and swim in a little area of the river for free!

If you aren’t into renting a car to drive around Costa Rica on your own, you can take a guided tour to Rio Celeste waterfall from La Fortuna.

There are several options for tours to Rio Celeste. Some only include a hike to the waterfall, some are in Spanish only, some include lunch and some don’t.

The tour with Go Adventure Arenal Park includes pick up at your hotel in La Fortuna and then takes you to the Tenorio Volcano National Park where you will experience seeing where the two rivers converge to make the bright blue colors, the hike to Rio Celeste waterfall, a Costa Rican lunch plus a farm tour where they harvest cacao, bananas, etc.

You will certainly see a lot of amazing waterfalls in Costa Rica. However, Rio Celeste waterfall is one of the most unique waterfalls in the Arenal/La Fortuna/Monteverde area and is really worth seeing!

Plus, the hike is fairly easy and quick and will fit into even the quickest of itineraries. Here is how to spend 5 days in Monteverde, Arenal and La Fortuna!