Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste can be found in Tenorio Volcano National Park when you visit with your Costa Rica cheap rental car. It is in the northern part of the country, and makes up part of the Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area. The Tenorio Volcano has four volcanic peaks and two craters. The Rio Celeste gets its blue color from the sulfur from the volcano and precipitation of calcium carbonate. Along the river you will find thermal springs, small geysers, waterfalls, and lagoons.
A hidden jewel
Rio Celeste is a crown jewel of northern Costa Rica. When you visit with your Costa Rica cheap car rental, you will find this an amazing sight only a short distance from La Fortuna. To get here, you need to hike through the rainforest in Tenorio Volcano National Park. The hike itself is about an hour and a half long, which will take you to the Rio Celeste Waterfall. After you enjoy this part of the river, you can continue to hike the area, while taking time to enjoy the hot springs along the way.
What you can do here
When you visit with your Costa Rica cheap car rental, you will find there are many things you can do here. There is bird and wildlife watching. Because the area is so secluded, you will find some flora and fauna that are hard to find in other areas. Many people have seen spider monkeys, pumas, tapirs, white-faced monkeys, hawks, and turkey vultures. You can expect to take a hike to get to Rio Celeste, and the trails here range in difficulty. Be sure you have proper hiking gear when you visit. Local guides can be hired for the day for about $50. And be sure you bring a bathing suit with you, because you will want to take a break in the relaxing thermal waters found here.
How to get here
If you would like to visit with your cheap rental car Costa Rica, you can contact JAZON, which is a rural youth organization in the Northern Zone. They offer full-service tours of Rio Celeste at a discount. There are also other tour operators in the area that may have alternative selections. If you take a tour, you will find there is a lot to learn about the wildlife in the area. If you prefer to travel independently, you can access Rio Celeste through Guatuso, which is an hour from La Fortuna. You can drive here with your cheap car rental Costa Rica by taking the main highway to Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos), then to Upala. Turn left in Upala towards Bijagua and follow the road for about 30 miles to the entrance of the park. As an alternative, you can take the Interamerican Highway to Canas. About 6 miles out of Canas there is a turnoff for Bijagua, where you can find the entrance to the park.
Looking for more?
Rio Celeste is not far from the town of La Fortuna, where you will find the Arenal Volcano. This active volcano can be experienced in many different ways: from swing from the tree tops to kayaking along the rivers nearby. When you visit with your Costa Rica cheap car rental, you can see some of the activity that is taking place here from a safe distance away.
When you are visiting with your Costa Rica cheap rental car, you will find Rio Celeste is an amazing sight you cannot miss. This perfectly blue river gets its color from the volcano nearby. You will need to hike here, but it is well worth it when you can relax in the thermal springs.