Tenorio Volcano Hike: Discover the Blue River Phenomenon

Embark on a full-day adventure from La Fortuna to explore the mesmerizing Blue River in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Witness the rare phenomenon of the blue river, hike to a stunning waterfall, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Don’t miss the chance to take a dip in the river before heading back!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Rio Celeste - You’ll then engage in a 4-hour hike that is a bit tough for some but the end result is definitely worth it. After your 4-hour hike you’ll get to the Rio Celeste (Blue River). The blue color you’ll see is the result of a chemical reaction between two merging rivers containing different volcanic minerals. It’s a very rare phenomenon…
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in La Fortuna
  • Local restaurant lunch
  • Expert guiding services
What's Not Included
  • Dinner
Additional Information

This excursion takes you to Tenorio Volcano National Park where you’ll experience the unique spectacle of the blue river. Expect a moderately challenging trek that lasts approximately 4 hours, leading you to a breathtaking waterfall, a high vantage point, and the location where the river alters its hue. Post-hike, you can savor a meal and allot some…

Location
Calle 468
La Fortuna Bus terminal, Street 468
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(366 Ratings)
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Heidi_w
Oct 7, 2024
Fantastic! - Best day spent in Costa Rica! Erick was an amazing guide and took awesome pics through his scope for us. We saw monkeys, sloths, snakes, toucans and the elusive Tapir up close! We all enjoyed the bakery stop and lunch was delicious. I got the fish. This tour includes a lot of rocky inclines and steps. Be prepared with energy and good hiking shoes. Thank you Erick and Miler.
Review provided by Viator
Saffron_w
Sep 15, 2024
Da animal whisperer - Omg Santiago was AMAZING his demonstrations and knowledge blew our group away best tour guide ever!!!!!!!!!
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_k
Sep 8, 2024
Beautiful hike and waterfall! - The entire experience was worth it. Definitely recommend going to Rio Celeste with a tour guide. Santiago my tour guide was great and showed us as much wild life as he possibly could which made the experience so interesting. The waterfall is absolutely beautiful and the hike itself is moderate and doable. After the hike you swim in the river and then go to a traditional lunch. We felt taken care of and had a great day. Thank you guys!!!
Review provided by Viator
Rrosales55
Aug 18, 2024
Our guide Santiago - Wow! - Our Rio Celeste hike was a major highlight of the trip. Our guide, Santiago, took the #1 spot in terms of guides we've hiked with (across any country). Santiago's passion for plants, animals, and terrain is contagious. He loves the land and takes time to share stories and facts of how the ecosystem works. He has such a careful eye for animals, we were able to find sloths, monkeys, toucans, butterflies, frogs, snakes, and more. This is NOT easy to do. We were not able to spot any of these things on our own. It takes a special eye to find them all. The hike was a good balance between jungle and sightseeing. He gave us plenty of time to enjoy family moments and pictures. He made us feel special. Santiago, we appreciate you and will be sure to ask for you on our next trip. -Ricardo
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Xs94mq5ybn
Aug 4, 2024
Experience of a lifetime. - What an amazing day! Santiago was our guide and he went above and beyond finding critters for us. He also made sure myself and my friend had help at all the tricky spots on the hiking trail. On top of the passion he has for the jungle and all it’s creatures he is also an amazing photographer and took the best pictures of us on our phones so we have amazing reminders of this incredible day. Highly recommended Red Lava tours.
Review provided by Viator
Mcamillest
Aug 3, 2024
Extraordinary experience ! - Great day at the Rio Celest with the amazing guide Kenya ! The hike is fantastic leading to the beautiful waterfall and then river of Rio celest. The weather was good the the water was very blue. We had after a very good lunch at a local restaurant and went for a refreshing swim in the river. Kenya was super nice, showing lots of animals and giving many information about bio diversity and the region!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angel_c
Jul 30, 2024
Low and Slow - I had a great time on this trip. My only suggestions for those considering to book this trip is to remember you’re traveling with a lot of people so the pace may not be as quick as you’d like. I also didn’t care for the restaurant we ate at either but those are just personal preferences. The tour guides, driver and experiences were all amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Renee_b
Jul 27, 2024
Beautiful waterfalls and blue water - Sebastian was an excellent, very knowledgeable guide who loved sharing information on the flora and fauna of the region.. Totally enjoyed swimming in the beautiful river followed by a tasty lunch.
Review provided by Viator
Karad889
Jul 26, 2024
Best tour of La Fortuna! - I attended this tour alone. It was just me and another solo traveler on the tour. Pedro, the driver, was prompt and cheerful. Santiago, the guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the nature surrounding us. He was mindful of the timing and weather to make sure we arrived at the falls with the best chance to see the blue color. He explained the process and itinerary very clearly. He was personable, and friendly with the other tour guides. Definitely well liked! This tour and experience was the best of my time in La Fortuna!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_s
Jul 18, 2024
Go for it - Great day out, amazing blue water despite the rain. Good animal sightings although our guide Santiago is yet to share the photos with us…. Good hike but not too hard at all!
Review provided by Viator
From $89
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).