The 7 Best Rio Celeste Tours

1.Rio Celeste Waterfall Plus Sloths and wildlife Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 7 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $220Our pick

From Tamarindo, you ride in a private air-conditioned car to Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park. Expect a two to three-hour rainforest walk, a sloth and wildlife visit at Spring Paradise Bijagua Tours, and lunch at Doña Carmen. Guides may include Verny, Hernan, Allan, or Eric, and the pace can be tailored to your group.

“Our guide Hernan S and driver Alan were OUTSTANDING. Our guide Hania at the wildlife preserve was amazing as well. Hernan was very knowledgeable about the history, environment and flora/fauna of the region. Moderate hike. Beautiful waterfall. Wildlife abundant and pictures of a lifetime. Lunch was delicious and the butterfly garden was a lovely surprise and really well done. They will pick you up at your location, which was very helpful. Great day. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Sloth Discovery & Swim in Rio Celeste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · from $127

Leave Playa Hermosa at 7 a.m. for Bijagua de Upala, where a bilingual guide leads you through a private reserve to find sloths, toucans, frogs, and snakes. You’ll also visit butterfly and snake attractions, eat a typical lunch, and swim in Rio Celeste. Guides may include Kevin, Luis, Gabriel, Memo, or David.

“Come prepared to endure a nearly 2hr private bus ride, hike to the rio Celeste, and through the rainforest to see sloths, toucans, frogs, etc. when I say “prepared” I mean it… I wish we would have worn long pants, long sleeves, and more comfRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Tubing Adventure in the Río Celeste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

Spend about two hours tubing Río Celeste near La Fortuna, with roughly 90 minutes on the river. Guides such as Cristian, Alex, Luis, and Milton lead private groups through rapids, pools, rope swings, and wildlife-rich jungle. Expect swimming, bank jumps, possible sloth and frog sightings, and fresh fruit and water afterward.

“Luis and the team made our experience amazing. We were a family traveling with two teens. Everyone loved the experience. From the beautiful water to the swing to the expert guide. We had a wonderful time and would do it again in a heartbeat!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Tubing Rio Celeste: The Longest Adventure With Lunch Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Onca Tours takes you from its Katira meeting point to Rio Celeste for about three hours of active tubing, rainforest scenery, a possible cliff jump, and a typical Costa Rican lunch. Guides such as Anthony keep the group moving and help with river safety. Expect an unpaved access road and a moderate physical workout.

“Wonderful from start to finish. They accommodated our late arrival due to our flight coming in a day late. The guides were exceptional and we all had such a phenomenal time, kid particularly enjoyed jumping into the river off a high side/cliff. Highly recommend. And lunch was great at the end too. So friendly”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Rio Celeste Expedition – Sloths, Waterfalls & Nature’s Magic

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 5 hours 25 minutes (approx.) · from $188

This 5-hour-25-minute trip from Liberia combines Llanos de Cortés waterfall, a rainforest hike to Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, sloths, coffee, chocolate, and a Costa Rican lunch. Guides such as Caesar, Grey, and Harold bring strong nature knowledge and humor to a small group of up to 15 people.

“Harold was very knowledgeable. He took his time to explain and showed us frogs and snakes. Awesome experience. I will highly recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Rio Celeste Waterfall at Tenorio Volcano and Sloth Watching Tour From San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $185

Leave San Jose early for Tenorio Volcano National Park and the striking blue Rio Celeste waterfall. The day also includes a guided sloth and wildlife visit, breakfast, lunch, coffee, and hotel pickup. Guides such as Yancy, John, Luis Molina, and Fernando have helped guests spot animals and understand the forest.

“Tour muy completo! Luis y Johan muy buenos guías, nos dieron oportunidad de nadar en el rio (el tour no lo incluye, solo ver la cascada), muy amables todo el tiempo. Es importante tener en cuenta el tiempo de traslado si están en San Jose, es algo largo y mas si hay trafico. El ver a los perezosos y otros animales igual es interesante, se ven desde un telescopio entre la naturaleza con otro guía.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Tubing in Rio Celeste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $44Best value

Float and splash through Rio Celeste for about two hours with a certified bilingual guide. Carlos, Alex, Johnny, and other local guides lead small groups through natural pools and volcanic clay, while GoPro cameras capture the ride. Expect safety gear, fruit, water, snacks, parking, bathrooms, and return transport.

“My husband and I are visiting from Australia and the USA & never been tubing on the Rio Celeste river. It was a rainy day but we decided to make an adventure of it. It was a great decision as we were the only ones on the river. Our guy took exRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review