Tenorio Volcano: Discover the Blue River

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
4.8
(421 Ratings)
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Juan_c
May 20, 2025
Great trip with Santiago... - Great trip with Santiago and William. We got to see many animals before we got to the river and he was awesome.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_j
May 19, 2025
Must do! I'm not kidding! - We stayed in Costa Rica for 10 days. I was a little reluctant about booking a tour, since I like to hike at my own pace. I'm so glad we decided to book this because it was our favorite thing we did on our entire trip. Our guides Santiago and (Chris?) were amazing. I learned so much about the native plants, insects, animals, and landscape. We saw snakes, birds (toucans), monkeys, sloths, a huge termite mound, and a tapir. It was a special treat to see the tapir since they are rarely spotted. The lunch on the way home was delicious. I highly recommend this tour! TIP: If it doesn't rain in La Fortuna, go to Tenorio NP the next day to ensure you see the beautiful, bluish water. If it pours in La Fortuna on Monday, then the water may not be blue in Tenorio the next day.
Review provided by Viator
Tonign9673tu
May 11, 2025
Magical! - Absolutely magical hike !! The whole experience from the guide to the lunch was fantastic :) Would definitely recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Saandra_s
Apr 29, 2025
Must Do Activity with exceptional guides - Super organized and well thought out tour. Santiago and William had an abundance of knowledge and an eye for all the wildlife along the way. Saw monkeys, sloths, snakes, frogs, birds, fish, and even a rare sight of a tapir. Super fun adventure even though the hike is challenging. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
449fermina
Apr 21, 2025
Safety and fun - We were lucky to have Santiago as a guide who, in addition to being professional, knows the terrain like the back of his hand. Everything that can go unnoticed he sees. Pura Vida
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O1257kjryans
Apr 18, 2025
Great way to get some exercise and explore! - This was the first experience I booked for La Fortuna, and I have no regrets. Had a tour guide that was very nice and funny, and you’ll see some incredible sights and nature. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z5952vzcassandrab
Apr 18, 2025
Amazing experience - Santiago was an awesome tour guide! The lady was as well! They kept the hike at a good pace where the whole group could manage. They taught us so much about the environment as well and history of Rio Celeste. It was so beautiful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erica_m
Apr 17, 2025
Hiking to the waterfall. - It was long, but very fun day! The hike in tenerio volcano Park was amazing and our guide Santiago is the best!! We saw and learned about so much wildlife and the vegetation. We got lucky with a sunny day. The hike is a little tough if you're not used to hiking. I do not recommend bringing young children on this tour. After the hike in the park we went for a swim in the river. Honestly I could have done without stopping at the river, because our time there was so short. Then we ended the tour with a delicious lunch. We had so much fun and so glad that we booked this tour. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Patmac0861
May 11, 2025
Doable On Your Own - This was a pretty good tour although our tour guide didn't really find a whole lot nor did I think she make the effort extra effort and we saw more just stopping by other tour guides looking at stuff. It's a long drive but it's worth it and enjoyed the swim afterwards. Definitely bring water shoes and a small towel but you can leave those in the van and you don't need to take them with you when you do the hike because you only need those after the hike. Do bring a water bottle though. Personally I think you could drive up there yourself if you have a car and do the entire thing on your own because there was a lot of people that were doing that and save yourself a little bit of money but it is absolutely gorgeous and highly recommend it however you get there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anushri_d
Apr 8, 2025
Long day - We had an excellent guide but this was a very long day for not a lot of stuff seen. Painfully long drive to the National Park. Rio Celeste is unique but doesn’t need a full day to appreciate, not to mention it’s completely dependent on the rain whether or not you get the blue view.
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).