On the Trail – Rio Celeste Hike

On the Trail

Trail Spotlight: Rio Celeste Hike in Costa Rica

Photo courtesy of costarica.com

Most of Costa Rica will be in the dry season for the next couple of months and that’s the perfect time for adventures on the cloud forest trails of South America!

Description:

The country’s stunning beauty and wealth of bio-diversity may be enough to convince even the most avid trail runner to slow down a bit to capture the full experience. The Rio Celeste hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park is truly unique. It’s a fairly strenuous hike with fantastic pay-offs including the surreal blue pools and streams, waterfalls, and natural hot tubs of the Rio Celeste river. Not to mention the abundant rainforest plants and animals you’ll see with every step on the trail. Off the beaten path, it’s uncrowded and worth every effort to get to. Take the time to explore this epic trail and you’ll never forget the experience.

Options:

Epic- Camp in the cloud forest at the entrance to the park for a small fee and you’ll be free to enjoy the hike for as long as you like. Start early in the day and travel the full loop to experience everything the trail has to offer.

Endurance- It’s possible to stay at small hotels in the area and these can range from open air casitas to more modern luxury.

Day ride – It takes a little work to get to the park and the hike will require a full day to really enjoy the experience. It’s worth the time though. Hire a guide for the opportunity to learn more about all of the jungle plants and wildlife.

Location:

Tenorio National Park is located in the northern region of Costa Rica and is best accessed from the town of Guatuso. You’ll travel from Guatuso to the town of Bijagua, about a one hour trip, and options for travel include public buses, taxis, or organized tour groups. At the north end of the town you will find the road up to the park entrance on the right (if driving north). It is a rocky unpaved road so 4 wheel drive is necessary. You can also park at the bottom and hike around 3 miles to the park entrance.

Length:

A little over 3 miles total, it will take around an hour to get to the waterfall from the trailhead and 4-5 hours for the whole loop. Plan to have plenty of time to explore and enjoy all of the different attractions on this hike. There will probably be a lot of backtracking during the day. Elevation gain is moderate, less than 400 feet.

Terrain:

Trail conditions can vary greatly depending on the weather. Be prepared for a muddy, more challenging hike if it’s raining.
Hiking season:

December – May for the dry season.