Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is a river inside Tenorio Volcano National Park in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica, notable for an intense sky-blue color along much of its course.

The main attractions are the bright-blue channel at the confluence called the Teñidero and a scenic waterfall commonly referred to as the Rio Celeste Waterfall. Hikers follow rainforest trails that pass the Teñidero viewpoint and continue to the waterfall, with multiple forested viewpoints along the way.

The blue color appears at the point where two streams meet and a chemical reaction produces suspended particles that scatter blue light; the change is most obvious at the Teñidero and downstream. The river and its immediate surroundings are protected within Tenorio Volcano National Park.

The river lies in the northern highlands of Alajuela Province, within Tenorio Volcano National Park and close to the village of Bijagua. The park is in northwest Costa Rica in a mountainous, rainforest landscape.

• Park access: Main access is through the Tenorio Volcano National Park ranger station near the village of Bijagua; trails are marked but can be muddy and slippery after rain.
• Best viewpoints: Two short viewpoints, the Teñidero and the waterfall lookout, are the best places to see the river's color change and photograph the cascade.

What to See #

• Teñidero: The confluence known locally as the Teñidero is the spot where two colorless tributaries meet and the river takes on its distinctive blue hue; it is a short, well-marked viewpoint on the main park trail.
• Rio Celeste Waterfall: A cascade usually called the Rio Celeste Waterfall drops from a narrow gorge; the fall is commonly reported as about 30 metres high and is a primary photo point on the trail.