The beautiful Rio Celeste in Costa Rica

rio celeste costa rica
We could spend a long time listing reasons for traveling to Costa Rica , but we are going to condense all the reasons into one piece of information that is most clarifying. While this country only covers 0.1% of the Earth’s land mass, it is home to 5% of the planet’s biodiversity. You can imagine, therefore, that it is a true natural paradise.

In Costa Rica you can find 28 national parks, but today we want to stop at one of them: the Tenorio Volcano National Park, belonging to the Arenal-Tempisque Conservation Area. And why have we stopped here? Well, very simple! We have found one of the most beautiful natural corners on the entire planet. We are talking about the Rio Celeste , a river that, as its name suggests, has the peculiarity of being blue in color. In addition, this Costa Rican corner can boast of having hot springs and being surrounded by a truly beautiful natural environment. Are you accompanying us to discover this place more thoroughly? We assure you that you will not regret it!

The river

As we have already mentioned, the Celeste River owes its name to the color of its waters where the Roble and Buena Vista rivers converge, a place known as Los Teñideros . From this point on, the waters flow through the forest without losing its color even at the waterfall. The waters, rich in minerals and volcanic materials, are surrounded by fumaroles, streams and stones.

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The scientific explanation

Although it is often said that the river received its precious color when God cleaned the brushes that he had used to paint the sky, the truth is that there is a scientific reason that explains the hue of the Celeste River. Apparently, the high concentration of aluminum silicates in the bottom rocks produces a scattering of sunlight that produces an optical effect that gives rise to this particular coloration. In any case, thanks to this color, the Celeste River has become one of the main tourist attractions in the country.

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Other attractions of the place

The main attraction of the Tenorio Volcano National Park is the Teñidero, a blue lagoon where the tributaries converge and the water can be seen in different shades : aquamarine, turquoise, deep blue sky … In addition, those who have the opportunity to visit the area are amazed with the waterfall, the hot springs, the tropical forest that is in the environment and with the Bloominist Academy. In addition, in the viewpoint you can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the place. In fact, at the top you will get a nice snapshot of the Tenorio volcano. On the other hand, it should be said that although it was previously allowed to bathe in some thermal pools, today they are closed to the public because they are considered dangerous for the skin due to the high sulfur content.

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Flora and fauna

You can explore this natural wonder through a 3.5-kilometer path that will put you in direct contact with nature. Of course, you must bear in mind that doing this walk requires a certain physical condition. Along the way you will be able to contemplate the flora typical of a rain forest and cloud, with palms, ferns, bromeliads and orchids being the main species. In addition, you can find trees such as the sapote, the pilón and the jícaro danto. As for the animals, you will be able to contemplate tapirs, monkeys, tolomucos, turkeys, guatusas, snakes … And although they are easier to spot, in the park there are also coexisting lions, mackerels, pumas, and jaguars, which is the largest feline in all America. Then we leave you with our gallery , where you can find a lot of beautiful images of the Celeste River in Costa Rica. Do not miss it!