Rio Celeste y Los Teñideros — Attraction in Bijagua

We arrived for 8am and were the 2nd people into the park. Of note, you have to pay a small amount to park in certain carparks (c2000), and your bags will be checked upon entry. Rather bizarrely, they were happy for us to take in cereal bars and biscuits, which were all in wrappers, but not our sandwiches that we had made ourselves that morning.

The trail is a slight incline most of the way until you reach the waterfall, but it is easily manageable. This may become slippery if it has been raining.

Once at the waterfall, there is a long set of stairs, which lead down to the viewing platform. This is set just above the bottom of the waterfall, as swimming in the pool is not allowed. The steps are well maintained and easily manageable. There are several places along the steps where you can stop and get great views of the waterfall. The water is an incredible shade of blue and is worth the short walk (approximately 1km from the entrance).

Further along from the waterfall, the trail becomes slightly more challenging. There are parts where you have to take it slow to make sure that you don't slip or trip. If the weather is wet, I can imagine that this would make the trail slippery and even more difficult in places.

However, the 1.5km walk to the river is worth the extra effort. Again, the blue colour of the water is incredible and the photographs do not do it justice.

In total, we were in the park for 2 hours and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. That said, we were the first people of the day to reach the waterfall and the river, meaning that we had a short period of time at each where it was just us. Our impression of this may have been different if there were more people at each point and along the trials, which are not very wide in some places.

Get there early and get in before everyone...

Arrive early! They open at 8am and close at 2pm, but as the day progresses, more people arrive and slow the trail. We showed up around 1130 and waited about 30 mins to pay for our ticket and start the hike. There are people in flip flops and sundresses all the way up to hardcore hiking boots and walking poles and everything in between. We wore hiking boots and basic exercise (sweat/water wicking) shorts and shirts and were totally good. The people in flip flops and/or basic running shoes were hating their lives and because of the rain were subsequently ruining their shoes. The waterfall is the first stop on the trek and really the most important thing you'll see. Don't miss it. The second part of the hike is also incredibly beautiful but less dramatic. It was pouring rain when we did the hike and the trails were well maintained but muddy and very slippery...we saw a number of people eat it while trying to traverse flat ground...don't be that person...just wear good shoes. Bottom line: totally a special spot that is well worth the trip. Parking was readily available and right at the entrance. Last note: the little cafe at the park entrance had great kabobs, empanadas...

Río Celeste y Los Teñideros was one of the most magical places we visited during our trip to Costa Rica. The entire experience felt like walking through a dream. The vibrant blue color of the river is just unbelievable—photos don’t do it justice. You truly have to see it with your own eyes to believe it!

We went there by car. There is a parking and you have to pay for that.

We did a self-guided hike. The walk is not very difficult but can get a bit muddy, so wearing good hiking shoes is definitely recommended. There are also some steps and uneven paths, but it's manageable if you take your time.

The trail takes you through beautiful rainforest with lots of greenery, birds, and nature all around. Reaching Los Teñideros and watching the two rivers merge into that electric blue color was such a unique sight—it felt like nature’s own magic trick!

We didn’t rush and took our time soaking in the surroundings. You can also see waterfalls and other scenic spots along the trail depending on how much time and energy you have.

This spot is definitely a must-visit if you're a nature lover or just want to experience something truly unique in Costa Rica. Highly...