Rio Celeste?
 

Hi, all - we're thinking of doing the Rio Celeste hike from the Arenal area for an upcoming trip. If you did Rio Celeste, did you enjoy it? How long did it take to hike in? Do people swim there? I know the beautiful blue water is the big attraction - is there anything else to see? If you've gone from Arenal, approximately how long is the drive to get there? Thanks for any guidance you can give me!

We'll be spending 5 nights in the area this coming February. Can report on lodging (staying in 2 different places), hiking, wildlife and birds, etc then.

Thanks, RAC - I think we're going to beat you down there. If we do it, I'll report back.

When I visited Rio Celeste two years ago, you were no longer allowed to swim in the pool at the base of the falls. It's only a bit over a mile hike to the falls, then I think 250 steps down. If it's been raining, the trail can be quite muddy and slippery, but the steps are concrete.

My friend's knee was giving her trouble, so rather than have her sit and wait, we ended up skipping the rest of the hike to go up to the meeting of the waters where the colors are actually changing. I think you add on another hour or so to do that. I remember we left la Carolina right after breakfast and were back for lunch.

We drove from la Carolina to la Fortuna and decided to go off the main roads a bit, so we probably spent 5 hours or so wandering through the countryside, stopping and chatting with people. I think we took the Cabanga road and which finally came out around Nuevo Arenal. I remember meeting the nicest man running a little bakery in Cabanga - I don't think he was used to seeing many tourists and was happy to practice his English.

Your tour guide will keep to the main road, so you won't take that long, plus AOL is nearer to Rio Celeste than la Fortuna.

Thanks, colibri - this helps a lot. Somehow I missed it that you were no longer allowed to swim there. I think I may wear my Keen's anyway if it's going to be muddy.