Rio Celeste Hiking, Sloth Sanctuary & Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

12 hours

Mobile ticket

Llanos de Cortes Waterfall

To start your day, we will take you to Llanos de Cortes Waterfall in Bagaces, where you can relax and take a swim at the falls or walk around exploring the flora and fauna.

Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike - Tenorio Volcano National Park

Upon arriving at the entrance, you will go on a 2 hour moderately difficult hike in the park. You will walk through the rainforest and along the Celeste River where you can observe one of nature's most intriguing phenomenon.

Organic Farm - Sloth and Frog Sanctuary

After lunch, take a tour on a rural organic farm! You will be taken on an inspiring and educational walk, showcasing natural wonders such as tropical plants, flowers, birds, sloths, frogs, snakes, insects and many more animals that inhabit the farm.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

If your hotel is not listed, contact us for quoting

Due to a new requirement issued by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Park Systems of Costa Rica, we need each person to send us the following information: Full Name on Passport, Passport number, Passport issuing country. You must carry a picture of your passport with you on your tour!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Cataratas Llanos de Cortes

LLanos de Cortes Waterfall Discover the hidden gem of Llanos de Cortez Waterfall, tucked away amidst the pristine landscapes of the Guanacaste region. As you make your way through the tropical forest, the sound of cascading water grows louder, signaling your arrival at this natural marvel. The sight of the waterfall is nothing short of breathtaking, with its crystal-clear waters tumbling over moss-covered rocks into a tranquil pool below. Take a refreshing dip in the cool waters, surrounded by lush greenery and the symphony of nature. Relax on the sandy shores, bask in the warm sun, and revel in the serenity of this secluded paradise. It's the perfect conclusion to a day filled with adventure and exploration.

1 hour • Admission Included

Rio Celeste

You will begin your hike within the pristine confines of Tenorio Volcano National Park, first heading to the mesmerizing Rio Celeste Waterfall, where the crystalline waters cascade gracefully down a rugged cliff face, creating a scene of unparalleled beauty. You'll embark on a guided hike on trails that meander through the dense rainforest, enveloped by a symphony of exotic bird calls. Your knowledgeable guide will share insights into the rich biodiversity of the region, pointing out unique plant species & wildlife that call this pristine wilderness home. As you approach the waterfall, you'll be stunned by the majestic cascade of turquoise-hued water tumbling dramatically into a tranquil pool below. Stand in awe of this natural spectacle, feeling the cool mist and the sheer power of nature. Take your time to savor this moment, capturing photographs of this unique hidden gem from various angles. **Please be aware, on rare occasions the river may be brown due to heavy rains

2 hours • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Driver/guide

Lunch

National park fees

Professional bilingual guide

Gratuities

Round Trip Transport from Andaz, Planet Hollywood, Fours Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, Catalinas

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

Self Drive/Meet at Park

Drive your Own Vehicle : Meet your guide at Tenorio Volcano National Park & follow our tour bus to Sloth Sanctuary and Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Starting point:
Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio, Katira centro, Provincia de Alajuela, Guatuso, 21504, Costa Rica

Private Transportation & Guide

Private Guide & Transportation: Round trip transport from JW Marriott, Tamarindo, Langosta, Flamingo, Potrero, RIU Hotels, Coco, Hermosa, Panama, Liberia
Pickup included

Shared Transportation

Shared Tour & Transport: Round trip transport from JW Marriott, Tamarindo, Langosta, Flamingo, Potrero, RIU Hotels, Coco, Hermosa, Panama, Liberia
Pickup included

Reviews

4.62

1,077 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

847

123

A+ Costa Rica rain forest experience!
susansL3136LC,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent experience exploring the CR rain forest. Was blessed with great weather, which helped. Saw more animals than expected, and waterfalls were beautiful. Kevin Pina was a wonderful, knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend this trip for an authentic CR experience (you can zip line and ride horses anywhere!).
Great trip with great team
Dolomis,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour! We had a great guide Santos who told us a lot about Costa Rica’s geology and wild life. He was very patient, accommodating and knowledgeable. Michael was a great driver. Rainforest is amazing. Loved the walk through nature preserve with a great guide from the preserve. Strongly recommend this tour!
Phenomenal Excursion!
B6358YBamys,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was an unbelievable experience, I was blown away! Kevin Pina and Alonzo Flowers were phenomenal guides, two of the best I've ever had. They were very informative, courteous, accommodating and knowledgeable about the history, habitat, and culture of Costa Rica. Our lunch was amazing too! Highly recommend this tour, so much value for your money and the best way to end our vacation!
Great rainforest and sloth experience
Irina D,,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience- swimming in a waterfall was magical and refreshing; hiking a rainforest is amazing, and of course, seeing tropical animals , sloths . We had a great guide Santos and driver Michael. Samson told us about geology of Costa Roca, he is very friendly and helpful. Strongly recommend this tour
Santos was not a very...
Brent H,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00
Santos was not a very good guide. Not informative or helpful. We left the tour at lunch and missed the sanctuary because of boredom. Did not tell us we would wait in line for an hour to see the Rio Celeste waterfall, only to get a picture. Didn’t allow us any time to absorb the waterfall itself!
Skip this one, not worth the money
vairons2026,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
Firstly the guide was awful. He was very unenthusiastic and seemed to just want to get the day over with. Barely spoke to the entire group. Also seem to want to rush through everything. The activities themselves were also very average. The first waterfall is ok not anything special. The area to swim in is very small. The second waterfall at the National Park, although very nice visually was not worth the wait and hike. It’s just a photo op, lots of waiting just to snap a picture. The sloth sanctuary was actually nice, saw plenty of sloths. The guide from the sanctuary was 10x better than ours. Overall it was mostly driving around to the locations then rushing through. Spend your money elsewhere.
We saw LAZY and a very taken advantage of day
S7002AUtonip,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
All perfect guides a professional and very friendly 100% recommended
Costa Rica’s rinest
marty0121,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Absolutely fantastic! The waterfall was beautiful. The drive was delightful. The volcano rainforest did not disappoint. The tour guide showed us sloths in trees and other local wildlife.
A great experience!
Andrea H,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
This tour was so much fun and definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Rio Celeste was absolutely beautiful. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. The sloth sanctuary was a really cool stop. We got to see sloths up close and learn more about them, which was super interesting and memorable. Highly recommend this tour if you want to see some amazing nature and wildlife in one day!
Great day overall
TucsonPT,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
My primary reason for this trip was to see the Rio Celeste waterfall. I was disappointed at the time required to wait in a long line to see it, then yo be rushed to take photos with no time to enjoy the beauty. Llanos was cold, but doable. Lunch was good.