There is a legend that says that when God painted the sky, he washed his brushes in the waters of the Celeste River. You can easily suspect why the locals tell this legend, and that is that the fluid of the vital liquid that lives in the heart of Costa Rica is such a pristine blue that it seems to have been painted by the sky itself.
The Celeste River with impressive colors
In the Volcanic Mountain Range of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the Tenorio volcano is one of the most impressive in the region, with four cones and a maximum height of 1,916 meters, it is the heart of the national park that bears its name. The park, with the same name, has 184 square kilometers and has the Misterios del Tenorio trail that runs about 7 kilometers round trip.
It is precisely on this trail where the most adventurous visitors can encounter the famous Río Celeste, which twists and turns in the natural habitat. Although it is very difficult to reach it, those who have visited it say that it is completely worth it, since it shines uncontrollably with colors between turquoise blue and cyan.
To reach the Río Celeste, you must travel 1.5 kilometers in the bowels of a rainforest, an amazing landscape that gives us the opportunity to reconnect with nature. Once the turquoise appears before your eyes, you will see that the river extends into the forest and also forms waterfalls and lagoons that look like oil paintings.
Once you find the Río Celeste Waterfall, you must descend some steep stairs to reach the base of the river, which is surrounded by thick vegetation. The waterfall has an approximate height of 30 meters through which the blue water flows that enchants everyone who visits it. It should be noted that this is a protected natural area and therefore it is prohibited to enter the waters.
Further along the main trail, about 650 meters away is the Blue Lagoon, a small one stands among the natural undergrowth. Here, entry to the body of water is not allowed because both the river and the waterfalls, and therefore the lagoons, have high concentrations of natural chemical elements that are harmful to health.
Further on, you can also see the imposing Tenorio Volcano through a viewpoint. The volcano is responsible for the thermal water formations that flow through the waterfalls, its sulfurous chemical components with calcium carbonate are precisely those that give an impressive color to the Río Celeste in Costa Rica.
The imposing landscape is a reminder of the sublime beauty that nature gives us and that should serve as a lesson to take care of our planet.