Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee worth booking?
Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee is a 10-hour experience in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, from $139 per person. It scores 68 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 7 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 68 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (7)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $139 per person
This guided tour is special for several reasons: Personalized Experience: Being a private tour, it adapts to your interests and pace, guaranteeing a unique and comfortable experience. Complete Exploration: It combines the main attractions of the region: the colorful Rio Celeste, the majestic Tenorio Volcano and the sloth sanctuary, offering a total immersion in the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Expert Guides: You will have local guides who provide detailed information about the geology, flora and fauna of the area, enriching your knowledge of the environment. Diverse Activities: Enjoy hiking trails, impressive views and the opportunity to observe sloths in their natural habitat. Comfort and Flexibility: They offer exclusive transportation, avoiding crowds and allowing you to adjust the itinerary to your needs. Ecological and Cultural Connection: Learn about species conservation and biodiversity, combining nature.
What you get
About this experience
This guided tour is special for several reasons: Personalized Experience: Being a private tour, it adapts to your interests and pace, guaranteeing a unique and comfortable experience. Complete Exploration: It combines the main attractions of the region: the colorful Rio Celeste, the majestic Tenorio Volcano and the sloth sanctuary, offering a total immersion in the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Expert Guides: You will have local guides who provide detailed information about the geology, flora and fauna of the area, enriching your knowledge of the environment. Diverse Activities: Enjoy hiking trails, impressive views and the opportunity to observe sloths in their natural habitat. Comfort and Flexibility: They offer exclusive transportation, avoiding crowds and allowing you to adjust the itinerary to your needs. Ecological and Cultural Connection: Learn about species conservation and biodiversity, combining nature.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Pick up and return to the hotel.
Not included
- Tips.
What you'll see and do
Tamarindo
Pick up at your hotel at 7 am
180 minutes here
Rio Celeste
Tenorio Volcano National Park: Natural Beauty in Costa Rica Tenorio Volcano National Park, located in the northern region of Costa Rica, is a haven of natural beauty and biodiversity. Dominated by the majestic Tenorio Volcano, the park offers breathtaking views and exciting trails. One of its biggest draws is the Rio Celeste, known for its vibrant turquoise blue color, the result of a unique mix of volcanic minerals. Visitors can explore trails that lead to waterfalls such as Los Teñideros, and immerse themselves in the lush rainforest. The park is home to rich fauna and flora, including exotic birds and orchids. Ideal for nature and ecotourism lovers, Tenorio Volcano National Park combines adventure and natural splendor in one place.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Rio Celeste
The Sloth Sanctuary of Río Celeste offers a unique experience for nature lovers. Here you can meet these fascinating animals in a protected natural environment. Learn about their behavior, habitat, and the importance of their conservation as you watch them move slowly among the trees. This place is ideal for those who seek a deep connection with Costa Rican fauna and wish to support conservation efforts in the region. Visiting the Río Celeste Sloth Sanctuary is an excellent opportunity to enjoy Costa Rican biodiversity and learn about species protection.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Cafe & Cacao Tour Bijagua
Coffee and Chocolate Tour in Bijagua, Río Celeste Embark on a delicious tour of Bijagua, near Río Celeste, where you'll discover the art of coffee and chocolate. Start at a coffee plantation, where you'll learn about the cultivation and processing of beans while enjoying tropical landscapes. Get a close-up look at the harvesting and drying of coffee, and enjoy a tasting of this Costa Rican elixir. Next, explore a cacao farm and learn about the chocolate-making process, from harvesting the pods to creating exquisite cacao products. Discover the richness of artisanal chocolate with a tasting that reveals the unique flavors of local cacao. This tour combines learning, culture, and gastronomy in a stunning natural setting, ideal for food and nature lovers.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Tamarindo
Return to the starting point
180 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Guanacaste Airport Shuttle Cr
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- If you are traveling with pets, we would appreciate it if you indicate this in the comments of your reservation.
- The weather has to be good for this experience to take place. If canceled due to bad weather conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund of the amount paid.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
6 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Physical effort
4 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellante
We had a wonderful experience on our Rio Celeste waterfall tour with Tony. He was professional, friendly, and made the entire day enjoyable. The Rio Celeste waterfall was absolutely stunning, and the la Cortes waterfall was beautiful as well. The traditional lunch provided was delicious and a perfect addition to the tour. The sloth tour was amazing—we saw incredible wildlife, and Tony shared interesting information throughout the day. The vehicle was very comfortable, and Tony was an excellent, safe driver. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Tony, for such a memorable experience!
via Viator
Fun but not exactly what we expected
Our driver for the day Wilfredo was amazing, he was so sweet and kind and took an interest in us- he talked to us a lot and practiced his English and let us practice our Spanish. We didn't have time for all three things on the tour, we got to do the hike and the Sloth sanctuary but the hike took so long because there is a long line down stairs to get to the waterfall which you can't actually get to the water because it's too dangerous. The hike was medium difficulty for my friend and her child, but for me as a larger person it was a challenge but not impossible. There is only two spots to sit and rest on the whole hike. There were lots of other larger people out doing the hike too so it is doable but it's not for people have a difficult time moving. The lunch was amazing and the sloth sanctuary was incredible. We were lucky enough to get extremely close to one sloth who was near the ground. Our guide on the sloth tour was very kind when our kiddo got scared and did everything to make him feel comfortable even though he decided to bail. I finished the sloth tour solo and you get to go through a bridge that is elevated above ground and see all sorts of wildlife. Snakes, frogs, poisons flowers etc.. Overall we had a wonderful time but we wish we had time for the chocolate and butterfly portion as well.
via Viator
Must do!
Must do! A little bit of everything! Swimming in the waterfall was so refreshing, we saw sloths, snakes, tapir, and toucans. Lunch was great and the coffee chocolate tour was the best way to end the day. Tony our driver was so accommodating and just lovely!
via Viator
Don't miss this tour when in Costa Rica!
This was an amazing tour! Hiking to the waterfall was lovely and the visit to the sloth sanctuary was a highlight of our trip! We saw sloths, bright-colored frogs, yellow vipers, and flowers I had never seen! Following the rainforest, we went to a coffee and cacao farm, which was interesting and delicious! Afterwards, there was lunch at a butterfly exhibit, where we got to see the blue moth which is Costa Rica's national butterfly. So pretty! Suggestion would be to wear hiking or waterproof shoes and bring a rain jacket or poncho. It will rain because you are in a rainforest!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🌿 We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the entire experience—from the waterfall hike and sloth sanctuary to the coffee and cacao farm and the beautiful butterfly exhibit. It sounds like you made the most of every moment! We’re especially glad you got to see so much wildlife, including the stunning blue morpho butterfly—definitely one of Costa Rica’s treasures. 🦋 Thank you also for the helpful tip about bringing proper shoes and a rain jacket—great advice for future travelers! We hope to welcome you back again for more adventures. Pura vida! ☀️🌺
via Viator
Perfect Rio Celeste Day
This is a fantastic excursion! We had a private tour for just our family by Tony (our driver) and a lovely woman whose name I believe began with an A (she has 2 sons and was lovely). It is a bit of a ride from Playa Grande, but it is broken up nicely. Tony had to adjust for us because the hike to the waterfall at rio Celeste was blocked by downed trees from heavy rains the night before, so he took us to a different waterfall and then also to a part of the rio Celeste where we could swim in the fantastically blue water. The Bijagua coffee and chocolate tour was fantastic; our guide Jostin was great, and the whole experience taught us a lot. Then we had a delicious lunch at a restaurant attached to a butterfly garden and learned a lot while eating with our guides. The final stop was the sloth sanctuary - which was beyond words. Our young guide Albert asked about our favorite animals and then he did his best to find those - with sounds on his phone and some sort of eagle eye. He found us several vipers and colorful frogs, and he would grab our phones and get up close and take professional looking pics for us! The final sloth sighting was unbelievable - we could have reached out and touched him. We spent so much time watching - which is par for the course as he almost comically switched from one branch to the next in record slow time! We literally have selfies with the sloth. It was a full day experience in a comfortable air conditioned van with lovely guides and friendly people everywhere. Tony even stopped to get us fresh pineapple from a stand at one point. A fabulous way to see and do so much - it was a wonderful day.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful and detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear your family enjoyed such a memorable day filled with nature, culture, and warm company. Tony and our team were happy to adjust the tour to ensure you still had an amazing experience, even with the unexpected trail closure. We're also glad you loved the coffee and chocolate tour, the delicious lunch, and the unforgettable visit to the sloth sanctuary—selfies with a sloth are definitely one-of-a-kind! Thank you again for choosing us—we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Guanacaste Airport Shuttle Cr, who run 40 experiences we rank across 7 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 57.4.
See everything Guanacaste Airport Shuttle Cr runsWhy this scores 68
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Tamarindo.
How much does Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee cost?
+
Prices start at $139 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Tamarindo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee take?
+
Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Tamarindo is not rushed.
Is Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 68 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Tamarindo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee?
+
Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Tamarindo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Tamarindo and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Tamarindo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Tamarindo?
+
On Outty we rank every Tamarindo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Surf Lesson in Tamarindo - Stand Up or Your Money Back!, Sunset Catamaran & Snorkeling Tour in Playa Flamingo, Fundive Catalina Islands (2 dives, only for certified divers). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Tamarindo?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Tamarindo?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee?
+
Included: Private transportation; Lunch; Bottled water; In-vehicle air conditioning; and Pick up and return to the hotel. Not included: Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee include hotel pickup?
+
Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 184 listed pickup locations in and around Tamarindo. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee offered in?
+
It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee wheelchair or stroller accessible?
+
The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee if the weather is bad?
+
It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Tamarindo. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee?
+
Across 7 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers. One thing to know: Expect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Rio Celeste + Park + Sloth Sanctuary + Chocolate Coffee.
Pick your date
