RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)
Traveler rating
3.5/5
Based on 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) worth booking?
RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) is a 7-hour experience in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, from $245 per person. It scores 50 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.5/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 50 / 100
- Rating
- 3.5/5 (13)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $245 per person
Exploring riverside areas by yourself can be dangerous, especially in an unknown area. This Celeste River Tubing Experience lets you float down the river in a group with a guide who knows the river well. You’ll catch sight of the beautiful landscape as you tube. Plus, a helmet is provided for safety. A unique experience of enjoying the majestic celestial river and its beautiful vegetation making a descent in a float between the rapids and the backwaters that only the celestial river and its vegetation can offer you Head to the rainforest on this private all-day excursion with a naturalist guide. Hike to the impressive Rio Celeste waterfall and then go tubing down the river, stopping along the way to swim and spot wildlife including sloths. A local lunch is included. Plus, stop to admire the Tree of Peace, which is more than 500 years old.
What you get
About this experience
Exploring riverside areas by yourself can be dangerous, especially in an unknown area. This Celeste River Tubing Experience lets you float down the river in a group with a guide who knows the river well. You’ll catch sight of the beautiful landscape as you tube. Plus, a helmet is provided for safety. A unique experience of enjoying the majestic celestial river and its beautiful vegetation making a descent in a float between the rapids and the backwaters that only the celestial river and its vegetation can offer you Head to the rainforest on this private all-day excursion with a naturalist guide. Hike to the impressive Rio Celeste waterfall and then go tubing down the river, stopping along the way to swim and spot wildlife including sloths. A local lunch is included. Plus, stop to admire the Tree of Peace, which is more than 500 years old.
What's included
Included
- Tickets
- Private Transfer
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All activities
- Pickup and drop-off near your hotel or airbnb or at your specific point for an additional cost
Not included
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
What you'll see and do
Rio Celeste
Tenorio Volcano National Park Hike Upon arriving at the entrance, you will start out on a 2 hour moderately difficult hike in the park. Along the trail you will walk through the rainforest and along the Celeste River, where you can observe one of nature's most intriguing phenomenons. After this beautiful site, you will continue hiking to where two brooks merge together, turning clear water into a divine hue of turquoise that makes Rio Celeste. This chemical reaction, due to the volcanic minerals, makes for an astounding sight that can only be experienced at this unique location. After hiking, you will head to another part of the river outside of the park where you will get to swim in the blue waters!! This is where you will often see sloths and other wildlife. This hike is a fantastic opportunity for healthy exercise and unforgettable experiences in one of Costa Rica's most unique hidden gems. **Please be aware, on rare occasions the river may be brown due to heavy rains**
120 minutes here · Admission included
Rio Celeste
Exploring riverside areas by yourself can be dangerous, especially in an unknown area. This Celeste River Tubing Experience lets you float down the river in a group with a guide who knows the river well. You’ll catch sight of the beautiful landscape as you tube. Plus, a helmet is provided for safety.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Cataratas Llanos de Cortes
Llanos de Cortez Waterfall We will take you to Llanos de Cortez Waterfall in Bagaces, where you can relax and take a swim underneath the falls or walk around exploring the flora and fauna.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Finca Loma Verde
Organic Farm - Sloth and Frog Sanctuary 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. Here you will also have a hearth Costa Rican style lunch
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- COSTA RICA SHUTTLE GROUP
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- If you are travelling with pets, we will appreciate you indicating in the comments of your reservation
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
13 verified traveler reviews for RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
DO NOT BOOK, Tour not as advertised.
This tour is not at all what was advertised. Out of all of the items you are supposed to accomplish, only one, the tubing, was what was stated in the description. Below is what actually happened: 1). Rio Celeste National Park Hike - we arrived, the bus driver was not the same company as the “guide” and so we were in a parking lot by ourselves while the van driver (who barely spoke English) walked around aimlessly talking to locals until another gentleman came from one of the restaurants across the street, asked us how many people we had, got us through the gate into the national park and in broken English said walk 1.5km this way and then come back. He then left and went back across the street to sit and look at his phone in the restaurant. We did not see where two brooks merged, we did not head to another part to swim. Instead when we were done we walked back across the street to the guy on his phone and told him we were done. He walked off and 20 minutes later our van showed back up and we went along the road. 2). River Tubing - As advertised and a fun experience. This was the only time we had a true guide and only while actually on the river. 3). Cataratas Llanos De Cortes - We didn’t do this portion of the trip at all. 4). Finca Lima Verde - We didn’t do this portion of the trip at all. 5). After we left the tubing we got back in our van and drove to a shack on the side of the road (Photo attached). I had to use Google Translate to order because neither our “guide” nor our bus driver nor the restaurant spoke enough English to understand me. After we ordered, the “Guide” left with no explanation. 6). After lunch we went to our driver and he said (through google translate) “ The guide said we could drive by the paradise tree, do you want to do that or head back to Tamarindo?” We chose to head back after researching said tree on our own. All in all the trip was an ok experience solely because of the tubing, but it certainly was not as described. What’s even more disturbing and dissapointing is Victor’s response to the whole situation. They are refusing to assist me outside of sending an email to the “Tour operator” (Picture included of the persons logo) to have them address the situation. I have no connection to the tour operator, viator charged my card, viator is what I used to communicate and they have been zero help in providing restitution to a tour that was nothing like what was booked. Do not book this tour and Think twice about using Viator. I know I will in the future.
via Viator
We had a great time and...
We had a great time and definitely recommend this tour! I was a bit hesitant and nervous to book this due to the negative reviews, but since this was the only tour that covered all the activities we wanted to do, I decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did! The listing clearly states that pickup at your place of accommodation is an extra $25 per person. Our rental is off the beaten path without a clear address and they communicated very well to accommodate our pickup anyway. We were just fine paying that much for pickup and were disappointed that some people gave such negative reviews because of it. The excursion itself was incredible and our driver Mauricio was friendly and very accommodating. Our favorite part was the river tubing, but enjoyed all the stops. Do keep in mind it's a long day. We started at 7 am in Tamarindo and weren't dropped off until after 8 pm, partly due to a bad traffic backup and also taking our time at a few stops. But it was worth it and would definitely recommend it.
via Viator
Very disappointed
They disclose that they charge a fee for picking up at your location. The fee was 55 dollars per person and when I said I would meet them at hotel that was 15 minutes away from pick up point, my reservation somehow got mixed up and there wasn't enough tickets. They said there was a problem with my booking.
via Viator
DO NOT BOOK!
I wish I had listened to other reviews that warned about this tour provider. Even though I had reached out 5 days in advance of the tour to confirm the pick up time, and our tickets said they would pick us up in the hotel lobby (and the tour description specifically said that hotel pick up in the city we stayed in was included), we got a message the day before (after the 24 hr cancellation window) that we had to pay $25 extra per person for the hotel pick up (an extra $225 for our party of 9). We were out playing and enjoying our vacation with our kids and by the time we saw the message after 6pm, they has cancelled the trip on us and said we would get no refund because they couldn't "confirm"!! To Viator's credit, they backed us up eventually and gave us the refund, but I had to fight for it, and it took a toll on me during the vacation. I was so outraged and angry at our treatment by the tour company. Why didn't they clarify the pick up location when I reached out earlier? Apparently so they could extort more money at the last minute. I have no idea how this tour operator is allowed to list on a reputable website, unless they are exploiting some massive loophole in Viator/Trip Advisor policy. It seems to me that they intentionally mess with people. We booked a separate tour through Viator a few days before this one, and it was wonderful. I was expecting the same easy and happy experience, but was hugely disappointed.
Response from the operator: We are very sorry about this comment, but when we heard from you it was almost 9pm in Costa Rica. We gave you options to change the day of your tour but you did not want to do so. The product description is clear that there is an additional cost for some places mentioned or for picking you up at the exact point of your location. There is no bad intention in the mentioned charge.
via Viator
BUYER BEWARE
BEWARE - Although the "What's Included" Section of this excursion clearly states HOTEL PICKUP AND DROPOFF IS INCLUDED, this company threatened to cancel our tour the night before unless we added $20 pp for hotel pick-up. In our case, it amounted to an additional $160.00 Their response was - "If you want point-to-point pick up then you have to pay the fee." What the hell is point-to-point? What happened to the "Hotel Pick-up and drop-off included" statement? They hide behind unclear language written in extremely poor English - designed to confuse and justify their ransom money. For me, it's more about the principle than the money. I expected them to be honest and they weren't. I'm sure they will reply with some face-saving BS, but we were robbed. The guide they sent, Emil, was nice enough, but clearly, was not familiar with this tour. He worked hard and provided drinks, but was not very talkative and did not provide much information like most guides we've had in the past. All in all, it was a very disappointing, long day. I will add the two guys at the Tubing Gerald and Fabrizio were very good. But overall, my recommendation is: DO NOT GO ON THIS TOUR. It's not worth the money.
Response from the operator: We are deeply sorry for a comment like this when we strive to do the best for you and your group, the pick-up instructions are very clear when we add that picking you up at the doors of your resort or airbnb has an additional cost otherwise you could have arrived at the nearest meeting point, an option that we offered you, but you did not want to do it, there is no bad intention in the additional charge.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 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
- 5
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by COSTA RICA SHUTTLE GROUP, who run 36 experiences we rank across 9 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 47.4.
See everything COSTA RICA SHUTTLE GROUP runsWhy this scores 50
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Playa Hermosa.
How much does RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) cost?
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Prices start at $245 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Playa Hermosa 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 RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) take?
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Plan for about 7 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 Playa Hermosa is not rushed.
Is RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 50 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.5/5 across 13 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Playa Hermosa, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)?
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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 RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)?
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Around 5 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 Playa Hermosa 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?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Playa Hermosa and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Playa Hermosa 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 Playa Hermosa?
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On Outty we rank every Playa Hermosa experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day, White Water River Rafting Class III-IV from La Fortuna-Arenal, Guachipelin Zipline, River Tubing, Horseback Ride, Hot springs & Lunch Combo. 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 Playa Hermosa?
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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 Playa Hermosa?
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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?
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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 RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)?
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Included: Tickets; Private Transfer; Lunch; In-vehicle air conditioning; and All activities. Not included: Gratuities; and Alcoholic beverages. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 117 listed pickup locations in and around Playa Hermosa. Be ready about 60 minutes before the start time.
What languages is RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) offered in?
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It is offered in German, English, Italian, French 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 RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)?
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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 RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; Not recommended for pregnant travelers; and Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE) if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about RIO CELESTE RIVER: Tubing+Rainforest+Wildlife+Waterfall+Active Volcano (PRIVATE)?
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Across 13 reviews averaging 3.5 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, value for money. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
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