Rio Celeste, Costa Rica – The Magic Blue Colored River With A Brush of The Gods

by Hilya Safa · Published September 14, 2015 · Updated August 7, 2016

Rio Celeste Blue Sky Colored River and Waterfall

Visits to Costa Rica to enjoy its natural beauty not complete if you have not come to Rio Celeste, rivers and waterfalls in rural areas known for having blue sky water.

Rio Celeste Blue Sky Colored River and Waterfall

According to the site Entercostarica.com, Rio Celeste which in English means of ‘ river like heaven ‘ is located in the northern part of Costa Rica. This beautiful river is hidden in the middle of dense forest and steep slopes of the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Intentionally left as it is, the authenticity of the river and waterfall area is heavily guarded by the manager. That’s why the infrastructure provided for the convenience of tourists also deliberately limited.

This amazing river is quite challenging to reach. It takes about an hour and climbing through the forest of the national park entrance to meet the Rio Celeste.

But the long and tiring journey that must be taken will pay off when you can watch Los Tenideros, the confluence of two streams that make up the greater flow bright blue. Not only that, tourists can also see one or two tapirs that live wild in the forest area of the national park. These animals are now in conservation efforts to preserve the species.

The bright blue color of the Rio Celeste is actually the result of a chemical reaction of volcanic minerals such as sulfur and calcium carbonate. The Rio Celeste is also connected with several hot springs and a large waterfall. The flow of water from the waterfall was formed pond like a light blue watercolor.

Reported from the site of ticotimes.net, local legend has it that the blue color of the Rio Celeste river coming from the brush covered in paint to color the sky is washed by the gods in the river water. But crsuntours.com website mentions a legend with a more specific story that is told for generations by Maleku Indian tribes that living near the Rio Celeste river.

It is said that long ago, there was an evil goddess who killed the children one by one by leaving them on a large rock in the river. As infants were intentionally left out in order to eat the eagle. The gods who did not agree with the deeds of the cruel goddess, later determined to protect the next child born from the womb of the goddess.

When the cruel goddess gave birth to a beautiful daughter, the gods were conspiring wrapped the baby’s body is laid on a stone with a leaf of tobacco.The eagle who do not like the acrid smell of tobacco was nevertheless eat the baby. Later the baby grows into a beautiful teenage girl and a noble flawless. The gods were later revoked her mother’s power and present awards to the beautiful princess. The blue water of Rio Celeste was supposedly derived from the urine of a beautiful goddess.