The ground was muddy from the sporadic rain. I carefully planned my steps to avoid the puddles. Although my clothes were already drenched and heavy from the rain water, my mind felt as light as ever from just having witnessed an incredible scene. The greens of the forest and the blues of the water came together harmoniously to form the perfect palette. No wonder the locals say “when God finished painting the sky, he washed his brushes in the Rio Celeste”.
Tucked in the Tenerio Volcanic National Park of Costa Rica, the Rio Celeste is a distinctively turquoise colored river. It gets its appearance from a physical phenomenon called Mie scattering rather than a chemical one. It is such a wonderful shade of blue that before seeing the real deal, I initially thought online photos of the river must have been photoshopped.
Although the river is the namesake star here, many people also come to see the waterfall near the start of the trail. As we approached the fall, the verdant foliage formed a tunnel around the staircase descending to the base, making it quite the dramatic entrance.
This gem of a place was a little out of the way, but was definitely worth the slight off-roading. Visiting magical places like this always makes me wonder just what else is out there for me to explore as it continues to fuel my love for travel.