Costa Rica continued - June 22, 2023

We woke to birds singing and chirping and our host served a wonderful breakfast of eggs, gallopinto (beans and rice to us, although Bill says it is not just beans and rice), fried banana, pineapple juice, coffee, and toast with guava jam.

Luna is ready for breakfast

After breakfast we got to try a roasted cacao bean which tasted much like the cocoa powder that we are familiar with, and then the finished product of chocolate.

The landscaping here is incredibly beautiful and we have a gazillion photos of flowers and trees. We will dedicate one of our posts to the flora of Costa Rica. 

After checking out of Rincon Verde, we headed to the Tenorio Volcano National Park. We took a shortcut suggested to us by our hosts and it took us directly over the mountain on a STEEP one-lane gravel road. At times it was difficult to keep our wheels from spinning in the loose gravel. We were glad it was a rental car!

Once we arrived at the park, Bill hired a guide to take our group on a tour of the waterfall named Catarata Rio Celeste. The guide explained a lot of interesting facts about the flora and fauna in the area. We didn't see any mammals but we did see a couple of vine snakes. 

Can you find the snake?


Vine snake circled in red

Hiking to the waterfall

Thankfully this volcano is considered dormant but is surrounded by geothermal activity and occasional tremors

The hike was too strenuous once we got to the waterfall. We went down about 150 steep stairs (yes, Rob counted them because that's what he does). There were about 100 more to get to the very bottom but they were even steeper and we had a good view from where we stopped.

The pool at the bottom of the waterfall was a beautiful blue. The pool was 16 meters deep and the waterfall was 30 meters high. Swimming was not allowed here due to the force of the waterfall.

Pam, Rob, and Joan



After the two-hour tour, we headed toward the Rio Celeste to eat and swim. We got some roasted corn, empanadas, and pineapple from a roadside vendor. It was all good but the pineapple was the best we've ever eaten. Even the core was sweet and tender!

Bill, Ilse, and Luna swam in the river. Rob and Pam sat on the rocks with their feet in the water while Joan explored the area.



When we left the area, we stopped at Restaurant Tapirus Paradise Rio Celeste with beautifully carved pillars, chandeliers, and heavy wooden tables and chairs. Joan ordered a salad that was fairly typical - lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, avocado, etc. I ordered a "vegetable salad" and received a plate with a variety of warm vegetables with a slight vinaigrette dressing. Unexpected, but tasty. Rob ordered a supreme pizza. It was very good but didn't taste like pizza at home. One difference was the sauce. Not sure what it was, but it didn't seem to be tomato based.

Restaurant Tapirus Paradise Rio Celeste

Luna wrestling the cocodrillo

After our delicious meal, we headed home and it soon began to rain. It was rain the likes of which is rarely seen in New Mexico! After an exhausting two hours, we finally made it home. 

Lessons learned:
1. If you want to get the most out of your park visit, hire a guide
2. Shortcuts may be exciting by not necessarily quicker
3. Always be prepared to swim on any given day in Costa Rica. Rob, Pam, and Joan did not take swimsuits to the mountains
4. It WILL rain when you go to the mountains of Costa Rica



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