Rio Celeste Expedition: Llanos del Cortez Falls, Sloths and Coffee-Chocolate Farm

The day opens at Llanos del Cortez, a tall, wide waterfall with a natural pool for swimming. From there the road leaves the coast, climbs into the mountains and passes small villages on the way to Tenorio Volcano National Park. A professional guide leads the hike through the park and shares information about its fauna and flora. The walk ends at the Rio Celeste waterfall and its sky-blue water, with panoramic views and time for photographs. In Upala the tour supports two local families. One has set up its property so that sloths can live there in their natural state, and several of their food trees are low, so the animals are easy to see up close. The other runs a coffee and chocolate plantation, where guests learn about both products and how chocolate is made in Costa Rica. Lunch is traditional Costa Rican food, with rice, beans, plantains, meat, fish or chicken and a variety of fresh salads. Meeting points are the operator's office in Playas del Coco, Plaza Santa Rosa in Liberia and El Jardin in Nacascolo.