Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway is the epitome of an authentic Costa Rican rainforest retreat/experience. From the moment you arrive, you feel welcome, at ease, and relaxed. Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway provides comfort in the form of a private bungalow, a wonderful restaurant and lounge, and every other amenity desired, all surrounded by an untouched natural paradise. Whether you’re looking to relax in paradise or hike through the jungle, this hotel is perfect the place to stay!
Getting to Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway
Well, getting to Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway was an adventure in itself! There are two ways to get to the hotel by car:
- Upala/Katira route (from La Fortuna/Arenal, San José)
- Bijagua route (from Northern Guanacaste, Liberia Airport)
When we went, we took the Bijagua route, which consisted of driving over large boulders and navigating challenging roadways. While it probably wasn’t the best for our 4×4 rental, we had a blast! The good news is that since we visited, they have paved the roads leading to the hotel and Rio Celeste. We would still recommend driving with caution as the roadways were quite narrow, and a few times, we encountered transport trucks that made it very difficult to “share” the road.
Now that the roads are paved, we still recommend having a GPS or navigating device if you’re driving to the hotel. If you look up where you’re going on Google, it seems a lot easier to navigate than it is when you are there – but that is what makes the journey worthwhile! Regardless of the route you take, there is signage for both the hotel, Rio Celeste Hideaway, and Volcan Tenorio National Park. For detailed directions and or pricing for private transfers, we recommend checking out the hotel’s website.
Arrival Experience
After the adventure of driving to Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway, we couldn’t believe the slice of Heaven we had found. When we pulled up to the gates, security asked for our name and instructed us where to park. We pulled up to the entrance at the lobby and were greeted by name, with welcome drinks and refreshing towels. Since we had arrived early, unfortunately, our room (casita) wasn’t quite ready. We had no problem waiting for our casita because we had planned on doing the hike through Volcan Tenorio National Park to the Rio Celeste Waterfall (where the river turns its bright blue color).
The Room
The Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway has two types of rooms (also known as casitas/bungalows): Deluxe Garden View and Deluxe Forest View. There are only 26 casitas in total, so even at its busiest, there will never be an overwhelming number of people at the hotel. We were fortunate to stay in one of the Forest View casitas.
These casitas are stunning! They’re exactly what we imagined for a Costa Rican rainforest resort – double doors to the balcony, opening into the rainforest; draped king-sized bed (in our case); a large bathroom, complete with an outdoor shower. The layout is well thought out and perfect for the two of us (and would accommodate a few more if you’re travelling with more people). Our Forest View Casita was very private due to its location against the rainforest, yet we were only a few minutes (walking) from the main hotel facilities. While the Garden View Casitas may have a bit less privacy, they are conveniently located near the hotel’s amenities.
A few more specific room features:
- 300 thread count, 100% cotton linens
- 32” LED TV (that you shouldn’t even turn on anyway)
- European spa bathroom toiletries, robes, coffee, etc.
- The list goes on!
Food & Drink
The hotel has three restaurants and bars. The first, Kantala, offers original Costa Rican cuisine with international flair, served in a tropical atmosphere! The restaurant boasts a tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner using fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant also offers several vegan options! The second, Cantina Delirio, is the hotel’s lounge – popular for cocktail hour or after-dinner drinks. They offer exotic, tropical cocktails along with a varied wine list and a wide selection of premium beers and liquors. Lastly, Luna Azul is open during the day, so you don’t have to leave the pool to enjoy a drink. They also serve a light lunch at the pool deck.
While Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway has some delicious food and drink offerings. The downside is that due to the remote location, you are limited to only their food and beverage offerings – there are very few places outside of the hotel to enjoy a meal. Of course, you can bring some of your own snacks, but you’ll likely end up eating at the hotel. Kantala Restaurant, while delicious and unique, is a bit expensive, so prepare yourself for the additional cost, especially for a longer stay. This being said, they do offer packages, and many include meals (breakfast and/or dinner), so this would be something to consider when booking your stay at this hotel!
Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway Features
In addition to the hotel’s natural landscape and perfect location in the Costa Rican rainforest, the hotel is complete with a pool and spa facility. Unfortunately, since we only stayed one night, we didn’t have time to take advantage of the spa. However, we were able to enjoy the pool area, which was perfect! There are a couple of Jacuzzis, along with a swim-up pool bar – everything you could want!
The beauty of this hotel is that even at its busiest, the facilities and services allow for such an authentic, intimate experience in the rainforest! It never felt busy, likely because, at most, there would only be 26 villas full of guests! Plus, the associates gave such excellent, personalized service!
The hotel also has direct access to a private area of the Rio Celeste (River), where you can actually swim in the bright blue water. This is one of the few areas where you can swim in the water (since you can’t within the National Park or at the waterfall). Just a warning – the water is quite cold!
Along with the unique amenities at Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway, they also offer several tours. These include private guided tours of Volcan Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste, bird watching, and white-water rafting.
Sustainability
The Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway also has extensive sustainability programs in place. Their mission is “to be a tropical refuge” where their guests can relax and enjoy a stay, meeting their expectations through attention to detail, while being aware of their commitment to the social and natural environment that surrounds the hotel. At the hotel, they have pledged to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily operation. They are committed to doing things in an eco-friendly manner, improving their sustainability practices on a regular basis. Some of these practices include:
- Partnering with local communities
- Supporting the neighbouring La Paz School and female entrepreneurs from La Paz and El Pilon
- Chemical-free gardens – growing the greens and vegetables used in their kitchen
The hotel also encourages its guests to take part in sustainability initiatives by:
- Using water rationally – reusing towels and using reusable water bottles (the water at the hotel is 100% safe to drink)
- Purchasing products from local vendors and small businesses
- Not extracting any plants or feeding the wild animals within the natural protected area
- Taking part in their recycling programs
Value
The entire reason we left our all-inclusive resort for a night to stay here was because we got an excellent rate (and it looked like a nice place to stay)! In off-peak season, a casita room is ~300 USD per night. The hotel also includes breakfast in their rate, and they offer both refundable and non-refundable options.
The hotel offers an array of packages, from family getaways to romantic retreats or adventurous experiences. The prices, of course, vary depending on the time of year and package. During peak seasons, they typically have a 2-night minimum length of stay, meaning you have to stay at least two nights. However, let us remind you that the basic rate does include free Wi-Fi, free parking, a welcome drink, breakfast, complimentary local coffee in your casita, and the best part? Free access to their nature reserve, including part of Rio Celeste that you can actually swim in!
Location/Getting Around
The beauty of the Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway is its remote location! Getting around the resort itself is easy. There are plenty of paved and natural walking trails to explore the local area. Of course, as we mentioned, getting around the local area was a bit more difficult, but with the now paved roads, that should be much better!
As we mentioned above, there’s also a private swimming area just a short walk from the hotel itself. This is the only place where you can actually swim in the blue Rio Celeste water!
Volcan Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste
We keep talking about Volcan Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste, but what makes them so unique? The entire reason we decided to visit Costa Rica was that Madison saw a photo of the Rio Celeste Waterfall and ended up finding this hotel!
While you can access part of the Rio Celeste (River) from the hotel, Volcan Tenorio National Park has a network of hiking trails, including one to the Rio Celeste Waterfall. The main entrance is only a few minutes’ drive (1km or 0.6 mi) from Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway.
When visiting the park, you have a few options. The first is taking the shorter hike just to the waterfall. You can also continue through the forest, along the river, to the cloud forest, and eventually to the volcano. The hike is a bit challenging but well worth it for the views.
We recommend doing one of the longer hikes past the Rio Celeste Waterfall because there are less people around. Because of this, you can really immerse yourself in the nature. Don’t worry – the trails are clearly marked – we managed not to get lost! Read more about the Rio Celeste hike.
Our Final Thoughts about Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway
Madison: Our stay at Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway was unique and unforgettable. This little slice of rainforest paradise was the perfect place to stay. The casita washroom and outdoor shower got me!
Liam: The best part about the hotel is how private it is, yet still close to the Volcan Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste. It is the perfect place to stay in Costa Rica to mix both romance and adventure!
Looking for other things to do around Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway?
Here are our suggestions:
- Hike to the Rio Celeste Waterfall.
- Keep on walking – there is plenty more to see!
- Drive around the local area; there are some amazing views and friendly locals (people and animals).
- Visit Lago Arenal (it’s only an hour from Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway).
- Keep trucking along to the Arenal Volcano (about 90 minutes from the hotel).
- Relax, relax, relax – take in the seclusion and nature.
