Bijagua, Costa Rica: tours, hotels & things to do

Bijagua

Costa Rica · Provincia de Alajuela

Bijagua is a quiet rainforest town in northern Costa Rica, gateway to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the turquoise Rio Celeste waterfall. Surrounded by cloud forest, rivers and farmland, it is a peaceful base for nature, wildlife and soft adventure.

Address Bijagua, Provincia de Alajuela, Upala, Costa Rica

Overview

Bijagua: Rio Celeste and Tenorio Adventures

Bijagua sits at the foot of the Tenorio Volcano, in the cloud-forest foothills of northern Costa Rica. It is the base for the famous Rio Celeste waterfall hike, where minerals turn the river an unreal shade of sky blue, and for river and jungle adventures in the surrounding countryside.

Highlights

Rio Celeste waterfall and the Blue Lagoon, reached on foot inside Tenorio Volcano National Park
Rainforest tubing and ATV rides on country trails
Birdwatching and wildlife: the valley between Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes is a natural flyway, and birds and monkeys are common
Hanging bridges and quiet forest trails

Good to know: the Rio Celeste trail is on foot only and the park limits the number of visitors each day, so joining a tour with a guide and a planned entry makes the visit simpler. Bring good walking shoes and a rain jacket.

Getting here: about 2 hours from Liberia and 2.5 hours from La Fortuna by road. Transport can be arranged with Toorizta for an extra cost, depending on your pickup zone.

Best time to visit

The dry season (December to April) has the clearest, bluest water at Rio Celeste. The green season (May to November) brings higher rivers, lush forest and short afternoon showers, and the area is quieter. Go early in the day: the park has daily visitor limits and mornings are the clearest.

Experiences

Good to know

Practical facts

Near Bijagua

More of Costa Rica

Pura vida is a way of life in this small Central American republic where 28% of the land sits under protection.