Tenorio Volcano National Park

One of Costa Rica’s most spectacular yet least visited national parks, the Tenorio Volcano National Park makes a top choice for those looking to get off-the-beaten-track and is an easy side trip from the neighboring Arenal Volcano National Park. Named after its eponymous peak, the park is home to two volcanoes - Tenorio and Miravalles – and the surrounding rainforest and cloud forests offer miles of unspoiled wilderness for hikers and horseback riders. 
Tenorio’s star attraction is the Rio Celeste, which flows through its center and takes its name from its luminous blue waters – the result of a chemical reaction between the naturally occurring copper sulfate, colloidal silica and sulfur. A series of lagoons and waterfalls lie along the riverside, while geysers, hot springs and thermal mud pools can also be spotted along the main hiking trails and the rainforest is teeming with wildlife – look out for hummingbirds, bear-necked umbrella birds and crested guans, as well as howler monkeys, sloths, tapirs and even pumas.

Practical Info

The Tenorio Volcano National Park is located in northwestern Costa Rica, about 100 miles (160 km) from San Jose and is open daily from 8am to 4pm. Adult admission is $12.