About All ToursFrom La Fortuna ToursWaterfall ToursSloth Sanctuary ToursTubing ToursTenorio Volcano Tours Directions Hours & Fees
Find Tours 
Entry to Tenorio Volcano National Park costs $12 for non-resident adults and requires advance online booking through SINAC. Gates open daily at 8:00 AM, but rangers strictly enforce a 2:00 PM cutoff for the last admission.
Tenorio Volcano National Park opens daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You must book a specific 40-minute entry window online through the SINAC website before arriving. Park rangers strictly enforce a 2:00 PM cutoff for the last entry.
Swipe to see more
| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday | 08:00–16:00 | Last entry is strictly enforced at 14:00. All visitors must exit the trails by 16:00. |
The park operates every day of the year without scheduled holiday closures. Heavy seasonal rains in October and November create thick mud on the trails and turn the blue water brown. Check the official Tenorio Volcano National Park Facebook page for real-time water conditions before driving to the entrance.
Non-resident adults pay $12 USD plus taxes to enter Tenorio Volcano National Park. You must purchase tickets online through the SINAC website before arriving, selecting a specific 40-minute entry window. Walk-up tickets are never sold at the gate, and daily slots sell out quickly during the dry season.
Swipe to see more
| Category | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident Adult | $12 USD + taxes | Requires SINAC online reservation |
| Non-resident Child (ages 2-12) | $5 USD + taxes | Requires SINAC online reservation |
| Citizen or Resident Adult | 800 CRC | Requires SINAC online reservation |
| Citizen or Resident Child (ages 2-12) | 500 CRC | Requires SINAC online reservation |
| Parking Fee | 2,000 - 3,000 CRC | Paid on-site to lot attendants |
No regular free entry days.
Planning your visit to Rio Celeste? Find tours with free cancellation and skip-the-line options.
View All ToursVisit between January and April to see the river at its bluest. Lower rainfall during these dry-season months prevents the sediment runoff that turns the water a muddy brown in October and November. Arrive at 8:00 AM to secure a spot in the primary parking lot and beat the tour buses that fill the trails an hour later.
Swipe to see more
| Period | Crowd Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning (08:00–09:00) | Low | Enter right at opening to photograph the waterfall without crowds and claim a space in the lot nearest the ranger station. |
| Mid-morning (09:00–12:00) | High | Tour buses arrive early in this window, filling the paths and causing bottlenecks at the 250-step waterfall staircase. |
| Early afternoon (12:00–13:45) | Moderate | Booking the final online entry slots lets you hike the 3.7-mile trail as the large morning groups depart. |
| Late afternoon (14:00–16:00) | Low | Rangers strictly enforce the 2:00 PM entry cutoff, leaving only late hikers finishing their routes before the mandatory 4:00 PM exit. |
Hiking the full 3.7-mile trail through Tenorio Volcano National Park takes about three hours. Your timeline depends on whether you walk the entire route to Los Teñideros or simply hike 30 minutes each way to the main waterfall viewing platform. Heavy mud during the rainy season will significantly slow your pace.
Buy your park tickets on the official SINAC website days before your trip. The online reservation system requires an account and frequently lags during the January to April dry season. You must select a specific 40-minute entry window between 8:00 AM and 1:45 PM.
Wear closed-toe hiking boots or trail runners to enter the park. Rangers check footwear at the gate and deny entry to anyone wearing sandals or flip-flops. The unpaved trail sections turn into thick mud after rain, requiring deep treads to avoid slipping on exposed roots.
Enter the park right at 8:00 AM to beat the tour buses that arrive an hour later. Early arrival secures a spot in the primary parking lot nearest the ranger station. Expect to pay attendants 2,000 to 3,000 colones in cash for the space.
Bring a durable, reusable water bottle because single-use plastics are banned inside the park. Rangers inspect all bags at the entrance and confiscate plastic bottles, disposable ponchos, food, and drones. There are no drinking water stations along the 3.7-mile trail.
Heavy rainfall in October and November washes sediment into the river, turning the blue water a muddy brown. Check the official Tenorio Volcano National Park Facebook page for real-time water conditions before making the drive. Cell reception drops near the entrance, so download offline maps at your hotel.
Non-resident adults pay $12 USD and children ages 2-12 pay $5 USD, plus applicable taxes. Costa Rican citizens and residents pay 800 colones per adult and 500 colones per child. Parking costs an additional 2,000 to 3,000 colones in the attended lots near the ranger station.
No walk-up tickets are sold at the gate. You must purchase entry permits in advance through the official SINAC online reservation system. The portal requires you to select a specific 40-minute entry window between 8:00 AM and 1:45 PM. Buy early, as the system can be glitchy and dry season slots sell out quickly.
The park operates daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Rangers strictly enforce a 2:00 PM cutoff for the last entry, and everyone must be off the trails by 4:00 PM. Arrive at 8:00 AM to beat the tour buses that show up around 9:00 AM.
Swimming is strictly prohibited anywhere inside the national park boundaries. Rangers enforce this rule to protect the ecosystem and prevent severe burns from the 95°C (203°F) volcanic vents at Los Borbollones. You can legally swim at a free public pool located 1 kilometer past the park entrance near the bridge.
Heavy seasonal rain causes sediment runoff that turns the blue water a muddy brown. October and November see the worst of this runoff, alongside thick mud on the unpaved trail sections. Check the official Tenorio Volcano National Park Facebook page for real-time water conditions before driving there.
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes like hiking boots or trail runners are strictly mandatory. Rangers will turn away anyone wearing sandals or flip-flops. Pack a breathable rain jacket and a reusable water bottle, as single-use plastics and cheap plastic ponchos will be confiscated during the mandatory bag check.
The complete 3.7-mile in-and-out main trail takes approximately 3 hours to complete. A shorter trip directly to the waterfall and back requires about 1 to 2 hours. As of early 2026, the lower portion of the 250-step staircase remains closed due to storm damage, though you can still photograph the 98-foot drop from partway down.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours