The Celestial Waters of Rio Celeste

After a failed effort to go to Rio Celeste the previous weekend, thwarted by a broken timing belt, we set out to reach this famed destination again.  Our first stop was basking in the thermal waters of Aguas Thermalitas in La Fortuna.  This is now my favorite of thermals here in Costa Rica, for the price, the number of pools, the variation in temperatures, and for the bubbly jacuzzi chairs.  

We arrived at Hotel La Cascada, located right outside the Tenino Volcano Park entrance, right at nightfall.  Grabbed an amazing casado dinner at the local soda.  The next morning, after a decent breakfast included with our hotel, we were advised to rent boots.  I was completely unconvinced until a French tourist gave me the same advice.  And so, Benji, Marina and I rented boots.  Ilana had brought her hiking boots.

The hike was MUDDY.  We sunk into it, were splattered by it, and would have lost our shoes in it.  Miles of mud.  But, the waterfall was amazing.  Then we continued onto the magical lagoon.  Lastly, we went to the end of the trail where the two clear rivers converged into the magical blue color.  We read about how one river carried a mineral that when met with the PH level of the other river, the mineral quickly enlarged.  While powder was deposited on the convergence line, and that powder was also carried in the river, reflecting the magical blue light.  Cool science and beautiful anomaly.