Thanks Hattie, you are right, I don't think I'll have time to drive to Monteverde. I've printed your message and will bring it with me. Thanks again !!

p.s. there's a tour guide at $84US that I may consider (I know that we are renting a car for the whole trip but $84 is not too bad so hopefully my boyfriend will decide to do this as well, the tour leaves at 6:00 am as well)

Hi,

I would do the guided tour. Sometimes doing it with a local is so much more fun, they just know where to go:)

Hope this helps,

Marina K. Villatoro

How long is the drive from Arenal to Rio Celeste? I have a GPS and a rental.

It is about 3 hrs, maybe less. Go to Tilaran, Upala, south from Upala to the entrance of the Tenorio National Park and turn left into the Park. The main headquarters of the Park is about 12 km down a gravel/rock road. Park at the headquarters and take the trail to the Rio Celeste. You will see the beautiful forest of the Tenorio National Park, the Rio Celeste and its gorgeous, huge waterfall and thermal hot springs. Once you are finished, you can have lunch in one of the nearby sodas or hold off until you go back through Canalete which is just south of Upala, and have lunch at a fabulous restaurant there. I forget the name, but it is a big building with a high, peaked roof just before you cross the bridge. It will be on your right. There is a small pond and place for kids to play and ample parking.