Last Updated: May 31, 2026
Nestled in a lush valley between two dormant volcanoes is the town of Bijagua. This rural village is probably best known as a stop-over destination for those visiting the nearby Rio Celeste Waterfall. And while the famously blue waterfall is quickly becoming a must-see, the town itself remains peaceful and undeveloped. In this post, we’ll give you all the information you need to plan your visit to the charming country town of Bijagua.
Location
Bijagua is located in the mountains of Costa Rica’s Northern Highlands.
Set between the steep slopes of the Miravalles Volcano (6,654 feet/2,028 meters) and Tenorio Volcano (6,286 feet/1,916 meters), Bijagua offers a beautiful backdrop for nature lovers. The town is a mix of farm land and dense rainforest that stays lush and green year-round.
The town of Bijagua itself is very small and off-the-beaten path. Spread out along the main road (Route 6) are a few basic restaurants, a grocery store, bank, bakery, and hardware store. Most hotels are located in more scenic areas, off smaller side roads or on the road to the Rio Celeste.
The closest international airport to Bijagua is Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberia, about 1.5 hours away. San Jose Airport (SJO) is about 3.5 hours away. From both airports, the drive to Bijagua is along all well-maintained paved roads (mostly highway). Our Road Conditions post has more details to plan your route.
The popular destination of La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano is only about a 1.25-hour drive away. This makes Bijagua a popular stopover destination for people traveling from La Fortuna to beaches in Guanacaste.
Getting to Bijagua
Because Bijagua is a small town and most activities and restaurants are a drive away, it’s most convenient to have a rental car when visiting. Most roads around Bijagua are well-maintained so you don’t need a 4×4 vehicle. It’s nice to have an SUV for the clearance, though, as some roads are still dirt. Be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% through one of Costa Rica’s most reliable companies.
If you’d rather not drive, you could take a shuttle to Bijagua. These take you door to door from your hotel or the airport. Because Bijagua isn’t a major destination, shared shuttles are not common. If you’d like help arranging a private shuttle, we work with an excellent local transportation company. Reach out through our Private Shuttle Booking page or use the links below.
Climate
Bijagua’s rainforest stays verdant year-round thanks to the nourishing rainfall it receives. Be sure to pack a raincoat, especially if you’re traveling during rainy season (May through November). For more tips on what to bring on your trip, read our Packing List.
Even with the rain, the weather in Bijagua is usually very nice. Temperatures consistently stay around 27 ℃ (80 ℉). Nights can be cooler, which is why most accommodations in Bijagua don’t have A/C. Learn more about the weather in Costa Rica.
The driest months in Bijagua are typically February through April.
Can You Visit Bijagua on a Day Trip?
If you’re staying in Tamarindo or another beach town in Guanacaste, you could definitely visit Bijagua on a day trip as long as you’re up for a full day excursion. Bijagua is the closest rainforest area to the Guanacaste coastline so it’s a great opportunity to experience that lush rainforest that Costa Rica is known for. If seeing sloths is on your list, it’s also the perfect spot.
Here are the approximate drive times from Guanacaste.
Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, and Playa Panama: About 1.5 hours
Playa Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Playa Conchal, Playa Brasilito, Playa Potrero: About 2.5 hours
If you’ll have a rental car, you can easily drive to Bijagua on your own.
If you’d rather take a tour with transportation, we work with an excellent company that has knowledgeable naturalist guides. Tour options include visiting the Rio Celeste or an organic farm and sloth tour, and some include a stop at the famous Llanos de Cortez Waterfall on the way back. If you’re interested in booking a tour, email us at bookings(at)twoweeksincostarica(dot)com with your preferred date and the number of people in your party, and we can send more information by email. Booking through us costs the same and helps support our website!
Things to Do in Bijagua
Bijagua is most famous for being the gateway to the Rio Celeste Waterfall. But there is enough to do here to fill at least a couple of nights. The region has areas of thick jungle and is home to an abundance of flora and fauna. Guided birding and wildlife tours are available to take advantage.
You also will find mountain biking, horseback riding, chocolate tours, and river tubing and float trips. It is a great spot for ecotourism and connecting with the local culture as well.
Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike
The major attraction of Bijagua is the Rio Celeste Waterfall that flows within the nearby Tenorio Volcano National Park. The intense blue color of this waterfall and river looks like something out of a fairytale but is absolutely real.
The waterfall is best visited when it hasn’t rained lately, since the color can be altered by silt.
You don’t need a guide to go but one can be nice to have. They will help you see wildlife and teach about how the waterfall/river gets its unique color. If you’d like help arranging a guide, just contact us using the link below and we will set you up with the local company we did a tour with. Learn more about our travel agency.
If you’re planning to visit self-guided, be sure to buy your national park tickets in advance. These can be purchased directly from the SINAC (government) website. This is important because tickets are no longer sold at the national park.
Read our post Rio Celeste Waterfall: Essential Tips for more info to plan your visit.
Rio Celeste River Tubing
Since you can’t swim in the national park, a fun way to take a dip in the Celeste River is a tubing tour.
Most of the tour is a laid back float on Class I-II rapids that will let you enjoy the bright blue waters, but there are some rapids for a little excitement. We recommend this activity if it hasn’t rained recently, as rain can alter the blue color.
Book a Rio Celeste tubing tour through our link below and we’ll help with the arrangements through a local tour company we work with.
Heliconias Hanging Bridges
Outside town on the fringes of Tenorio Volcano National Park is Heliconias Rainforest Lodge.
Heliconias offers hiking along a trail through dense forest and across a few hanging bridges before looping back.
We have been a couple of times and loved it. It’s a great option for exploring nature and beating the crowds. The pristine rainforest is a paradise for birders, with some unique species like the Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, and Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo (a relative of the roadrunner).
On our visits, we have seen a large troop of white-faced capuchin monkeys, along with butterflies, lizards, and less rare birds like Toucans and Crested Guans.
You can visit Heliconias on your own and just pay entrance ($14 per person) or book a guided tour with the links below.
Frog Night Tour
You’ve likely seen Costa Rica’s colorful frogs on banner ads and book covers, but in Bijagua, you can meet them in person.
With a local guide by your side, you will walk around specially made trails and gardens that have been planted to attract and breed frogs.
The kinds of frogs you might see include the red-eyed tree frog, blue jean poison dart frog, and a see-through variety known as the glass frog. You might also see animals like snakes, insects, and even sloths.
Our family has done a night tour in Bijagua and loved our local guide. If you’d like to book with them, contact us through the link below.
Sloth Tours
Everyone wants to see a sloth on their trip to Costa Rica so it should be no surprise that one of the most popular activities now in Bijagua is a sloth tour.
You will find several properties in town that will guarantee you will see a sloth, but it’s important to know that not all these tours are ethical. We learned from a local about sloths being taken from the wild and brought to people’s land for tourism.
Luckily, there’s a wonderful option for a responsible sloth tour near Bijagua. We did this and really enjoyed getting to see sloths through our guide’s scope. We saw other wildlife like monkeys as well.
You can book this ethical sloth tour through the links below.
More Things to Do in Bijagua
For more ideas for things to do, be sure to check out our post 8 Best Things to Do in Bijagua.
Restaurants in Bijagua
Bijagua isn’t built up so the restaurant selection is small, but there are still some tasty finds. Here are some places that we have enjoyed over the years.
El Sabor de Dona Carmen – Restaurant & Butterfly Garden
Hidden on a side street just south of the Bijagua High School (Liceo Bijagua) is El Sabor de Dona Carmen.
This restaurant is as authentic as they get. The menu is simple with casados, a typical lunch dish of rice and beans, fish, chicken, or beef, and several side salads. There are also traditional rice dishes and soups like olla de carne (on Sundays).
Adding to the charm is a small butterfly garden next to the dining area. This is a fun spot if you are traveling with kids.
Pizzeria El Barrigon
Located on the main road in town, the pizza at El Barrigon is solid and they have some other typical food options as well. We have tried the veggie pizza, but those who are feeling adventurous might like the house specialty, which is topped with gallo pinto (Costa Rica’s traditional rice and beans breakfast dish).
Hummingbird Cafe
Located at Finca Verde Lodge, the Hummingbird Café offers something different if you’ve had your fill of traditional food. The small but diverse menu has appetizers like hummus and handmade tortilla chips. Entrees include chicken enchiladas, cordon blue, lasagna, pizza, and burgers.
The setting is very laid back, with an outdoor patio surrounded by jungle.
Cafe y Restaurante Semilla
This small cafe has only a few tables but a sizable menu with traditional dishes, healthy options (including a vegan menu), as well as sweet treats. We also really enjoyed the coffee.
Located on the main road in Bijagua, diagonally across from Mega Super grocery store.
La Choza del Maiz
Another great option for traditional Costa Rican food is La Choza del Maiz (the Corn Shack), right on the main road as you’re coming into town. You can’t miss the giant corn statue out front!
As the name implies, this popular local spot specializes in corn. We tried the delicious rosquillas (baked corn snacks), pan de elote (cornbread), and chorreadas (corn-based pancakes). They also have lots of other classic dishes.
Hotels in Bijagua
Although Bijagua may be a small town, it has a good selection of hotels. Much of the lodging is quaint B&B-type places (think cabins).
Travelers of every budget should be able to find something nice. Prices in this area are still fairly modest compared to other destinations in Costa Rica.
Below are our top picks for where to stay in Bijagua.
Note: Many accommodations in Bijagua do not have air conditioning. Because temperatures are cooler at night, most visitors find a fan to be more than adequate.
Budget Hotels
Finca Verde
Finca Verde is a laid back hotel immersed in nature. The two buildings that make up the small lodge have a couple of rooms each and are backed by lush tropical forest. When we stayed, we saw sloths and many birds and woke to the calls of howler monkeys each morning. The rooms are rustic and small, but clean and comfortable.
One of the best things about staying at Finca Verde is that you have easy access to their delicious restaurant, the Hummingbird Café. $75-110/night, includes breakfast.
Katira Tree Houses
For the ultimate nature escape, there’s Katira Tree Houses. This small property is in the village of Katira, a little east of Bijagua and the Rio Celeste. It has a handful of wooden bungalows suspended over the beautiful Celeste River. A raised walkway through the rainforest connects the treehouses to the main property.
The owners are locals who will take good care of you. $80-100/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Mid-range Hotels
Casa Areno
Our family stayed at this rental house and really enjoyed it. The property is very private and scenic, with lovely gardens. It sits high on a hill so has nice views, especially from the large porch.
Casa Areno is spacious, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. The decor incorporates a lot of local wood and Costa Rican charm.
Located about 10 minutes north of the main area of Bijagua. $160-180/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
If you’re interested in staying in vacation rentals during your trip, be sure to read our post Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica: Safety and What to Look for.
Sueno Rio Celeste Boutique Hotel
Sueno Rio Celeste is a bed and breakfast right off the main road coming into town. It has spacious, freestanding cabins so that you have plenty of privacy.
Each cabin is tastefully decorated and has a porch where you can watch colorful birds come and go through the gardens.
$180-210/night for a room or bungalow; around $300/night for a 2-bedroom chalet. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Casitas Tenorio B&B and Farm
One of our favorite properties in this area is Casitas Tenorio. This bed and breakfast and working farm has a handful of beautifully crafted bungalows.
We have stayed in one of their larger casitas, El Sol, and loved it. The finishes were modern and sophisticated, but with plenty of Costa Rican flair. Hand-painted tropical scenes adorned the walls, brightly colored linens dressed the beds, and local wood was used throughout.
Guests love the breakfast area, not only for the volcano view, but to watch the many birds that come to the feeders. $135-185/night (double occupancy). Check Rates and Availability Here.
Tenorio Lodge
Another good option for comfortable bungalows is Tenorio Lodge. This eco-lodge has 12 wooden bungalows set on a large 17 acre parcel of garden and forest. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, guests get to enjoy views of Tenorio Volcano from within their cabin. The lodge also has two huge Jacuzzi tubs for soaking. $200-220/night (double occupancy). Check Rates and Availability Here.
High-end Hotels
Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort
Most of the lodging in this area is budget to mid-range, but there is one hotel for those looking for a little more luxury. It’s also one of the only hotels in Bijagua with a restaurant onsite.
The Rio Celeste Hideaway is a small resort with high-end bungalows. Their casitas are nestled in the peaceful forest and each has an outdoor garden shower. Rooms have A/C.
The hotel is right next to the national park entrance but is more remotely located so be prepared to drive to get to other restaurants and amenities.
This hotel has obtained the Certification of Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica.
$350-700 (double occupancy). Check Rates and Availability Here.
Conclusion
Bijagua offers travelers an escape from some of the more touristy areas in Costa Rica and has enough activities and amenities to make it just as enjoyable. With lush rainforest, friendly locals, and beautiful sights like the Rio Celeste Waterfall, Bijagua is sure to grow. Get there now and experience this charming town for yourself.
Have a question about visiting Bijagua? Ask us below.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book a hotel using one of the links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.
Check out the links below for more practical info for planning your trip to Costa Rica:
La Fortuna: What to Expect from Costa Rica’s Most Popular Destination – Bijagua and the Rio Celeste Waterfall are often visited from La Fortuna. If you’re planning a stay here, check out our recommendations for hotels, activities, and restaurants.
Miravalles Volcano: Not far from Bijagua is Miravalles, an even smaller area than Bijagua with rustic hot springs and a volcano.
Cahuita: Culture and Calm on the Caribbean – The Caribbean coast has a vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture that you won’t find elsewhere in Costa Rica. The small beach town of Cahuita is the perfect place to experience this.
Destinations: Explore all 50+ towns and cities that we cover on this website. Includes an interactive map.
hello – thank you for this helfpul information about Bijagua! We will be traveling next week to Costa Rica and spending the first couple of nights in Bijagua. We’d love to start our trip off with some easy to moderate mountain biking, nothing hard core but we find one of the best ways to see and experience a new country or location is to get on a bike and hit the back roads or trails! However, I’ve not been able to find a bike rental or tour outfitter in the Bijagua area. Rio Celeste Aventuras shows mountain bike tours and rentals on their website, but they said they no longer offer mountain biking. Any other options within an hourish of Bijagua? Thanks.
Hi Nancy, I am not sure if they still do it, but Bijagua Rainforest Tours used to offer bike tours. You could check with them if you haven’t found anyone yet.
Wow, I am so glad I found your website. You have done amazing job on providing such valuable information to CR visitors.
Would you give an advice to us? We will be driving in the morning from Liberia to La Fortuna and we were thinking to visit something interesting on a way such doing a sloth tour at Finca Verde, then heading down to Rio Celeste Waterfall, and after continue our way to La Fortuna. Do you think it might be too much to fit in one day considering we have children 3 and 5 yo? Now looking at Google Maps i think maybe we should limit our stop to one place only… Your suggestion is highly appreciated.
Hi Sergey, It’s a good idea to stop in Bijagua on the way. It won’t add much extra driving. But we would probably limit it to one stop like you suggested – either Finca Verde or the Rio Celeste so that it’s not too much. You could have lunch in Bijagua too. Two activities would be a lot with kids those ages.
Hi Jenn and Matt, I am enjoying reading your various travel articles to help me plan our family vacation in December. My husband and I are brining our son, daughter and her boyfriend – all in their early 20’s. We enjoy exploring the outdoors and unique environments. I have the last 5 days planned at the beach, but am struggling with the first 5 days. We arrive at the Liberia airport in the morning and plan to visit Rincon de la Vieja for a couple of days. The hiking, waterfalls, and hotsprings look wonderful in that area!
My question is whether to add either Bijagua or Monteverde for another few days. We don’t have time for both, and I am leaning towards Bijagua because it seems more “jungly”. We have fond memories of seeing howler monkeys in the backyard of a rental house many years ago in Puerto Viejo on the east coast. But would we be remis in passing up Monteverde? Granted, we are from the Pacific Northwest and are familiar with forested mountains, although without monkeys and ziplines! Thanks for your advise.
Hi Susan, Bijagua sounds like it would be a great fit for your family. It is super jungly and has a lot of wildlife. Monteverde is nice too but it’s the cloud forest. The cloud forest does have a lot of wildlife but it’s harder to see. Monteverde is also busier. I hope that helps!
WOW! No mention of Finca La Carolina? Cabinas are lovely. It’s on the river. It’s a working organic farm. All food is prepared in/on wood burning stoves by local women that have it down to a science. A great finca experience for anyone, kids included.
We are considering Bijagua and tubing Rio Celeste as a day trip from Papagayo. Is that doable as a day trip, and do you have any vendor recos for tubing?
Hi Janna, Yes, it’s doable to do tubing on the Rio Celeste from the Papagayo. You will just have to leave very early. The company that we recommend in the Bijagua area is Onca Tours.
I hope to visit Bijagua in mid April. I have been reading about places to stay and about visiting Rio Celeste. I’ve noticed that sometimes there is conflicting info about the need for a 4×4 vehicle. I would like to stay at the Finca Verde Lodge and do the hike to the Rio Celeste waterfall. Would I need a 4×4 vehicle to get me to either of these places? Thanks for your help.
Hi Linda, No, you don’t need a 4×4 for the Bijagua area anymore.
Hi,
Potentially a stupid question but I want to drive to Heliconia and either Bijagua Ranas or Finca Verde on the drive from the airport to our hotel near Rio Celeste. Can you arrive at these places unscheduled and either tour it on your own or hire a guide on the spot? Also how does the wildlife viewing in this area compare to some of the best places in CR like Manuel Antonio, etc. I’m hoping to see a lot of animals (monkeys, sloths, toucans, etc) in just a couple days in Bijagua.
Hi Jeff, Yes, You can just show up at any of those places without a reservation for a self-guided tour. For a guide, it would be better to let them know you’re coming so that they arrange a guide to be available for you.
The wildlife viewing in the Bijagua area is excellent. We would highly recommend a guide to see the most. Be sure to do the night tour at Tapir Valley – one of the only places in CR where you can see tapirs! Birding is exceptional as well during the daytime there.
We will be visiting CR in early April 2022. After arriving in San Jose we are renting a car (using your offer with Adobe) and driving to Fortuna where we will stay for 2 nights. We will then drive to Bijagua where we plan to spend 3 nights. We are staying at the Heliconias Rainforest Lodge. My question is about the route from Fortuna to Bijagua. We did not rent a 4WD vehicle. Can we take the road west from Guatuso to Bijagua, or should we plan to stay on the major route 4 as far as Upala and then take route 6 south to Bijagua?
Hi Linda, We’ve done this drive recently. You will be fine in a regular car. The road from Guatuso is paved but turns to rough dirt, then turns back to pavement again after a while. The dirt portions can be really bumpy but you don’t need a 4×4. It is a slow drive, though, so it’ll probably take about the same amount of time to go up and around via Upala, if you’d rather avoid the bumps. Hope that helps. Thanks for renting your car through our website!
Thank you for putting together this website. We have used your site to reserve out car w Adobe also. Thanks . We are planning to go to Bijuagua for 2 nights … driving there after 2 nights in Arenal rea ( staying here chachaguarainforest.com).
My question is that besides the falls, is the area unique enough from to warrant 2 nights there . We really like the non touristed destinations, just don’t want to duplicate the experience of the previous days. We will head down to Monte Verde area after that for 2 nights.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Hi Aaron, Thanks for renting your car through our site.
Bijagua is different enough from La Fortuna to warrant a separate stay. It has a different feel since it’s so small and even lusher rainforest. With two nights, you will probably just do the waterfall and maybe one other activity like a night tour. Maybe just make sure to plan tour activities in advance so you’re not repeating anything. Hope you have a great visit!
Hi, I just discovered your site and am loving it! I’m trying to figure out if Bijagua would be a good place for my family – my birder husband and our son who’ll be 11 – to spend a few days (vs. La Fortuna). We speak some Spanish especially our son who has been in Spanish immersion school in the US, and prefer to be where we can mix more with locals.
We’re probably not renting a vehicle and I see that you can get to/from there by bus, but what about getting around within Bijagua and the area? Are there taxis, shuttles, Lyft/Uber (haha, probably not!) or other means of getting to the waterfall and other sights? Is the town walkable or charming? La Fortuna looks to be a bit touristy for us, but then again, I’m wondering whether without a car it may be more practical.
Many thanks!
Hi Shannon, I think Bijagua seems like it would be a good spot for your family. It isn’t touristy and would let you experience the culture. It isn’t really walkable, though. The main area of town is very small and it’s located on a busier road. Most accommodations are outside the main area, in the forest where it’s quieter. Most people have a car for Bijagua but you could take taxis to get to attractions and restaurants if you needed to. I hope that helps!
Yes, very helpful – thanks so much!
Very Solid Blog!
We have 4 kids under 10.
How is a slightly off the beat on path community like this affected by covid year. we are looking at going in January and curious on small business closures throughout the country in general. thank you so very much. Karl
Hi Karl, By January, just about everything should be back open again. Some restaurants and tour operators may have gone out of business, but by in large so far, most have been hanging on. The government has been encouraging locals to travel during Covid to stimulate the economy, and many people have actually been doing that. During the shutdown, people were allowed to travel on days when it would normally be prohibited based on their license plate if they had a hotel reservation. So people were taking advantage of that. If you go to Bijagua in January, you will be welcomed with open arms!
Oh, I am enjoying your site so much. A wealth of good planning information. I have a question about staying in Bijagua. Would it be a convenient location in which to plan a day trip to Cano Negro for birding?
We are in hopes of planning a return trip (last one was cut in half because of Corona Virus) maybe in January 2021. Not doing much but sitting around the house right now, so it’s a perfect time to start planning. Your site has kept me busy for many delightful hours. We will contact you to help us put it all together when the final plan is completed and we all have a better idea of how this virus will play out in the future. Meanwhile, I hope it helps to know that there are thousands of us waiting impatiently to return to Costa Rica and we will be counting on your expertise when we get there. I wish you and your family good health and safety through this pandemic.
Hi Donna, Cano Negro is fairly remotely located without many good options for a home base, so yes, Bijagua would be a good spot to stay in order to visit on a day trip. It’s around a 1.5 hour drive.
Thank you for the encouraging words! It is nice to hear that people still really want to come after all this is over. We hope that you can make a January trip happen. We have clients who are supposed to come starting in December, so fingers crossed.
Hi there – thanks for the great information! We are travelling to CR in December 2019 and looking for some volcano/waterfall/adventure action closer to the Pacific than Arenal. When you say that the Heliconias hanging bridges are rustic….how rustic? I don’t love heights or swinging things so want to make sure they are safe and sturdy.
Hi Janna, Heliconias Lodge is under new management now and they are working to improve the bridges. They were sturdy when we visited a couple of years ago and we have heard that they are in even better shape now. They’re just rustic in the sense that they’re not the elaborate super reinforced bridges that you will find in places like La Fortuna and Monteverde.
You mentioned river tubing on the Celeste? I am intrigued by this option…do you have to go with a tour or is there another way to do this? Also, my husband and I are looking at doing two possibly 3 days in Biagua. We want to hike the Celeste but I am wondering if there is enough to do otherwise to keep us occupied or if we should move down to Liberia…Thanks for your website! It has proven invaluable as we plan our trip to CR!
Hi Barbara, You would need a guide for the river tubing. I don’t think there is anywhere to rent tubes, plus you would want a guide for safety reasons. There is definitely enough in the Bijagua area to keep you busy for 2-3 days, especially since you probably won’t be arriving until later in the day on your first day. In addition to the activities above, the Miravalles Volcano area is a reasonable drive away. This is also a quieter area, but there are some cool things to see. Miravalles has the volcano, hot springs, and Las Hornillas (mud baths, hiking, waterfalls, etc.). You can read our post about Miravalle here.
Hi!
Because of your awesome site, I decided to add Rio Celeste to our itinerary for our trip May 2018. We will be coming from Samara and will have our own 4×4 vehicle. I’ve been all over CR but this area will be new to us, so we’re trying to figure out driving time. We will have our young boys (1.5 and 3 at the time of the trip) with us. Any recommendations for quick stops to stretch on the way up? We’re staying at Casitas Tenorio B&B and are really excited for this new adventure!
Thanks!
Hi Kourtney, From Samara, you can either go Route 18 and up Highway 1 or Route 21 over to Liberia and connect to Highway 1 from the other direction. The first option might be slightly faster but there are better places to stop if you go up through Liberia. You could visit the town of Guatil to see the artisans make pottery in the traditional Chorrotega method. This is a quick activity. There are also some parks in the city of Liberia, and probably one with a playground. Hope that give you some ideas. You will love Casitas Tenorio. Hope you used our discount code!
This is all such helpful information!! I lived in Costa Rica a few years ago near Guapiles/Cariari and am planning a trip to go back and visit friends, as well as parts of the country that I’ve never seen. I’m hoping to see Tenorio, but will be relying on public buses for transportation. Do you know what the bus routes are like from Arenal to Bijagua or from Liberia to Bijagua? Thank you so much!
Hi Megan, We have never accessed Bijagua by bus, but we think that both trips as possible and not terribly long. You can use this website, which is usually fairly accurate. It shows a bus that stops in Fortuna and goes to Bijagua via Upala. If you went from Liberia, you would change buses in Canas.
Hi Jenn and Matt! Thank you so much for all of your information! We will be arriving late November and will be staying at the Finca Verde Lodge. What are the temperatures like since these units do not have A/C? We stayed at a place in the USVI that didn’t have A/C and it ruined our trip so now I’m in the hotseat to let everyone know what we should expect this go around. Thank you in advance we are looking so forward to this trip and this great place!
Hi Cynthia, It cools down a lot at night in Bijagua so you should be fine without A/C. We wore pants to dinner some nights when we were there last January, and January is usually hotter than November. Hope you have a wonderful stay at Finca Verde! We loved it there.
Thank you for your blog. We are traveling to CR for trip no. 4 in November 2017 and a Costa Rican friend suggested La Carolina Lodge. Seeing that this area was hit hard by a hurricane (which we did not know) makes me want to visit all the more, before heading off to Bosque del Cabo on the Osa for stay no. 4. We’ve made many friends there, so it’s like going home. We’ve visited much of the country, including Manzanillo on the Caribbean side. We love the entire country.
Hi Jennifer, That’s a great lodge, we think you will enjoy it and will enjoy seeing a new area of the country. Bijagua is beautiful and the people are very friendly. Thanks for commenting. Hope you have another wonderful visit!
Perfect timing for this post! We’re leaving to CR this week and just had planned to visit Bijagua! 🙂 Any extra to do-ideas are super welcome.
Kind regards
Hi Lynn, Casitas Tenorio has a tour where you can learn about their farm and milk a cow, if that interests you at all. The co-owner, Donald, is also an expert birdwatching guide and does tours at their private reserve near the national park.
Other ideas: A little farther near Miravalles Volcano is hot springs, mud baths, and a hike with waterfalls and hanging bridges. It won’t be in time for your visit, but we’re coming out with a guide to the Miravalles area soon. Hope you have a great visit. Glad Bijagua is on your list!
Good afternoon ~ have you arranged tours for Miravalles Volcano hot springs, mud baths, and a hike with waterfalls and hanging bridges? Thanks in advance!!
Hi Gina, No, we don’t know of any tours to the Miravalles area. Sorry!