Blue River Resort & Hot Springs Review

Our family recently stayed at Blue River Resort & Hot Springs, a charming, budget-friendly resort near Rincon de la Vieja volcano in northern Costa Rica. In this post, we’ll share our honest take on the property, from the volcanic hot springs and onsite amenities to the rooms and surrounding area.

Note: This is an unbiased review based on our personal experience. We paid for our stay and received no compensation. We share our honest opinions to help you plan your trip. Read more of our hotel reviews for properties all around the country.

Overview

Blue River Resort & Hot Springs is a small, rustic resort set inland with lush rainforest and tropical gardens. It’s located near Rincon de la Vieja volcano. With around 25 rooms, the Blue River Resort is a quiet, low-key property.

The main reason to stay here is the hot spring pools, which are naturally heated by the active volcano. Beyond the hot springs, the resort has cool water pools with a waterslide, a butterfly garden, botanical garden, and natural steam room. Use of all these amenities is included in the nightly rate. The amenities are all connected by a winding path through the grounds. There’s also an offsite dinosaur park that’s really fun with kids.

We stayed here with our two children (then ages 10 and 6) and found it super convenient to have everything within a short walk of our room.

The rooms are simple but comfortable and work well for families. This isn’t a luxury resort, but it offers good value for what it is.

One important thing to note: the location is remote. The resort sits on the lesser-known northern side of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, far from the amenities you’d find closer to Liberia. Plan to spend most of your time at the resort itself.

Location

Blue River Resort is located in the countryside of Alajuela Province in a tiny town called El Gavilan. It’s roughly 1.5–2 hours from Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR).

The resort takes its name from the Rio Azul (Blue River), which runs right through town.

El Gavilan is a very small community with just a few local restaurants and no large stores or other amenities. The area has an authentic, off-the-beaten-path feel.

The roads in this area are rough dirt, especially the final stretch into town. See our Getting to the Blue River Resort section below for details.

Because of its remote location, a rental car can be nice to have to explore the area. If you plan to rent a car, be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% through one of Costa Rica’s most reputable companies.

Property Layout

The large property has a good layout, with rooms towards the back. These are connected to the restaurant and tiki bar, pools, and other amenities through well-maintained concrete paths. All along the paths are gorgeous, lush gardens with tropical plants.

Room Options at Blue River Resort

Blue River Resort offers Superior King and Queen rooms.

We stayed in a Superior Queen room. The rooms have a wooden cabin feel. All have air conditioning.

Our room was large at 720 sq. ft. (67 sq. m.) and had two queen beds, a TV, desk, and fridge. There was also a walk-in closet and big bathroom. The bathroom felt older and needed updating, but it was functional, with a walk-in shower, a good-sized countertop, and hooks for drying clothes.

The front porch had two rocking chairs and a hammock, which was a nice touch. Other amenities included a coffee maker, hairdryer, and towels for the pools.

We found our room to be very clean.

Some rooms are handicap accessible.

Pricing

Rates are around $100–200 per night depending on the time of year. Expect to pay more around Christmas and New Years. A basic breakfast is included as well as use of all the property amenities (hot springs, pools, butterfly garden, natural steam rooms, mud baths, botanical garden, yoga platform). 

We booked through Booking.com and found it offered the best rates.

Check Rates and Availability at Blue River Resort.

Hot Springs

The hot springs are the main draw at Blue River Resort. There are three thermal pools, with the hottest at the top of the property. The water is naturally heated underground by the active Rincon de la Vieja volcano.

You’ll notice the water has a greenish tint. This is natural; it’s caused by volcanic minerals, specifically calcium carbonate, dissolved in the water.

We saw staff draining the hot pools early in the morning, so they appeared to be clean and well-maintained.

One of the pools is covered, so you can use it even during rain.

The hot springs are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Pools

In addition to the three hot spring pools, the resort has two chlorinated cool water pools. One has a waterslide, which our kids loved.

Traveling with kids? Be sure to check out our Costa Rica with Kids page for more family-friendly hotels and things to do.

The cool pools are also open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Mud Baths and Natural Steam Room

The natural steam room is one of the resort’s most unique features. It’s a cave-like cement structure built directly over a hot springs/volcanic steam source. Boiling water rises through a crater in the center of the room, and a few small openings above let in natural light. It gets very hot and steamy inside.

Outside the steam room there’s volcanic clay, which you can use to do a mud bath. The mineral-rich mud is supposed to be great for the skin. There is no extra cost to use the steam room or mud unless you are getting a special spa treatment.

Right outside the steam room is the spot where the volcanic waters come to the surface. This was really interesting to see. The water was extremely hot, boiling with lots of steam. We saw a sign that said it was 60 ℃ (140 ℉)!

Butterfly Garden

Another nice feature is the butterfly garden. This is a large atrium with tropical plants and feeding stations stocked with ripe fruit. It’s easy to get a close look at the butterflies. We spotted several species, including blue morphos and malachites.

Botanical Garden

To access the butterfly garden, yoga shala, and other sights, you’ll pass the botanical garden. This is just an open area along the trail with local plants and flowers. Heliconias, torch ginger, orchids, Queen of the Night (Angel’s Trumpet), and other tropical plants line the paths. It’s an easy, pleasant walk.

Other Amenities

Yoga Platform

A large wooden yoga platform is set in the jungle. It’s good for yoga or just a quiet spot to sit outside and enjoy the sounds of nature.

Spa

A basic spa offers massages, facials, and mud masks. The facility is a bit dated, but we’ve heard good things about the treatments themselves. Massages are $40-80. Facials are $35-45.

Gym/Fitness Center

A large, basic fitness room is located next to the spa. It doesn’t have air conditioning, but fans help. Equipment includes free weights, a stair climber, two ellipticals, a recumbent bike, a spin bike, and several weight machines. Many of the machines are older.

Duck Pond

On the other end of the property is a large duck pond that’s fun to check out. There are a couple of benches where you can relax.

You can get a nice view of the backside of the volcano from here, with white ash visible from recent eruptions.

Dino Park

The Dino Park is owned by Blue River Resort but located a few miles down the road. It was one of the highlights of our trip. 

The Jurassic Park-like spot has 28 life-size dinosaurs. Some move and make sounds, which is really fun! Some of our kids’ favorites were the giant T. rex and velociraptor.

You need to go with a guide (around $28/adult, $17/child), but we found the guided tour to be well worth it. Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable not only about the local flora and fauna but about dinosaurs. Tours can be arranged with the front desk.

Restaurants and Dining

The resort has two restaurant areas, though only one may be open during the low season (May-November). Both serve the same menu.

Menu

The restaurant menu has a wide range of options, including soups, salads, pasta, seafood, chicken, meat, burgers, wraps, and pizza.

The vegetarian options are better than you’d typically find in Costa Rica, including a vegetarian casado, soy burger, veggie sandwich, and vegetarian pasta dishes. There’s also a kids’ menu with chicken fingers, fish fingers, pasta, and mini burgers.

Most main dishes are priced between $11-36, with most falling in the $12-24 range.

Our Experience

We had dinner once at the hotel restaurant and thought the food was decent. We enjoyed the corvina (sea bass) with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. Our kids liked their burgers and hand-cut fries. Service was professional and there’s a full bar. We did find the prices to be a bit high for the quality.

The town of El Gavilan has a couple of local restaurant options worth checking out. We loved the super casual La Cocina de Mayrita and went twice. It’s run by a local family from their home. The whole family, kids included, helps prepare the food. Everything is cooked over a wood stove, making for a very authentic experience.

Restaurant Hours

Lunch at the hotel restaurant is served from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner runs from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Note that the restaurant may close early during the low season (May–November).

Breakfast

A basic continental breakfast (cereal, homemade muffins, fresh fruit, toast, coffee, and orange juice) is included.

In our opinion, it’s worth paying a little extra to order from the à la carte menu. We did, and the quality was very good. Menu options include a traditional Costa Rican gallo pinto (rice and beans, eggs, cheese, and plantains), huevos rancheros, omelets, pancakes, and a breakfast wrap.

Breakfast is served from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable throughout the property, including at the pools.

Amenities for Kids

Blue River Resort is a great option for families. The pools and waterslide, butterfly garden, nature paths, duck pond, and offsite Dino Park give kids a lot to do. Ours stayed busy.

Activities in the Area

There aren’t many independent tour operators in this area of the country, but the resort can arrange several activities directly, including horseback riding, jungle hikes, and ziplining. Here are a couple of nearby attractions worth noting.

Cathedral Falls (El Santuario)

This region has several little-known waterfalls, many of which have gorgeous blue water because of the volcanic minerals.

Cathedral Falls is a dramatic waterfall inside a canyon/cave. Getting close requires walking in a river with slick rocks, so we skipped it on this trip with our younger kids but have heard great things about it.

Sensoria

A short drive from the resort, Sensoria offers a higher-end experience with waterfalls and natural pools for swimming. We visited and enjoyed it. Our guide who led us on a hike through the gorgeous primary rainforest was very knowledgeable.

The waterfalls were memorable too. Even though it was raining a lot on our visit, we were still able to see the striking blue water.

Climate and What to Bring

Because Blue River Resort sits on the northern side of Rincon de la Vieja, its climate is influenced by Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. This makes it rainier than the southern side of Rincon de la Vieja, which is much drier, but that’s what keeps the area so green. Learn more about the weather in Costa Rica.

Be sure to pack insect repellent and a rain jacket for your visit. Our Packing post has more recommendations.

Value for Money

For $100–200 per night, Blue River Resort gives you a large room and access to a good variety of onsite things to do like hot springs, pools, butterfly garden, botanical garden, natural steam room, and more. For the price, the range of amenities is hard to find elsewhere.

That said, the remote location limits your options outside the resort, the rooms are dated, and the restaurant charges more than the food quality warrants. It’s a reasonable value if you know what you’re getting into, a casual, nature-focused property rather than an upscale hotel.

Best For

Blue River Resort is best for:

• Families with kids who will enjoy the pools, slides, butterfly garden, and Dino Park
• Travelers looking for an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience
• Nature lovers interested in the rainforest, waterfalls, and volcanic features
• Those who want hot springs without the higher prices of more upscale resorts
• Visitors looking for hot springs and volcanoes in less touristy areas of Costa Rica

The resort is less ideal for:

• Travelers who prefer more developed destinations and want easy access to restaurants, shops, and nightlife
• Those expecting modern, updated accommodations
• People who don’t want to travel on rough dirt roads
• Foodies who want excellent cuisine on their vacation

Pros and Cons of Blue River Resort

Pros:

• Volcanic hot springs with naturally heated water
• Good variety of on-property amenities for the price
• Large rooms
• Beautiful tropical gardens throughout the property
• Interesting features like the natural steam room, butterfly garden, and Dino Park
• Quiet, remote setting
• Convenient property layout with everything within walking distance

Cons:

• Remote location; not close to restaurants, stores, or other amenities
• Rough dirt roads (4×2 SUV recommended)
• Rooms are dated and could use updating
• Restaurant options are limited. Onsite restaurant is overpriced for the quality

Getting to Blue River Resort

Driving

From San Jose or Liberia, take Route 1 (paved highway) to Route 917. Route 917 starts as a paved secondary road through several small towns, but turns to dirt roughly 45 minutes before reaching El Gavilan. When we made the drive, the road was very rough and bumpy in places, which made for slow going. We did notice road construction in progress in some parts, so hopefully conditions will improve.

A 4×4 vehicle isn’t required, but we recommend a 4×2 SUV for the clearance and comfort on the unpaved sections.

If you plan to rent a car, check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% through one of Costa Rica’s most reputable companies and get free extras.

Shuttle

If you’d rather not drive, a private shuttle is a good option. Professional drivers handle the route so you don’t have to deal with the dirt roads. Learn more about taking shuttles in Costa Rica.

Shared shuttles are not available to Blue River Resort due to its remote location.

A private shuttle from Liberia costs around $125 for up to 8 people. If you’d like help booking one, submit a request through the link below and our travel agency will take care of all the arrangements.

Conclusion

Blue River Resort & Hot Springs is a good choice for families and nature-oriented travelers. The volcanic hot springs, natural steam room, butterfly garden, and Dino Park give it more to offer than a typical budget resort. The rooms are large and the grounds are well-kept and gorgeous.

Especially with kids, it was great to have access to many different activities right from our room. If you’re looking for something a little different at a reasonable price, we recommend Blue River Resort & Hot Springs.

Our Review Policy

This review is based on our family’s personal experience at Blue River Resort. We paid for our own accommodations and received no compensation or special treatment in exchange for this review. Our goal is to provide honest, unbiased information to help travelers make informed decisions about their Costa Rica accommodations.