Blue River Resort & Hot Springs

Our favorite part was the guided walk with Oscar through the farm and out to the waterfall. He was an excellent guide, pointing out plants and insects, including the strangest-looking moth, and setting just the right pace for our group. The resort is beautiful, the rooms are clean, and the food has delicious choices for everyone. Such a great experience.

We were a group of eight adults and one child and spent two nights here. Nature is all around, with beautiful flowers everywhere, and the rustic cabins were very clean. The dining area was lovely, and we enjoyed the food and drinks. The pools made for a relaxing way to enjoy the surroundings. Our group went horseback riding, and we all loved it. We also did a night walk and saw several interesting creatures. The road in is bumpy, but manageable. Staff were super friendly and helpful. I’d definitely recommend a stay here, especially for families with children.

The restaurant is limited and costs a bit, though not much by US standards: pizza was $10 and a burger with a bun and fries was $14. The pizza was undercooked, but they fixed it after we complained. The fries weren’t crispy, though still edible. We had very good experiences on both of the shorter waterfall tours. Our guide, Jimmy, was excellent and knowledgeable, though we brought our own translator since his English is limited. He was helpful with our kids and elderly companions. The rooms are large and the beds comfortable, and we drank the local water. The facility is adequate. It’s in the rainforest, so expect rain every night and most days. The final 25 kilometers of road are gravel with ruts. Use an SUV.

The hardest part was the drive from Liberia. The road was rocky and took much longer than GPS predicted. I’d suggest staying two nights to make the trip worthwhile. The property is beautiful and peaceful, with great pools and hot spring pools. The waterfall tour was the best part for us. It was an amazing hike, very muddy, but worth it to see the falls. There’s an incredible outdoor yoga space, a unique, lovely hot steam cave, and beautiful butterfly and other gardens. Our room was basic but clean, with hot water and cold A/C. There were ants inside, which is expected in the middle of a rainforest. The restaurant food was mediocre, but the staff were kind and fun. This could be challenging for parents with very young children who can’t yet follow directions well. There are nearby hazards, including hot springs feeding into the resort where kids could get burned, and the steam room could hurt them. Otherwise, it’s a fabulous little gem.