La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour: Wildlife exhibits

Walk a rainforest trail to a waterfall, then move through five separate wildlife exhibits in one morning.

A seven-hour tour from San José to La Paz Waterfall Gardens includes hotel pickup, a guided walk through rainforest to the waterfall, visits to the hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden and frog exhibit, lunch, and a live guide in English or Spanish. The tour operates with a minimum of two travelers and requires moderate physical fitness for the trail walk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens

• Travel from San José to La Paz
• Walk trail to waterfall
• Visit hummingbird gallery
• Visit serpentarium
• Visit bird house
• Visit butterfly garden
• Visit frog exhibit
• Enjoy scrumptious lunch

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your San José hotel and a drive to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Once you arrive, you walk a trail through the rainforest that leads to the waterfall itself, set in the middle of the forest. The walk is the centerpiece of the morning, and everything else unfolds from there.

After the waterfall, you move through five separate exhibits within the park: the hummingbird gallery, the serpentarium, the bird house, the butterfly garden and the frog exhibit. Each one is designed to be accessible to all ages, so families with children and older travelers both fit the pace. Lunch is included and happens during the tour, so you eat without leaving the grounds.

Your guide speaks either English or Spanish and stays with the group throughout. The whole experience runs seven hours from pickup to return, which means you leave San José in the morning and are back by early afternoon. The minimum group size is two travelers, and the tour requires at least a moderate level of fitness for the rainforest walk itself.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from San José.
• transportation to and from La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
• guided walk through the rainforest to the waterfall.
• access to the hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house, butterfly garden and frog exhibit.
• lunch.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Destination Services Costa Rica

Is this one for you?You book this tour when you land in San José and have a free morning or afternoon but no rental car: the pickup and the guide handle the logistics, and the seven hours fit between arrival and an evening flight or a second day of exploring. It works for families with children of all ages because the exhibits are paced for everyone, though the rainforest walk itself requires moderate fitness and comfortable walking shoes.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the La Paz Waterfall like when you reach it on the trail?

The waterfall sits in the middle of the rainforest, and you reach it by walking a trail through the forest. The operator describes it as spectacular, and it is the focal point of the morning before you move to the other exhibits.

What should I bring on the rainforest walk?

Bring a hat, light jacket, walking shoes, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera. The rainforest is humid and the insects are active, so the jacket and repellent make a real difference in comfort.

Is this tour suitable if I have a spinal injury or am pregnant?

The operator does not recommend this tour for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. The rainforest walk and the length of the day are the factors. If you have any health concerns, contact the operator before booking.