Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour from San Jose

Climb into the cloud forest and stand at the rim of a mile-wide crater

A full-day tour from San Jose combines two major Costa Rican sites: Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano with a crater over a mile across, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a wildlife refuge with five waterfalls and forest trails. The itinerary includes a coffee plantation stop on the way up the mountain, breakfast at a local restaurant, a hike to Botos Lagoon inside the national park, and a four-fork-rated buffet lunch surrounded by tropical rain forest where you'll see monkeys, birds and butterflies.

Step-by-step itinerary

Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens

• Travel from San Jose to mountain area
• Visit coffee plantations and farms
• Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant
• Explore Poás Volcano National Park
• Hike to Botos Lagoon
• Travel to La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Have buffet lunch at La Paz
• Walk trails and see waterfalls
• Visit animal exhibits and gardens

The experience

Poás Volcano sits at 2,708 metres in the Central Valley highlands, and the drive up the mountain passes through coffee plantations, fern farms and strawberry fields before the air cools and the vegetation shifts to cloud forest. You'll stop for breakfast at a restaurant in the area, then continue into Poás Volcano National Park, where the landscape changes again. The crater itself is over a mile across and 1,050 feet deep, with sulfur fumaroles visible from the rim. The volcano has erupted 40 times since 1828, most recently in April 2017. After time at the main crater, you'll hike a trail to Botos Lagoon, a crater lake ringed by cloud forest, where the guide points out the different ecosystems the park protects.

From the volcano, the tour descends to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a wildlife refuge built around five waterfalls and dense tropical rain forest. Lunch is a buffet of traditional Costa Rican dishes served at a restaurant on the grounds and rated four forks by the Costa Rican Tourism Council. After eating, you walk the forest trails (they're paved and wind through the vegetation), where you'll encounter monkeys, hummingbirds, butterflies and birds. The gardens also maintain educational exhibits: an aviary, a butterfly observatory, a hummingbird garden, a serpentarium, a jungle cats exhibit and a frog exhibit. The whole day runs nine hours from pickup to return.

The tour departs from San Jose and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a driver-guide who speaks English or Spanish, all entrance fees, breakfast, lunch and bottled water. Groups stay under ten travelers. Pickup from your hotel is included, and you'll need a moderate level of fitness for the volcano hike and the forest walking trails.

What’s included

• Entrance to Poás Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
• breakfast at a local restaurant and a four-fork-rated buffet lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sky Solutions CR

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine volcano crater views with coffee plantation learning in one nine-hour day: the itinerary pairs both experiences rather than treating them as separate stops.

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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.

How high is Poás Volcano and what will I see at the crater?

Poás Volcano stands at 2,708 metres and is an active stratovolcano. The crater is over a mile across and 1,050 feet deep, with visible sulfur fumaroles at the rim. The volcano has erupted 40 times since 1828. From the crater, you can hike a trail down to Botos Lagoon, a crater lake surrounded by cloud forest.

What animals and birds will I see at La Paz Waterfall Gardens?

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a wildlife refuge where you'll encounter monkeys, hummingbirds, butterflies and a variety of birds as you walk the forest trails. The gardens also house educational exhibits including an aviary, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden, serpentarium, jungle cats exhibit and frog exhibit.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and return, an air-conditioned vehicle, a driver-guide, entrance fees to both Poás Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, breakfast at a local restaurant, a four-fork-rated buffet lunch at the gardens, bottled water and all taxes and fees.

How much walking and hiking is involved?

The tour includes a hike on a trail to Botos Lagoon inside Poás Volcano National Park and walking trails through the forest at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. The trails at the gardens are paved. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended for the full itinerary.

Can I request specific meals or dietary options?

Breakfast is served at a restaurant in the mountain area, and lunch is a buffet of traditional Costa Rican dishes at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Advise any specific dietary requirements when you book so the operator can arrange them.