Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls from San José: Private tour

Stand at the crater rim of an active volcano, then walk through five waterfalls in one day

This eight-hour private tour from San José combines three Costa Rican landmarks: Poás Volcano National Park, where you stand on a platform overlooking an active crater with a turquoise lake at 2,700 meters elevation; La Paz Waterfall Gardens, an eco-park with five waterfalls, rainforest trails, and wildlife; and a coffee plantation stop on the volcanic slopes. Hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, and fully customizable stops are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Volcano, waterfalls, and coffee tour

• Visit Poás Volcano National Park
• Explore La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Stop at coffee plantation and café

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Poas Volcano National Park 2h
2. La Paz Waterfall Gardens 3h

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from San José.
• professional English-speaking driver who shares local stories and tips at each stop.
• fuel and tolls.
• water and WiFi on board.
• all taxes and handling charges. Entrance tickets to Poás Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are not included.

Times

• Every day 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00

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Before you book

Group Private 11 group tours ›

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 12h before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby

Operated by Welcome Pickups

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 1 verified traveler review

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The experience

The day starts at Poás Volcano National Park, where the crater sits at over 2,700 meters in a cool cloud-forest setting. You'll stand on a panoramic platform and look down at the steaming turquoise lake inside the active crater. The view is the whole point, and the elevation and the mist make it feel remote even though you're driving straight to it from San José. The entrance ticket is your responsibility, but the driver handles the route and timing.

From there you head to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, an eco-park built around five waterfalls that cascade through lush greenery. The site includes walking trails through the cloud forest, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, and a wildlife rescue center where you can encounter big cats and other animals. This is where you spend the most time on foot, moving at your own pace through the gardens and along the boardwalks near the falls. Again, entrance is separate, but the driver will have dropped you at the gate and will be waiting when you're done.

On the return to San José, you stop at a coffee plantation, typically Doka Estate or a similar operation on the volcanic slopes. This is a walk-through stop: you can stroll among the rows of coffee plants, visit the café, or browse the shop. There's no guided tour of the plantation or coffee tasting included, and no ticket required for the basic stop. It's a chance to see where the coffee grows and buy some if you want to, nothing more. Throughout the day, your driver shares local stories and tips at each stop, though they won't enter the attractions themselves. That's on you.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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's the crater at Poás Volcano actually like when you get there?

Poás Volcano has an active crater with a steaming turquoise lake visible from a panoramic platform. The site sits at over 2,700 meters elevation in a cool cloud-forest setting, so the landscape feels dramatic and remote. Entrance to the national park is required and is your own cost.

How much walking is involved at La Paz Waterfall Gardens?

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is built around walking trails through rainforest and cloud-forest gardens. You move at your own pace along boardwalks near the five waterfalls, through butterfly and hummingbird gardens, and past a wildlife rescue center. The amount of walking is entirely up to you.

Does the coffee plantation stop include a tour or tasting?

The coffee plantation stop does not include a guided tour or tasting. You can walk among the coffee plants, visit the café, or shop, but any purchases are separate from the tour price.

Can I customize which stops we visit or how long we spend at each one?

Yes, the tour is fully customizable. You work with the driver to set the pace and order of stops. The driver is an informal guide who shares local knowledge, though they cannot enter the attractions themselves.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, fuel, tolls, water, WiFi on board, and the English-speaking driver are all included. You pay separately for entrance tickets to Poás Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, meals, drinks, and any purchases at the coffee plantation or shops.