Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls: Private Tour from San Jose

Two volcanic landscapes and five waterfalls in a single day, with a naturalist guide leading both.

A private tour from San Jose combining Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfalls Gardens, with a professional naturalist guide, deluxe transportation, park entry and buffet lunch included. The route takes roughly 10 hours and covers coffee plantations en route to the crater, then moves to the wildlife rescue center and rainforest trails. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. A live guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Poas Volcano and La Paz Gardens

• Pickup from hotel
• Travel to Poas Volcano
• Stop at coffee plantation and shop
• Walk to volcano summit and crater
• Take photos at crater
• Travel to La Paz Waterfalls Gardens
• Explore animal exhibits with guide
• Walk nature trail to 5 waterfalls
• Enjoy buffet lunch
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your San Jose hotel and a 90-minute drive through the Central Valley to Poas Volcano National Park. Along the way, you'll pass coffee, flower and strawberry plantations: a short stop at a coffee shop lets you see how the beans are processed. Once at the park, a short walk leads to the summit and the main crater, one of the largest in the world. The volcano is active and sits at 2,708 metres in a cold, misty climate. The naturalist guide explains the geology and eruption history while you have free time to photograph the crater.

After the volcano, the tour continues to La Paz Waterfalls Gardens, where the same naturalist guide leads you through the wildlife rescue center and rainforest. You'll see sloths, monkeys, jaguars, butterflies and snakes in their habitats, then walk to five waterfalls set into the forest. A buffet lunch is served before the return drive to your hotel, ending the day roughly 10 hours after pickup.

What’s included

• Private deluxe transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance to Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfalls Gardens.
• a professional naturalist guide for the full day.
• a nature walk to the volcano crater and a separate nature walk through the wildlife rescue center to five waterfalls.
• buffet lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours

Is this one for you?This private tour suits travelers who want both the volcano and the waterfalls without splitting the day across two bookings or arranging their own transport: the fixed 10-hour itinerary and included guide handle the route and the stops, leaving you to focus on the sites themselves.

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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 (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How far is Poas Volcano from San Jose, and how long does the drive take?

Poas Volcano National Park is located about 90 minutes from San Jose by road through the Central Valley, with stops at coffee plantations along the way included in the tour.

What animals will I see at La Paz Waterfalls Gardens?

La Paz Waterfalls Gardens is a wildlife rescue center where you'll see sloths, monkeys, jaguars, butterflies, snakes and other Costa Rican species in exhibits, plus the rainforest during the walk to the five waterfalls.

Is the walk to the volcano crater difficult?

A short walk takes you to the summit and main crater. The operator notes that travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the day.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes private deluxe transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees to both Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfalls Gardens, a private naturalist guide, a nature walk to the waterfalls and wildlife center, and a buffet lunch.