Poás Volcano tour from San José: Small group, coffee stops

Reach the crater rim without the tour-bus crowds

A half-day guided tour to Poás Volcano National Park from San José, Heredia or Alajuela with groups capped at five travelers, hotel pickup, park entry and stops at a coffee plantation and the Starbucks Coffee Farm. The operator handles all logistics and tickets. You pick how long to linger at each stop along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Poás Volcano and Surroundings

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit scenic coffee plantation
• Enter Poás Volcano National Park
• Explore volcano summit and visitor center
• Stop at souvenir shop with tastings
• Optional lunch at Fredo Fresas restaurant
• Visit Starbucks Coffee Farm and taste coffee

The experience

You get picked up at your hotel in San José, Heredia or Alajuela and driven in an air-conditioned vehicle to Poás Volcano National Park, recently reopened after volcanic activity forced closures. The park sits at elevation and holds one of the world's largest craters. The visitor center at the summit has a cafeteria and shop. The route there winds through coffee country, so the tour stops at a scenic plantation for tastings of top-quality local brews, then at the Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm (the only public-facing Starbucks farm in the world), where you can taste exclusive brewing techniques and see the mountain views the operation is built around.

The pace is yours to set. At each stop (the coffee shop, the souvenir shop with artisanal cheese and wine tastings, the volcano itself). You decide how long to stay. The tour runs four to six hours normally, but stretches longer if you want to explore more spots along the way or linger at the crater. An optional lunch stop at Fredo Fresas, the area's most iconic restaurant, serves traditional Costa Rican food cooked over a wood fire. Food costs are separate from the tour price and you choose whether to eat.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese and travels with the group throughout. The national park entry ticket is included, as is the vehicle and driver. Small group size, up to five travelers, means no queues forming behind you at the viewpoints, and the operator books everything in advance so you arrive without the usual paperwork delays.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in San José, Heredia or Alajuela.
• air-conditioned vehicle and English, Spanish or Portuguese-speaking guide.
• entrance ticket to Poás Volcano National Park.
• stops at a coffee plantation and the Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm with tastings.
• visit to a souvenir shop with artisanal cheese and wine tastings.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupUp to 5

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Volcan Poas Experience

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese and prefer moving at your own pace without a large group dictating the stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

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 Poás Volcano crater actually like when you reach it?

Poás Volcano National Park holds one of the largest craters in the world, set inside tropical rainforest and cloud forest at the summit. The visitor center sits at the crater rim and offers a cafeteria, shop and viewing areas. The active volcano has increased security measures in place.

How does the coffee farm stop work?

The Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm is the only Starbucks-operated coffee farm open to the public in the world. You visit the plantation, taste coffee brewed using exclusive techniques, and see the mountain views from the café. It is one of several coffee stops on the route to the volcano.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You have an optional stop at Fredo Fresas, the area's most iconic restaurant for traditional Costa Rican food cooked over a wood fire, and you pay separately if you choose to eat there. Coffee and tea at other stops are also your own cost.

Can I stay longer at the volcano or other stops if I want to?

Yes. The tour normally runs four to six hours, but you set how long to linger at each stop. If you have more time and want to visit additional points of interest along the route, the tour can extend beyond the standard window.

Do I need to be fit or have any special health requirements for this tour?

No health restrictions apply to this tour. It suits all physical fitness levels. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible, all areas and surfaces at the stops are wheelchair accessible, and specialized infant seats and stroller accommodation are available.