Five waterfalls, a cloud-forest trail and 100+ rescued animals, about an hour from San José. Gate prices, the drive, and which tours really go inside.
How do you want to get there?
59 pickup points in San José · free cancellation up to 24 h before
A private nature park in Vara Blanca with five waterfalls and animal exhibits on a 3.5 km paved trail. Entry is $56 + tax, no reservation needed — allow two hours or more. No car? A guided day tour from San José with entry and buffet is the easiest way in.
No direct bus runs to the park, so it comes down to a tour or a car.
No car needed
Poás + coffee + park
Own carPrices: GetYourGuide live price for 1 adult (from $170 is per person, minimum 2) · gate price waterfallgardens.com
The three tours with the most reviews. Only one of them enters the park — the meter on each card shows how much of it you get.
Most reviewed1 / 3For: Poás crater and coffee on a budget, when one waterfall photo is enough.
Top-rated combo1 / 4For: a full Poás day with lunch, plus a short look at the waterfall.
Our pick · goes inside1 / 4For: no car, and you want the whole trail, the falls and the animals.
GetYourGuide live prices, 1 adult · ratings and inclusions from each listing
Pick any two and compare them line by line.
Teal = better of the two on that line. GetYourGuide live price, 1 adult.
| Tour | Inside the park | Includes | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enters the park | |||||
| Gardens Guided Day Tour Our pick 8 h · pickup 08:00 | Entry + full trail | ✓ Buffet ✕ Poás | 4.77220 reviews | $195 | Dates |
| Poás, Coffee Plantation & Gardens 10 h · pickup 06:00 | All entrance fees | ✓ Lunch ✓ Poás | 4.6484 reviews | $249 | Book |
| Poás, Café Doka & La Paz 10 h · minimum 2 people | 3.5 h in the park | ✓ Lunch ✓ Poás | 4.6460 reviews | $170 pp | Book |
| Poás, La Paz Waterfalls & Doka 10–12 h | 3 h in the park | ✓ Lunch ✓ Poás | 5.06 reviews | $194 | Book |
| Gardens Half-Day Tour 6 h | 3 h in the park | ✓ Buffet ✕ Poás | 4.944 reviews | $160 | Book |
| Gardens & Rainforest Tour 7 h | Buffet at the park | ✓ Buffet ✕ Poás | 4.2557 reviews | $149 | Book |
| Photo stop at the free roadside fall | |||||
| Volcano, Waterfall & Coffee Farm 1 day | ≈30 min stop | ✓ Lunch ✓ Poás | 4.68724 reviews | $139 | Book |
| Poás, La Paz Waterfall & Coffee 1 day · no Thursdays | Roadside fall only | ✕ Lunch ✓ Poás | 4.4757 reviews | $105 | Book |
| No tour | |||||
| Day Pass Ticket (prepaid online) voucher valid 08:00–14:00 · self-guided | Entry, all taxes | ✕ Lunch ✕ Transport | 4.038 reviews | $95 gate: $56 + tax | Book |
| Drive yourself ≈1 h 14 from San José | 08:00–17:00 | Buffet $16 extra | No rating · gate | $56 + tax | Route |
GetYourGuide live price, 1 adult (pp = per person, min 2) · lunch “✕” means it is not listed as included
All La Paz Waterfall Gardens tours
La Paz Waterfall Gardens: five falls on a 3.5 km trail, aviary, big cats, butterflies. Two hours to a full day.
Tours that go in: Gardens Day Tour · Poás, Coffee & Gardens · Café Doka combo
Tours that enterLa Paz Waterfall: one 37 m drop beside Route 126, seen from the bridge in a few minutes.
Where the two best-selling Poás combos stop for photos.
About the roadside fallGoogle Maps driving times · Wikipedia (roadside fall) · waterfallgardens.com
Five falls in walking order. The white bar on each card shows its height against the tallest, Magia Blanca (37 m).
Six groups of exhibits sit along the trail. Every animal here was rescued or surrendered. Pick a group to see what is in it.
The Hummingbird Garden draws 26 of the 57 hummingbird species found in Costa Rica. The aviary next to it holds rescued birds.
waterfallgardens.com · photos: frames from tour listings
Walk the La Paz Waterfall Gardens trail
The dry season starts. Christmas and New Year travel make the end of the month busy.
For the holiday weeks book your tour early. The park itself needs no reservation.
Seasons: vamosrentacar.com travel guide · hours: waterfallgardens.com · holidays: Costa Rica school and public holiday calendar
At 1,300–1,600 m it can get chilly when the clouds roll in — even in the dry season.
Raincoats are sold at the park, and the trail has covered stops along the way.
Hundreds of steps, often wet. Handrails all the way.
Clouds bring a chill. A raincoat doubles as one.
Either works — the trail is paved, not muddy.
Arrive by 15:00. The last shuttle from the exit is at 17:00.
Buffet at Colibríes: $16 adults, $10 kids — included on most Gardens tours.
Paved paths and handrails suit most ages; wheelchair access is not stated by the park.
See the trailwaterfallgardens.com
Compare tours
Yes, if you want five falls and wildlife up close in one easy, mostly downhill walk — it works well with kids.
Skip it if one waterfall photo is enough (the roadside fall is free) or stairs are hard.
Per adult: $56 + tax + $16 buffet + your transport — or a tour with all three from $149.
waterfallgardens.com
Verified GetYourGuide reviews, each shown on a photo from the tour it was left for.
4.77 tour rating“Waterfalls and sanctuary were beautiful. Left from San Jose- if you get motion sick take something - roads twist and turn and are bumpy- but sites and guide were awesome- would recommend this trip. Well worth it.”
Kelly · United States · Oct 2026 · Gardens Guided Day Tour →
4.77 tour rating“This was a great day trip. Our guide, Harlam, was fantastic. He was both personable and knowledgeable. We had a 9 year old with us, and she also had a great time. It was well worth the money. I would highly recommend.”
Peter · United States · Jul 2026 · Gardens Guided Day Tour →
4.64 tour rating“Such a fantastic experience, truly the most amazing way to start our trip in Costa Rica! All 3 places were absolutely stunning, and we got super lucky with the weather, as we could see the whole crater at Poás, and it was mesmerising. Our tour guide was really cool and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended!”
Diána · Hungary · Jun 2023 · Poás, Coffee & Gardens →
Stay on the grounds and walk the trail before the day tours arrive. The lodge has 18 rooms, booked through the park's reservations office — not through tour sites.
Yes for most visitors: five waterfalls and the animal exhibits in one walk. If one waterfall photo is enough, the roadside La Paz Waterfall on Route 126 is free. Park vs roadside fall
$56 + tax for a tourist adult and $40 for kids 3–12; residents pay $35 / $26. The buffet is $16 for adults, $10 for kids. Tickets & prices
Daily 08:00–17:00. Arrive by 15:00 to walk the whole trail; the last shuttle back leaves at 17:00. When to visit
Two hours at minimum. Half a day if you stop for the buffet and the animal exhibits. See the trail
Yes. The 37 m La Paz Waterfall is visible from the bridge on Route 126. The other four falls are only inside the paid park. Compare the two
About 50 km — 1 h 14 min by car. From SJO airport it is 35 km, about 1 h 1 min. How to get there
No direct bus. Drive yourself or book a tour with hotel pickup in San José. Compare tours
Yes. A few combos enter both the volcano and the park; the two best-sellers stop only at the free roadside fall, so check “inside the park” before booking. Poás combos
Not with a gate ticket — the buffet is $16. The Gardens day tours listed here include the buffet. Tours with lunch
Not at the gate: no reservation is needed. Tours with pickup need to be booked ahead. Check tour dates
Yes, at the Peace Lodge on the grounds: 18 rooms, booked through the park's reservations office. About the Peace Lodge
Yes — kids 3–12 pay $40 and the animals are a hit. Expect hundreds of steps; there are handrails and a shuttle back. Family-friendly tours
Hotel pickup, park entry and the buffet · ★ 4.77 (220) · free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Check dates · $195
