Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens Private Tour

Recommended by 95% of travelers

San Jose, Costa Rica

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Marvel at one of Costa Rica's most impressive volcanoes and get close to its enchanting wildlife on this 2-in-1 combo tour. Stand above the steaming fumaroles and lake-filled crater of Poas Volcano with direct summit access, and then admire smaller-scale natural wonders at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a beautifully landscaped animal sanctuary. A typical Costa Rican lunch and hotel pickup complete this all-inclusive tour.

Easily reach the best views of Poas Volcano’s sulphuric lake
Observe signs of volcanic activity on a guided nature hike to Botos Lagoon
Explore the waterfall pools and animal enclosures at La Paz Waterfall Gardens
See rescued Costa Rican wildlife such as reptiles, butterflies, birds, and jungle cats

What's Included

Lunch

Buffet lunch
Port pickup and drop-off
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
WiFi on board
Bilingual tour guide
Entrance fee to Poas Volcano & La paz waterfall gardens

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Your guide will be wearing a red shirt for easy identification. - If your tour starts at your hotel, they will be waiting in the lobby. - If you are arriving from a cruise, your guide will meet you with a sign displaying your name, ensuring you can find us without any trouble. RETURN TO CRUISE GUARANTEE

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.7:30 am

Itinerary

Poas Volcano

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
The traveler needs to bring a rain jacket
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Debra_C

This was an incredible tour that we would recommend to anyone that was not afraid of walking. We had a wonderful guide in Anna and a fantastic driver , Marvin. We managed to arrive at the top of the volcano only 10 minutes before the cloud started to fill the crater bowl. We feel very privileged to have seen it in all its glory before it was completely covered. The waterfalls were incredible and the buffet was very enjoyable.

Reviews

4.8

based on 22 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Pass Volcano tour from the cruise terminal

Raymond_K, Apr 2026

The tour operator was on time in a new van and the driver and tour guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. It is a long ride to the volcano but was well worth it

Response from Host, Apr 2026

The tour operator was on time in a new van and the driver and tour guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. It is a long ride to the volcano but was well worth it

Volcano and Lagoon are...

Margaret_J, Mar 2026

Volcano and Lagoon are spectacular views! Part of the Waterfall Gardens is a glorified zoo, but the lunch was decent and the Waterfall views were spectacular. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the spectacular views of the volcano, the beautiful waterfalls, and the lunch during your visit.   We appreciate your honest perspective about the wildlife exhibits as well. At **La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park**, the animal sanctuary plays an important role in caring for rescued wildlife that cannot be returned to the wild, while also helping educate visitors about Costa Rica’s biodiversity. It’s wonderful to know that the waterfalls and overall experience made the tour memorable for you. Thank you for recommending the tour, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another adventure in the future! 🌿🌊

Best tour yet

Debra_C, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible experience on the tour. It’s fantastic that you were able to reach the crater at **Poás Volcano National Park** just in time to see it clearly before the clouds rolled in—those moments can be truly special and unforgettable. We’re also very happy to know that you enjoyed the stunning waterfalls and the buffet lunch at **La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park**. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to your guide, **Anna**, and your driver, **Marvin**. They will be delighted to know they helped make your day so memorable. Thank you again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another adventure in the future! 🌿🌋💧

Pablo and Mario were...

randy_e, Feb 2026

Pablo and Mario were fantastic. Pablo more than exceeded our expectations as a tour guide. Pablo was very knowledgeable and detailed oriented. He made our experience very memorable.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that Pablo and Mario were fantastic and that Pablo exceeded your expectations as a tour guide. His deep knowledge, attention to detail, and dedication to creating meaningful experiences truly set him apart, and we’re so pleased he made your tour especially memorable. We will be sure to share your kind words with both Pablo and Mario. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable experience in Costa Rica.

My experience was...

Jessica_G, Dec 2025

My experience was canceled. I booked the tour at 3:24 and it was confirmed. At 7:55 I received an e-mail that the experience was canceled. At 8PM it was too late to schedule a different experience.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience caused by the last-minute cancellation. Our team had arranged a vehicle traveling from four hours away to operate your tour, and everything was set to proceed as scheduled. Unfortunately, Route 32, the only road that connects our transportation to your pickup location, was unexpectedly closed due to a landslide. This made it impossible for our driver to reach you safely. The closure was officially reported by the authorities during that time, and you are welcome to verify it. We completely understand how frustrating it must have been to receive this notice so late in the day. Please know that the decision was made only because the road conditions made the service impossible to operate safely.

Wonderful day trip from...

Stella_G, Mar 2025

Wonderful day trip from San Jose. The Pao Volcano was stunning and La Paz Waterfall Gardens we beautiful. Our guide, Maryi, was excellent. She shared a lot of information about the history and geography of Costa Rica and was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. Our driver, Jose, was great, too. I highly recommend this trip.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful day trip to Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. It’s great to know that Maryi’s knowledge and Jose’s excellent driving made your experience even more enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your compliments with them! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon. 🌿🚐

The rain did not "dampen" our spirits...

Nadeen_G, Feb 2025

We three had a spectacular day with Mario (an excellent driver) and Margie (knowledgeable, charming and oh-so-patient). The weather did not cooperate but that did not "dampen" our spirits (even though our Poas Volcano group shot has nothing but an expanse of gray behind us) as we learned from Margie. The La Paz Waterfall Gardens were exceptional - a truly lovely botanical environment and the fauna were interesting and well taken care of (which is not always the case). Our buffet lunch was tasty and the rice pudding so good. And then there was the walk to the waterfalls - oh, my - they are lovely. And Mario and Margie were kind enough to honor our request to stop for strawberries to take back to our hotel. A full day outing that exceeded our expectations.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you for sharing your delightful experience with Mario and Margie! We're so glad to hear that their professionalism and warmth made your day memorable, despite the unpredictable weather. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the beauty of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the delicious buffet (especially the rice pudding!), and the stunning waterfalls. We’re also happy to know that the special strawberry stop added a sweet touch to your day. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in Costa Rica! 🌿🍓✨

Don’t miss the La Paz Waterfalls and Gardens

Rosanne_K, Dec 2024

A fantastic tour! Even though the Poas Volcano wasn’t visible due rain and fog it was still a great experience. The La Paz Waterfalls are powerful and majestic. The Gardens were the highlight of the trip. We saw an amazing collection of animals (all of them are rescues) in a serene setting. The gardens had monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, sloths, all kinds of jungle cats ( including a jaguar), exotic birds and butterflies that we would not have been able to see otherwise. The lunch was delicious as well. Highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

What a wonderful review of your tour! It's great to hear that even though the Poás Volcano wasn't visible, the experience was still so rewarding. The La Paz Waterfalls sound breathtaking, and the Gardens seem like a true highlight—especially with such a diverse and well-cared-for collection of rescued animals. Seeing jungle cats, sloths, and exotic birds in a serene environment must have been unforgettable! Glad to hear the lunch was delicious, too. Your recommendation will surely inspire others to take this tour. 😊

Great volcano and waterfalls tour

Deborah_C, Oct 2024

Poas Volcano is very impressive and there arse some nice waterfalls in La Paz. Our guide Roxana was knowledgeable and kind. We surely enjoyed our Sunday tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

We are glad that you liked the tour, we hope to see you soon, greetings

Best Tourguides ever

Nicole_H, Apr 2024

Best Tourguides ever! Thank you, we had a wonderful day, made great experiences and the organisation was fantastic- we hope to see you again- pure vida!

Worth a Look

Bill_W, Mar 2024

Despite it being too cloudy to see the crater's volcano, we very much enjoyed the tour. The Waterfall Gardens had many animals and birds to see, and the waterfalls themselves were quite picturesque. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, and spoke English very well. Be prepared for long travel times, as the roads can be slow if you end up behind large trucks or buses making frequent stops.