Home to over 100 species of animals, five waterfalls and a cloud forest the Wildlife Refuge La Paz Waterfall gardens is bursting with bio diversity. Visit, explore, learn and even hike among the sloths, monkeys, tropical birds, pumas, ocelots and more who call Costa Rica’s most visited private ecological reserve home. Take in the incredible plant life like wild orchids on this full-day, small group tour with lunch included.

Immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s rich bio diversity at a nature reserve
See waterfalls, rainforest, cloud forest and an aviary
Hike and explore the reserve in a small group
Entrance fees, lunch and transpiration included

What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Bottled water
Lunch
Driver/guide
Professional guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

10:00 am

Pickup details

We picked up travellers at any Hotel in San Jose downtonw, Heredia downtown or Alajuela Downtown

What To Expect

Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz

8 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Dress code is smart casual
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers

Cancellation Policy

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

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

It is also great for photographers, and my husband happens to be one.

Reviews

4.5

42 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 42 reviews

Amazing experience

Kyle_H, Mar 2023

Everything was amazing from Oscar picking us up at the hotel to Arturo being the best guide showing us everything at La Paz. The waterfalls were beautiful.

A Pura Vida experience

Michael_D, Mar 2023

This was a great experience. I was traveling solo and in San Jose and I found this tour to be an excellent choice. They picked me up from my hotel, it was a nice drive to La Paz, and the drive was not too far. You get up close with the animals at the refuge then you have lunch in a beautiful open air rainforest cafe. After lunch it was a beautiful walk through the rainforest down to the waterfall and I didn’t realize that La Paz is actually several waterfalls not just the main one and they are all beautiful. There are several amazing photo opportunities along the waterfalls. Then they took us back to the hotel. The whole tour from beginning to end was very enjoyable and felt like a true Costa Rican Pura Vida experience!

Incredible Day!

Benjamin_Z, Mar 2023

The guide Ricardo was extremely nice, funny and knowledgeable. The stop at the coffee farm was amazing, the wildlife was incredible, and the waterfalls and other views were beautiful. Also, the lunch was excellent!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

We are pleased to know that the tour was to your liking and that you were able to enjoy the details of it. Thanks for sharing your comments.

La Paz Waterfalls and Gardens

Alan_B, Feb 2023

The guides in the cars and at the park. Senor Oscsr and Senor Charlton Heston were brilliant and flexible

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Glad to know you liked the tour and our services.. Thank you

Impressive...

Talal_Z, Feb 2023

Very impressive refuge of wild animals with trail that takes you from one type of animals to the other in natural park surroundings. You see birds, butterflies, frogs, monkeys, sloths, and cats etc.. There is also a cascade of beautiful waterfalls. Lunch buffet was very good.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

We are glad to know you liked this tour. THank you for sharing your experience.

Fran and Nelson were...

Sarah_M, Jan 2023

Fran and Nelson were fantastic! We had a great time! Lunch was delicious. Driving was safe. Fran was knowledgeable and so sweet

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We are very happy to know that the tour was to your liking and that we met your expectations. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

Disappointing day

michael_m, Jan 2023

Very disappointed with this trip and would not recommend Viator to anyone. I booked this tour on Viator for $265. I was to go to a coffee farm and then to la Paz waterfalls and wildlife sanctuary. I get a message the previous day telling me that my pick up would be delayed to 9.30. I was taken to a cafe overlooking a coffee plantation. Spent 10 minutes there having a cup of coffee and was then driven to a point where I joined another two couples who were going to Le Paz waterfalls with me. The other four had booked with Get Your Guide (another tour company). They were picked up at 6.30 - 3 hours before me - and taken to a Volcano where they actually got to do a long hike and see the volcano crater. Then they joined me for the waterfall and wildlife sanctuary. And they paid less than I did!! I complained to Viator and requested a partial refund. I have not heard back from them. I am sure they will not publish my review either.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Dear Michael. We are sorry to read your comment regarding the Tour and that your experience was not the bes .After checking our system, we can see that the tour you purchased was La Paz waterfall gardens tour only, which does not include a visit to the Poas Volcano. On the other hand, the other clients your refer , bought a combo tour that includes a visit to the Poas Volcano, coffee plantations and the La Paz waterfall gardens. In other words, it is a completely different tour, which is why they started at 6:30 am, while the tour you signed upo for was only the portion of the La Paz waterfall gardens and this one does have a departure time from 9 - 9:30 am .

Nature is BEAUTIFUL!

chaniqua_c, Jan 2023

This was another amazing experience in Costa Rica. I had just had an amazing experience the day before, and actually saw that guide on this excursion as well. I loved the experience. We were able to see the lagoon after clouds moved. Nature is beautiful, and what we experienced couldn’t have been written. The waterfalls were beautiful as well. On this trip, I felt the guide Filander needed to be retired or doing something different by now. He was Knowledgeable, but older and couldn’t do all the walking with us. This excursion requires lots of walking and stair climbing. He also kept making this noise like a cough. It was very annoying. He said because he talks so much that his throat be irritated. However, imagine someone that keeps coughing in a mic as he explains everything. It was a long day, and at the end he asked for a tip. I do not like when people ask for tips. The day before, I tipped the guy well because he didn’t ask. This man asked so it was a no for me. The experience was great though!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thank you for your nice comments, we are glad to know that you enjoyed the tour. We take into account your suggestions to improve our services every day and we will carefully review your comment about the guide. Pura vida

Fun

Chris_J, Dec 2022

Thank you very much! A full day of fun and adventure and too many photos to count. Lots of great memories!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We are happy to know you had a memorable day .. thank you

recommended!

Geetanjali_C, Dec 2022

the falls and the weather was beautiful. short distance from san jose. if you have a day in san jose, i would recommend it. though would be better to combine it with poas volcano which is just a short distance away.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thank you very much for your comment and recommendation. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the tour. Pura vida

Amazing experience

Jenny_K, Dec 2022

This was a wonderful tour, my sister and I absolutely loved it. The guide was knowledgeable, the Wildlife and waterfalls were incredible, and lunch was delicious. Would highly recommend!

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thank you very much for your comment and recommendation. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the tour. Pura vida

Beautiful Gardens

Devika_B, Dec 2022

Beautiful gardens & waterfalls. Well maintained facility. A good day to spend from SanJose. Destiny travel did a very good job of organising this trip. Very knowledgeable guides , who take good care of travellers. Big thank you to Arthuro & Oscar for being our guides.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

We are glad to know that we met your expectations and that you were able to enjoy the tour. We will give your feedback to both Oscar and Arturo. Thank you very much

Great tour

Carl_S, Nov 2022

This was a great tour with great guides. The waterfalls were gorgeous and it was a nice opportunity to see animals up close. On our travel to the falls, we got to stop at the Starbucks coffee farm and to sample some awesome coffee.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Great to know you enjoyed this excursion and that you had a nice day at la paz and other visited places.. Gracias

Amazing views and helpful tour guides.

Robin_M, Oct 2022

We booked via Viator with Destiny tours to see the La Paz waterfall gardens. We stopped by a coffee plantation which was pretty and interesting on the way. The gardens were really fantastic - the grounds were beautiful, their sanctuary animals were fun to see and the waterfall walk was phenomenal. Our guides Oscar and Ronnie were great and helpful. Lunch was included.

Simply beautiful

Tonya_B, Oct 2022

I had a pleasurable experience from the beginning to the end. The guide & driver were awesome! I was picked up at my hotel right on time & then we headed to the beautiful coffee plantation, had breakfast, went to the poas volcano & then to the waterfall gardens. The waterfalls were amazing, just be prepared to climb lots of stairs.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Tonya, thank you very much for your review. We are glad to know you had such a great day during the excursion and that both guide and driver took very good care of you showing you the best of the area. Pura vida

Best tour must see

rosemarymai2012, Aug 2022

I took 1/2 day of La Paz waterfall garden and Refuge animal tour Ronnie was a wonderful tour guide so much information I learned regard wild life and nature. Seeing the Water fall was imaging. Carlos and Danny was the best drivers especially Carlos so friendly happy full with information around the areas until I met up with the group for the tours

Response from Host, Aug 2022

It is good to know you´ve enjoyed the excursion and were able to admire the wonders of this place. Thank you for sharing your comments !!

Everything was great, the...

Mauricio_G, July 2022

Everything was great, the tour guide was amazing, loved the park and waterfalls, it’s a nice place to get in touch with nature, we stop in a coffee place on our way to the park, we’re you can buy coffee and see the coffee plantation, great experience, would recommend

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you very much for your comments. It is great to know you enjoyed the trip from begining to end.. That ´s our goal.. Pura vida !!

Ricardo, made it great.

Kimberly_Z, June 2022

Ricardo, our guide was so friendly and a wealth of interesting information. He even helped us barter at a roadside stand. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, July 2022

Thank you for sharing your experience. It makes us happy to know Ricardo did a good job .. Pura vida

Worth it!

Reema_C, May 2022

Amazing tour of the La Paz Falls! The falls were spectacular and our tour guide Ronnie did a fantastic job explaining the different types of plants and wildlife at La Paz. Also entertained us with Costa Rica history and fun facts on our way to the falls. We had a small group of 8 people, highly recommend doing this tour!

Response from Host, May 2022

We are very pleased to know that the tour was to your liking and that we met your expectations. thank you for using our services and recommending the activity . thank you

Stunning waterfalls

Joanna_H, Feb 2022

Great day out from San Jose. We had knowledgeable guide who told us all the facts about the places we visited. We visited the coffee fields, went to the top of Poas volcano and saw the crater, a bit of wine tasting and ended up at La Paz. Lovely gardens with animals and beautiful waterfalls. Lunch was good too. Would recommend this trip, really enjoyed it

Response from Host, Mar 2022

Great to know you enjoyed every part of the excursions. thank you for sharing your comments .. Pura vida

Attractions in San Jose, Costa Rica

Help Centre Customer Care Privacy Policy About Viator News Viator blog

Terms & Conditions

Day trip from San Jose to Wildlife Refuge La Paz Waterfall Gardens

From USD 130.00

Select Date and Travellers

Overview

What's Included

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Start time

Pickup details

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

Explore Similar Things to Do

Attractions in San Jose, Costa Rica