Duration: Full Day · Price: From $200 USD per group of 1–4 · Difficulty: Easy
About this tour
This full-day tour begins at $200. Standing at the edge of the Poás crater is an experience that recalibrates your sense of geological time. The crater is one of the largest accessible volcanic craters in the world — roughly a kilometer wide — and on clear mornings you can look down into the turquoise acid lake far below and watch sulfur fumes roll across its surface. Cloud typically rolls in by mid-morning, so arriving early is the difference between a clear view and a wall of white. The summit sits at 2,700 meters; the path from the visitor center to the crater rim is a short walk through dwarf cloud forest of extraordinary beauty — twisted trees coated in moss and lichen, a landscape that feels more Tolkien than tropics.
From Poás, the tour descends through strawberry and flower farms to La Paz Waterfall Gardens — a wildlife refuge built around five waterfalls cascading through primary cloud forest. The waterfalls are outstanding: each one larger and more dramatic than the last, connected by a forest trail that delivers you to each in turn. Between the waterfalls, the wildlife exhibits include rescued jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and tapirs, plus a butterfly observatory with over 25 species in flight. The hummingbird garden alone — with dozens of species hovering inches from your face — is a highlight.
Budget note: entrance fees to Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are not included in the tour price and should be purchased on arrival — budget for both. Optional add-on: a stop at the highland Starbucks coffee farm, a working Costa Rican finca that happens to be one of the more unusual Starbucks outposts anywhere.
What's included
- Private bilingual naturalist guide
- Round-trip transportation from San José or Alajuela area
- Bottled water
Not included
- Entrance fees to Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Personal travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
Good to know
- Dress in warm layers — the volcano crater sits at 2,700m and can be cold and windy
- Arrive early for clearest crater views before cloud rolls in
- La Paz waterfalls involve ~3km walking with stairs
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Free cancellation 48 hours prior