La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Wildlife Refuge Tour from San Jose
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the # 1 most visited private ecological attraction in Costa Rica that offers you the best trails near San Jose, the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, including the famous La Paz Waterfall, an animal sanctuary and private reserve of wildlife with more than 100 species of animals and environmental education programs. Five waterfalls, cloud forest and rain forest, trails, aviary with 40 species of birds, feeding toucans in the palm of the hand, titi monkeys, insect display, butterfly garden with their laboratory, 2-toed sloths, white-faced or capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, garden of hummingbirds with more than 26 documented species, feeding hummingbirds in the palm of the hand in the mornings and afternoons, serpentarium, jaguar, pumas, ocelots, tigrillos, cauceles, house of peace with area of domestic animals and cart with oxen. Frog, display of orchids, display of heliconias, bromeliads.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel, get on your transfer vehicle and head to the gardens of the La Paz waterfall. Visit ten animal exhibitions to see fascinating creatures, such as butterflies, monkeys, toads, snakes, exotic birds and even felines from the jungle that roam the place. Take a moderate-intensity hike to the gardens of the La Paz waterfall, an exuberant green space where biodiversity is very present. Walk the paved trail of 3 kilometers (1.8 mi), which will take you to the base of the La Paz waterfall. This ecological park, with a height that varies between 1,200 and 1,500 meters (4,000 to 5,000 ft), is home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. The La Paz waterfall is a perfect and relaxing destination for the whole family, full of opportunities to take photographs worthy of a postcard of the fantastic natural beauty of Costa Rica.
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Buffet lunch
Professional guide
Bottled water
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Driver/guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Gratuities
Pickup points
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La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Wildlife Refuge Tour from San Jose
Pickup included
Reviews
263 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful day with great...
Stephanie M,,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful day with great guide. Traffic back to downtown San Jose takes a while but the experience was worth it
Wildlife and Waterfalls
janemZ9504UD,,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved our guided tour of the Wildlife Refuge and waterfalls. Robin was so knowledgeable and friendly. He taught us so much. It was the perfect start to our trip in Costa Rica.
Beautiful park in a beautiful natural setting
Cagi123,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nice park! Definitely don't skip it. The waterfalls and the views are beautiful. The park has very nice paths. The wildlife center where animals are taken (it is not a zoo) is very nicely decorated. The animals are well cared for. You can also see many animals that you may not be able to spot in the wild. The staff is super friendly and helpful. If you want to see everything, you have to set aside at least half a day. Highly recommended!
Great experience
Julie S,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Well worth the $. Our guide Edgar was terrific. We thoroughly enjoyed the wildlife refuge and the La Paz waterfall experience.
La Paz Park in the rain
geogrman,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We are grateful Eugenio advised of the possibility of a cheap poncho purchase at the Fresi store. Although he was upbeat and frank with us the entire day, the constant rain at the park dampened the enjoyment of seeing the animals, birds and butterflies etc. also shoes, socks and pants got wet walking to see the waterfalls. Finally he exited the tour bus before we did so I could not tip him. Instead all money went to the driver who claimed no English or ability to make change. We had no bills between $1 and $20. I’ll say the overall the trip definitely would be 5/5 without the tip issue or rain.
Fun Experience
williambO3959GW,,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Led by our tour guide Edgar, we visited a coffee plantation then spent several enjoyable hours at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. It is something like a zoo with areas designated for specific species like birds, frogs, large cats, etc. The interesting thing is they have enclosures for many of them that allow you to enter and mingle among them, specifically the birds (toucan and hummingbirds separately) and frogs. A very nice buffet lunch was included.
Great guide, very...
Matthew S,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great guide, very knowledgeable and the best guide I had so far. Very informative. Definitely Strongly recommended
Perfect day trip introduction to Costa Rica
GlobeTrotting157494,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day trip from San Jose. The property and waterfalls are beautiful, and it's a great introduction to the types of wildlife in Costa Rica. Destiny Travel communicated clearly and the hotel pickup was right on time and very convenient. Our guide, Arturo, was excellent. Very friendly and very clear English. Our driver was also very gentle on the winding roads leading to the site. Highly recommended!
La Paz is beautiful,...
Aliza,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00La Paz is beautiful, interesting, and well worth the time. I didn't recall in the description that there were stops at a coffee plantation and a tourist shop on the way. The coffee plantation was interesting, but the tourist shop was a waste of time and took away from spending more time seeing things at La Paz. Our guide was knowledgeable, but I felt like he rushed us through. Even though we were a small group of 8 people, he often started giving explanations before the whole group was with him. He seemed oblivious to the fact that there may only be 2 or 3 people when he started talking, so we often did not learn as much as we would have liked.
Amazing in the truest sense of the word!
Larry B,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I'm so grateful for Edgar who was a fantastic and friendly tour guide. We so enjoyed meeting him and hearing his insights. The tour was truly amazing and no hassle. The coffee farm and the time at La Paz Waterfall Gardens were worth the price, without a doubt. I could not recommend this experience highly enough.
From US$135.00
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Operated by Destiny Travel Costa Rica