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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Options
La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Wildlife Refuge Tour from San Jose
Pickup included
Reviews
253 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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.
A must do experience!
NorthStar13087230882,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience! Guide Orrey was fantastic- provided us with a detailed history of Costa Rica on route. Led us through La Paz with interesting information about the animals and plants! Nice lunch and then an enjoyable hike to see five waterfalls!
Beautiful Waterfalls and Wildlife area!
TennesseeSunflower,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful area with magnificent waterfalls. The wildlife area was nice as well - especially enjoyed seeing toucans. Our guide and driver were great. The buffet at the park was also very good. We enjoyed our visit and definitely recommend this tour.
Awesome adventure!
Lisa L,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What an amazing time we had with Harlem our tour guide! He was not only knowledgeable about the history of Costa Rica he kept everything exciting! He never left us slow poles behind during the hike to the waterfall! Lol. The food very good, and staff at La Paz were super sweet! Beautiful park!
Stunning La Paz Waterfall
Angie B,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Harlem was an excellent driver with outstanding local knowledge he imparted easily with the 3 of us who did the tour. La Paz is a large naturally beautiful property. Everything is well presented, with attention to detail, particularly with the management of the rescued animals, stunning gardens snd natural forest. The restaurant buffet offers a wide selection of tasty food, which catered easily for my allergies. Because of the $A exchange rate, I thought the cost was initially expensive, but it was worth every dollar. You must be fit enough to climb up and down steps. There are many. I Highly recommend this tour.
It’s a lot to cover in a...
Kimberly P,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It’s a lot to cover in a short amount of time. We enjoyed the experience and would do a longer trip if we were to do it again.
From US$135.00
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Operated by Destiny Travel Costa Rica