Complete Guide: La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park

What is La Paz Waterfall Gardens?

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a popular tourist attraction located in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. In a nutshell, it’s a privately-owned nature park and wildlife refuge that features five waterfalls, numerous scenic hiking trails, and animal encounters. It’s actually the largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica and has over 100 species of animals!

You can spend a couple of hours here or a couple of days, depending on how much you want to do and see. It’s recommended to give yourself at least 2 hours to see all the animals, but you’ll need longer if you want to see all the waterfalls, too. You do need to Purchase a Ticket to access the park.

The park also has an on-site luxury resort called the Peace Lodge, which is breathtaking. We were fortunate enough to stay at this resort and it was one of the best hotel experiences we’ve ever had! The 18-room resort is perched on the side of a hill overlooking the cloud forest, and guests at the resort have free access to the entire property! Resort guests can also access the park before and after normal business hours.

Where is La Paz Waterfall Gardens?

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is located in the town of Vara Blanca, in between San Jose (the largest airport in Costa Rica) and La Fortuna (home to the famous Arenal Volcano). It’s a little over an hour north of San Jose or two hours south of La Fortuna. It makes for a perfect day trip from either location.

It is possible to take an Uber or Taxi from San Jose to this nature park. Just be sure to get your driver’s contact information so you can reach out directly for your return trip. If you plan on driving yourself, rest assured, the roads leading to the gardens are paved and well-maintained, especially compared to other parts of the country. You could also sign up for an official Day Tour from San Jose!

Travelers can actually see one of the main waterfalls, La Paz Waterfall, right along Route 126, without ever entering the park. This is a popular stop for many tourists. It’s not uncommon to see police here, directing traffic, and local vendors set up along the road selling fruits and juices. Once you’ve found a place to park, you can even take a short walk directly behind the waterfall!

About a minute or so from this massive waterfall along the side of the road, you’ll find the parking lot to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. To the left of the parking area is the magical Peace Lodge, a gift shop, and a restaurant. All the animals and hiking trails are in front of and below the parking lot because it sits on the side of a mountain. There are many stairs and steep walkways throughout the park.

What to Expect at La Paz Waterfall Gardens

When you arrive at the Gardens, you’ll park and show your ticket or purchase a ticket in the ticket office. If it’s raining (which is very common in this area), you can purchase a poncho at the office, or use one of their complimentary umbrellas during your visit. If you plan to hike to the waterfalls, you will likely get wet anyways from the force of the spray.

To the left of the ticket office, you’ll find the Peace Lodge, a gift shop, and a restaurant. The trail begins directly behind the ticket office. Don’t forget to ask for a map before you start your journey! You’ll want to follow the trail marked in orange on the provided map to see the animals and waterfalls. Click Here for an electronic version of the map.

💣_{Antisocial Tourist Tip — The park does offer guided tours, which we recommend if you’re looking for an educational experience. To reserve a guided tour, you should email parkoffice@waterfallgardens.com.}

You’ll start by walking down a steep hill to the refuge and wildlife areas. Here you’ll find several large domes and buildings, housing birds, butterflies, monkeys, snakes, jungle cats, frogs, and fauna. There are also two other restaurants and several bathrooms in this area, as well as a traditional Costa Rican Casita that can be explored.

Just past the frog exhibit, you’ll find the start of the waterfall hiking trail. The trail will take you to the very top of the mountain, where the Templo Waterfall is found. From there, you’ll make your way down to the bottom again, stopping at each of the other waterfalls along the way. Some of the falls have two lookout points worth stopping at — one from above and one from below. The trail is well-marked.

The trail ends near the bottom of La Paz Waterfall (the same waterfall that can be seen along the side of the road). From there, you can walk the 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) back to the ticket office, or hop on the free shuttle bus (it runs every 20 minutes or so) to take you back to the entrance. You could also retrace your steps and take the same trail back to where you started.

💣_{Antisocial Tourist Tip — Bring a light jacket and consider wearing long pants! La Paz Waterfall Gardens is located in the highland cloud forest, so the temperature here is much cooler than in most other parts of Costa Rica.}

Entrance Fee

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm year-round. There is a fee to enter the park. Entrance Tickets cost $49.24 for adults (13+) and $32.83 for children. You can Purchase Tickets in Advance or just pay when you arrive at the park. Local residents will receive a significant discount if tickets are purchased on-site.

Remember that guests of the Peace Lodge have free access to the park, including before and after normal park hours. If this luxury lodge is outside of your budget, be sure to factor in the savings from free admission. You may be surprised at how affordable to resort is once you deduct the ticket price.

You can also upgrade your ticket to include a Buffet Lunch once you arrive. We had a delicious meal in their restaurant during our stay but did not try the lunch buffet. If it’s anything like the meal we did have, it’s likely wonderful. The buffet includes traditional Costa Rican dishes, a full salad bar, pizza, french fries, fruit, desserts, and juices.

Animals

The animals who call the La Paz Waterfall Gardens home include many rare birds, sloths, monkeys, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, snakes, spiders, and butterflies. You’ll find both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and many employees will be around to answer any questions you have about the animals.

There are some mixed reviews about the size of the cages where many of the big cats are held. This is a sticky topic but it’s important to remember that this is a refuge, not a zoo. The park does have signage that explains that all of its animals come from the Costa Rican Wildlife Ministry, which confiscates illegal pets that cannot be released back into the wild for various reasons. Every single exotic bird and big cat on the property is a rescue animal.

There is also a lake full of trout on-site, next to Fern Trail, on the far left side of the park. We first saw this lake from the resort’s balcony and thought it was a large pool. It’s a man-made lake that is shallow with bright blue water. But we quickly learned it was a lake where guests can try their hand at fly fishing! If you’re interested in this, ask the front desk about it when you arrive (we did not try this).

Hiking Trails

The hiking trails leading to the waterfalls in the park are stunning, but let’s be honest — the word trail is used loosely. It’s mainly stairs! The good news is that the ascent is gradual, so most of the trail will consist of walking down the steps. The trail also has handrails from start to finish.

You’ll want to follow the trail signage and your map closely, so you don’t miss any waterfall lookouts. Several waterfalls have both an upper and lower lookout area, and the view is worth seeing from both.

Several of the lookout areas consist of small platforms at the bottom of a narrow set of stairs that extend from the trail. Because of how small these platforms are, it’s common courtesy to wait for other tourists to come back up the stairs before making your way down. Don’t worry, you will be able to gauge how many people each platform can fit before you approach.

The park also offers two lesser-known trails, called the Rio La Paz Trail and Fern Trail. These two trails are found on the left side of the park, near the Aviary. They’re unpaved and less maintained than the rest of the park, but they boast some stunning tropical fauna and offer a more authentic jungle hiking experience (although there are no waterfalls found on these trails).

Waterfalls

There are five waterfalls along the main trail at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. They’re lined up one after another as they descend the mountain, ending with the epic La Paz waterfall, which can be seen from Route 126. The five waterfalls, from top to bottom, are Templo, Magia Blanca, Encantada, Escondida, and La Paz, each of varying heights.

• Templo Waterfall 85 feet (26 meters) tall
• Magia Blanca Waterfall is 120 feet (37 meters) tall
• Encantada Waterfall is 65 feet (20 meters) tall
• Escondida Waterfall is 15 feet (5 meters) tall
• La Paz Waterfall is 110 feet (34 meters) tall

It is possible to see all five waterfalls in less than an hour once you begin the hike. Just be careful and try to take your time to enjoy the surrounding magic. And remember the trail is mostly made of stairs, so it can be quite a workout for some. It will take about two hours for most people, especially when you factor in photos.

Tours

If you’re interested in exploring La Paz Waterfall Gardens as part of a tour, you have several options. All of these tours are highly rated and a great choice if you’re visiting Costa Rica without renting a car. They each leave from San Jose.

• Day Trip from San Jose — If you’re only interested in an organized tour to the Gardens (without stopping at any other attractions), this tour is perfect. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in (or near) San Jose and brought to the park to enjoy all it has to offer. The tour lasts about 6 hours, including transportation.
• Coffee Experience, Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens — For the ultimate day, this tour includes a stop at a coffee plantation, a hike to the incredible Poas Volcano, and a stop at the Gardens. You’ll spend about 3 hours in each place, making for a long day (about 13 hours total), but it will certainly be magical and well worth it.
• Coffee Plantations & La Paz Waterfall Gardens — If you’re set on seeing a coffee plantation (a must-see for first-time visitors) but you want to skip the hike to Poas Volcano, this tour is for you. During this 8-hour tour, you’ll have an authentic coffee experience and a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Safari in Sarapiqui River — This 10-hour tour will take you to the Gardens before taking you on a relaxing boat trip down the Sarapiqui River. The Sarapiqui River is famous for having a variety of environments: humid tropical forests, mountains, pastures, and more.

Hotels Near La Paz Waterfall Gardens

La Paz Waterfall Gardens has its own resort called the Peace Lodge, and it’s absolutely magical! It’s probably the coolest hotel we’ve ever stayed at! Balconies overlooking the cloud forest, huge canopy beds, a fireplace, and a jungle-themed shower and tub. Our suite even had a hot tub a small hot tub built right into the balcony!

If a stay at the Peace Lodge is in your budget, you won’t regret the splurge. Just remember to deduct the cost of admission to the park, since hotel guests have free access. This is how we justified the cost of our stay here (and we have absolutely no regrets).

BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE PEACE LODGE!

If a night at this luxury hotel is simply not in your budget, there are a couple of other options nearby. If you do your own hotel research, you’ll want to look for places in the town of Vara Blanca. Here are the other hotels nearby, all with high ratings:

• Casa Volcano Panoramic View Hotel
• Poas Volcano Lodge
• Villa Calas

Things To Do Near La Paz Waterfall Gardens

There are plenty of things to do near La Paz Waterfall Gardens! Here are some of our recommendations:

• Catarata del Toro — Catarata del Toro is one of Costa Rica’s most stunning waterfalls. It plunges 270 feet into an ancient volcanic crater. Click Here to read all about how to get to this epic waterfall.
• Blue Falls — Blue Falls, also known as Cataratas Las Gemelas, is also found on the private reserve where Catarata del Toro is located. You can purchase a combo ticket that includes both waterfalls.
• Poás Volcano Crater — The Poás Volcano National Park is a short 30-minute drive from La Paz Waterfall Gardens and you can actually hike to the rim of the Poás Volcano Crater! The volcano’s gasses are monitored daily to ensure it’s safe, so you’ll want to check the Park’s Website before your hike.
• Doka Estate Coffee Tour — Doka Estate Coffee Plantation is located just outside of San Jose, so you’ll pass it on your way to the Gardens. Experiencing a coffee tour while in Costa Rica is one of the top things to do for tourists!
• La Fortuna — La Fortuna is a popular town about two hours north of La Paz Waterfall Gardens. There are tons of things to do there, including hot springs, waterfalls, hikes, and ziplining. There are also tons of guided and combined tours in the area. Check them out Here.

Final Thoughts: La Paz Waterfall Gardens

We loved our time at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, but our stay at the amazing Peace Lodge played a large part in our experience. We only stayed one night, but would have loved to stay longer. It was our favorite hotel in Costa Rica, and we can’t wait to return one day! If you ever have a chance to stay here, don’t hesitate — it’s worth the splurge!

As for the actual gardens (the animal exhibits, the hiking trails, and the waterfalls), we believe it’s absolutely worth a stop if you’re passing the area. That said, we wouldn’t go out of our way to get back here unless we planned on staying at the property overnight.

Why do we say this? Costa Rica is filled with many animal refuges, hiking trails, and waterfalls. And while the Garden’s exhibits and trails are spectacular, they are not necessarily better than all the others. If you already have a couple of wildlife refuges and large waterfalls on your itinerary, and you’re having a hard time squeezing La Paz Waterfall Gardens in, don’t sweat it. It’s amazing, but not necessarily better than the rest.

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