 |
| La Paz Waterfall Gardens is Costa Rica's newest multi-million dollar nature park. This signature attraction is themed around four magnificent waterfalls accessed by professionally designed and fabricated trails and viewing platforms. |  |
 | At La Paz Waterfall Gardens we are committed to entertaining and educating our visitors with a world class ecological experience.
The park is a celebration of bio-diversity as it is blessed with an altitude ranging from 4,300 feet (1,320 meters) to 5,000 feet (1,540 meters) that provides an ideal climate for both cloud and rainforest to coexist. Our trail design, which includes three kilometers of serpentine paved trails and viewing platforms, allows visitors to experience and photograph the forest and the awesome power of four majestic waterfalls from a number of exciting perspectives. Waterfall Gardens is proud to present the largest enclosed Butterfly Observatory in the world covering 18,000 square feet (1,630 square meters) and towering 50 feet in height. Our collection includes ten species of the most colorful butterflies found in Costa Rica. In our Hummingbird Garden our feathered friends will delight and fascinate you with their antics as they play and fight with each other at amazing speeds. These special creatures have become so tame they will approach and feed within a few feet of you. With all the activity at Waterfall Gardens you are bound to work up an appetite. Our buffet style restaurant, Tortillas, serves a tasty lunch of homemade tortillas offered with a variety of meats, vegetables, cheeses and salsas. It’s quick, easy and tasty. |
| Bernardo’s Trail – 550 Meters (20-30 minute walk) Starting at the Welcome Center , Bernardo’s Trail will take you downhill to the beautiful Hummingbird Garden, where you can enjoy the wonders of these tiny creatures. From there proceed through the Orchid Houses to the entrance to the forest. As you continue to walk downhill through secondary forest you will hear the river and waterfalls growing louder and watch the forest tend toward more primary growth. |
| Trail of Falls – 350 Meters Down and Back (45 minutes) This truly spectacular trail begins with a suspended metal staircase which takes a path along the vertical cliff face of Magia Blanca Waterfall, the largest and most powerful of the falls. Halfway down the suspended trail you will encounter a viewing platform that allows you to observe the fall from twenty feet under the drop- off. The route continues to our two viewing balconies and great photo opportunities. Continuing down river you will dead end at our three balconies in the gorge that was created by the confluence of the Rio La Paz Grande and the Rio La Paz. From the balconies you view three separate waterfalls, Encantada, Escondido, and, of course, the famous La Paz Waterfall. After hiking back up you can continue up river to our viewing platform at the Templo Waterfall Canyon. |  |
 | Rio La Paz Trail – 685 Meters (20 Minutes) Once you hike up above the Templo Waterfall the trail will take you on a leisurely stroll along the banks of the source of the magnificent falls. Around each turn you will find breathtaking views up and down the La Paz River. Interspersed along the trail are small side trails that take you right to the water’s edge. Depending upon the flow of the river some of these areas will be open for swimming. |
| Fern Trail – 600 Meters (20 Minutes) As the name implies this trail boasts an extensive collection of tree ferns. In fact, you will find eight out of the 12 species of tree ferns found in Costa Rica on this trail. |
| Visitor Information Hours: We open at 8:30 AM and close at 4:00 PM. The entrance closes at 3:15 PM. We can accommodate earlier arrivals or later departures with an advance request. |
| Rates: | |
| Adult ( Age 13 and above) | $24.00 |
| Child (under 12) | $12.00 |
| Student (with valid picture ID) | $12.00 |
| Waterfall Gardens is primarily a self-guided tour allowing our visitors to proceed directly to their areas of interest.. If you would rather have a guide for your group we can furnish one for an additional charge of $25.00 with an advance reservation. | |
| Buffet Lunch: $8.00 I.V.I. includes beverages; Coffee, Lemonade and seasonal fruit juice | |
| Transportation: Transportation can be arranged for an additional charge with an advance reservation. | |
| Driving Directions: From the Airport Area or San Jose going through Alajuela Take the Panamerican Highway towards the International Airport and take the Alajuela exit. Continue straight on this road for 12 miles following the signs for Poas Volcano. At the dead end three way intersection take a right . Proceed for 1 mile to the town of Poasito and make another right at the intersection where it says Heredia-Vara Blanca-Sarapiqui. Make a left at the gas station at Vara Blanca and proceed for 3 miles. Waterfall Gardens is on the left. From San Jose through Heredia |
Return to Day Tours
© CentralAmerica.Com 2000
All Rights Reserved