Wildlife Refuge La Paz Waterfall Gardens Day Trip From San Jose

Great guide and it was a wonderful length of time at all of the attractions.

Such a great experience. Both, driver and tour guide were friendlly and so helpful! Can’t wait to come back!

There are a lot of steps to see the waterfalls Can be wet so worth bringing waterproof clothes boots

This was our best tour of our vacation! The park was fantastic, but as most of you already know, it's your guide that can make it a very special day. Our guide Harlan was beyond fabulous! He was extremely knowledgeable, kept us on pace and had an excellent way of providing both history, details of the park and making us laugh at the same time. He had the added task of speaking both spanish and english the entire tour and perfectly balanced this between our family and the other family. If you are lucky enough to have him as your guide, consider yourself blessed! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone considering it.

It was a wonderful adventure into nature. Deep in the rainforest down hundreds of stairs and paths we reached the first waterfall - where we you are overwhelmed by the power and beauty of nature.

Guide Arturo was excellent. Knowledgeable and fun and took good care of us. Highly recommended

Great chance to see animals and learn about them and Costa Rica’s conservation efforts. Enjoy walking paths to various levels of the falls. Got my 20 flights off stairs. To really enjoy full beauty of falls need to do most of the various stair levels.

The reservation was quick and easy. The tour company arrived on time and dropped me off closer to my destination. Comfortable mini van. Good size group- total of 7 people.

A very fun day! Very informative on the way to the attraction. Love the animals and the hike to and from the waterfalls. LOTS of steps. The hiking part may not be enjoyable for those with small children or with knee issues.

I don’t do many ‘tours’ - but this one was fantastic and well worth the investment. It was well organized- professional, a great combo of informative stories and also providing some ‘free’ time. What you experience in less than one day is amazing, an incredible way to end a trip in Costa Rica prior to flying home. Awe-inspiring waterfalls, intimate wildlife viewing (butterflies and toucans were a highlight!) and a satisfying buffet lunch. Definitely wear good walking shoes and be prepared to walk a lot of stairs and trails. Raincoat, umbrella or poncho in your bag would be handy- in case it rains, or if recently rained as the cloud forest drips down, or for simply being close to all the fabulous mist from the waterfalls. Opportunities to shop for local souvenirs too. Do this!

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Enjoyed the bonus stop at the coffee plantation on the way to La Paz. The "wildlife refuge" is essentially a beautifully kept zoo, only you can get in close to the birds, sloths and butterflies. The La Paz waterfalls were awe-inspiring.

Our guide Arlen was so wonderful and extremely knowledgeable about the history of Costs Rica, coffee production and the wildlife. And the driver Daniel was perfect,

Great experience. Fantastic guides. He took times to explain lots of things and make the experience memorable. Would recommend

I had a great time here. The tour guide Arturo was very nice and knowledgeable. I absolutely loved the views of the waterfalls. Would definitely recommend for a day trip.

Fun day with a helpful and informative guide. Alejandro did a marvelous job leading us through the waterfalls and nature preserve. He was knowledgeable and friendly.

The tour was the perfect way to end our stay in Costa Rica. The animal refuge and the waterfalls were amazing. Edgar our tour guide was knowledgeable and wholesome. He made our day enjoyable with his stories.

The waterfalls are located on the same property as the Peace Lodge. I’ve traveled a lot in my life, and I will say the rainforest at La Paz Waterfalls is one of the most beautiful mountainous scenery you’ll ever see. The one caveat of this property— it is not for people with physical disabilities. It is treacherous terrain, wet very steep steps make it difficult to maneuver. If you are planning to visit I would suggest you bring a rain jacket, sturdy hiking shoes/boots and be prepared to be in the rainforest. They do have day passes, but I was suggest doing a two day visit. Spend the night at the Peace Lodge. . It is very magical. If you do stay over plan on feeding the animals, especially the sloths as you will not be able to do that in other places.

A great introduction to Costa Rica’s natural gifts! There were just 4 of us in a minibus with Edgar, our competent and knowledgeable guide, who made the trip so interesting! Seeing the waterfall, the rescued birds and animals and the natural environment were the highlights! The buffet lunch was also great!

This was an amazing tour. The tour guide was excellent. She was friendly and full of knowledge. I would recommend it to anyone who visits Costa Rica

Very informative guide with enthusiasm for the park, wildlife and geography of the country. Park is exceptionally well set up and maintained. Lots of walking and steps but most people can handle it. Waterfalls were impressive

I loved this experience. The up close view of the birds and animals was very special. The park grounds are gorgeous and the waterfalls were amazing. We had a terrific guide. The walk was pretty easy, but there are some steps/cimbs between waterfalls. The buffet lunch was excellent.

Wonderful to see these animals up close and personal and to hear their unique stories of rescue. And the waterfalls? Magnificent!

If you're visiting Costa Rica for the first time and aren't sure where to start, I **highly recommend** the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Wildlife Refuge. It's hard to fully capture the beauty and magic of this place—it truly lives up to all the hype. I'm not usually one to write reviews, but my experience here was so unforgettable that I felt compelled to share it. If you you are a nature and animal lover, this is the place. And did I mention you'll get to see sloths up close? Honestly, what more could you ask for? Our driver, Daniel, and our guide, Arlene, were absolutely fantastic—friendly, attentive, and made sure my friend and I felt comfortable throughout the entire experience. A few tips: definitely wear comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to visit the waterfall viewpoints. There are quite a few stairs and some uphill stretches, so be prepared for a bit of a workout! Given the frequent rain, I’d also recommend packing a poncho or rain jacket just in case. The lunch was a delicious buffet with plenty of tasty options to choose from. Overall, I’d give this experience a solid 10/10. It was an unforgettable day filled with positive energy from start to finish. If you’re looking for a unique, memorable experience in Costa Rica, don’t miss this place!

This was an amazing tour!! I learned so much about Costa Rica and the efforts being made to preserve the wildlife. The guide was fun and engaging. Had a great time!!!

Great day. The animal sanctuary was cool and the waterfalls were beautiful. Our tour guide was awesome. Lunch was delicious. Lots of stairs

BEAUTIFUL. The refuge is amazing. Worth the trip. It is physical. Wouldn’t recommend to person with mobility issues. Lunch was good.

This was a perfect day tour from San Jose. Glad we saw all the animals, especially sloths up close. Just be sure you will be able to handle all the 500 or so steps for the waterfall trail. So pretty and serene. Buffet food was good and a lot of variety. Gerry our guide was fantastic, giving us many insights about life in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

We went on the tour on May 6th, 2024, they picked us up at the hotel approx. 9:30 am. The tour was great and would highly recommend it, Our car driver Edwin and Guide Paul (I think was his name). Paul was very knowledgeable, even carries a small encyclopedia with him for references. The only thing I thought was unnecessary was the 2nd stop before we got to the park at a big souvenir shop (Fresas del Volcan), there was no added value at this stop except for us to purchase souvenirs, the same souvenirs are available at the end of the tour in the park at the retail store.

The La Paz Refuge was fine and overall a good experience . However the company providing this tour messaged me the day before to inform me that they would not collect me from the pick up point which had been specifically selected from the list provided by them on the Viator web page and which was confirmed several weeks prior. I was advised to take public transport to a convenient pick up point for them.. This is not acceptable but since I was given no choice , and had I cancelled at that stage I would have lost my money as happened with a previous excusrsion booked via Viator to Tortuguero when the provider refused to take me as a solo traveller at the last moment.( It was not worth his while financially - his words) These issues need serious investigation by Viator -- it does not reflect well on your reputation and your customers should not be penalised for actions like this by the tour providers you are promoting

A pleasant day trip from San Jose if you’re interested in wildlife and nature, the waterfalls are very impressive

Had a lovely day seeing the animals and waterfalls. Lunch was great too. The only thing i would note is that this tour mentions its wheelchair accessible but there are a lot of steps down to the waterfalls. Not an issue for us but something other travellers may want to be aware of. The animals are also caged rather than wild (having been rescued from zoos but unable to be released into the wild having been raised in caprivity)

The wild animals and Waterfall experience were amazing!! We had a free lunch which was great and included in the tour. The Tour operator was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend Costa Rica and this tour to anyone who will visit this country!

The beauty of being in a jungle is unsurpassed! I loved seeing the tropiical birds and sloths up close because it's almost impossible to see them well in nature. The hike and waterfalls were breathtakaing, but I think that the number of steps should be made clear to travelers (800 stairs!) I didn't know if the hike was somewhat level or what!!??

La Paz Waterfall and wildlife adventure was the highlight of my trip to Costa Rica. What a beautiful property. Set in the jungle, LA Paz waterfalls are stunning in their beauty and grandor. And, the animals in sanctuary are excellently cared for. What a wonderful property. (Lots of stairs to see the waterfalls, but you can bypass them.)

Great wildlife refuge and stops along the way, attentive guide. Pleasant lunch in open air shady area. Walk to waterfall has many steps down but paved and with handrail; can be shortened up by skipping some viewing points. Return walk is half way to shuttles to return to top.

12/10 stars. The guide is very informative and well studied in the species and plants of the CR. Will be returning in the future

Overall fun, well planned excursion, with a great guide. Beautiful waterfalls and scenery. Fun hiking around the area.

Very simple to book, confirmed and then arrived to pick us up on time. Our guide Charlton was superb. Very knowledgeable and helpful. Lunch was included which was a nice bonus.

The visit to La Paz Gardens was wonderful- a combination of seeing animals up close and walking through the park to see waterfalls was perfect. The traffic was horrendous, so be prepared to be in the van for many hours.

We saw more monkeys, toucans, waterfalls and so much more on this excursion than we did in the next 2 wks on our Costa Rica tour! Loved this great introduction to Costa Rica with a knowledgeable guide!

Love seeing the fauna and waterfalls, was gorgeous. A lot of steps to go down and up, but worth it. All the exhibits were great, butterfly, hummingbirds, Wild animals, toucans and sloth. Great location for the restaurant for lunch

Simply awful I don’t know where to begin. First, the tour is not as advertised. We spent the first 3.5hours driving to a coffee plantation that’s not on the itinerary. No one on the tour knew this or wanted to go. So we collectively decided not to. The guide, Fran, then got angry and confrontational. We were also supposed to pick up an additional four people halfway on the tour, but after the coffee plantation issue, suddenly that didn’t happen. The driver then proceeded to drive VERY slowly to the waterfall park seemingly to kill time. After four plus hours we finally arrived at the waterfall park around 12:30. Now about the park. Despite claims to the contrary this is clearly a zoo not a rescue reserve (since when do butterflies, snakes and hummingbirds need rescue?). The puma and other cats looked miserable pacing back and forth in cramped cages. Whatever the tour company writes in reply to this review you can ignore. Others on the tour will confirm my version of events. Avoid this tour.

This is a fantastic way to see tropical birds, sloths and other animals and reptiles up close with an informative English speaking guide. The gardens and waterfalls are also beautiful. It was a perfect way to spend our ladt day in Costa Rica.

We loved being so close to the animals! The toucan’s were my favorite. The lunch was great! The water falls were breath taking! We loved it all. So beautiful!

Awesome day with a great guide! You need to do this tour if you are in San Jose. You will see Costa Rica’s wonders in person.

Arlington our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable!! The experience was excellent! The lunch which is included was a buffet and the grounds and waterfalls beautiful!! The stop at the Starbucks facility was fun!!

This activity has been one of the best of our trip. Fran, the tour guide, was fantastic. She is proud and knowledgeable of not only this activity, but Costa Rica's history as well. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed this activity. I highly recommend it to anyone travelling here.

Great experience, and our guide Freddy was fantastic. The owner of the grounds did a great job with everything.

The sanctuary animals and the butterfly house were wonderful, made better by our guide's extensive knowledge and interesting stories.