12 Waterfall Tours in San José Worth Booking

1.Skip the Line:Day Ticket-La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 226 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $63Our pick

La Paz Waterfall Gardens gives you a flexible day pass to explore five waterfalls, rainforest and cloud forest trails, orchids, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, monkeys, snakes, and rescued cats. Plan on at least two hours, though four to five hours lets you slow down. You will need your own transport, and the waterfall trail includes many stairs.

“Awesome. Beautiful grounds. Beautiful up close experience with the animals. Gorgeous waterfalls. Was uncrowded.”

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2.Poás Volcano and Coffee Tour with Tasting and La Paz Falls

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 137 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $105

Travel from San José into Costa Rica’s highlands for a guided Poás Volcano visit, Doka Estate coffee tour with tasting, and a short La Paz Waterfall stop. Expect an early pickup, mountain roads, a group of up to 20, and a full day shaped by weather and traffic. Guides such as Marcela, Nela, Victor, and Percy have earned strong praise.

“the guide was very helpful and had great knowledge, explained lots of things about the volcano. The coffee tour was pleasant too. The waterfall is beautiful but it's just in the middle of a road. The activity itself was very easy. Just spend a lot of time in the van. It was a very nice trip, especially to see some activity of Poas.”

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3.Poas Volcano waterfalls and coffee tour from from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $149Top rated

Travel from San José to Poás Volcano, Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Farm, La Paz Waterfall, and Mi Cafecito near Sarapiquí. Guides such as Carlos, Ricardo, and Charlie explain coffee growing, processing, roasting, and brewing. Lunch, transport, activities, and hotel pickup are included, but weather can hide the crater and the day may run beyond 10 hours.

“Rick (Ricardo) was a great tour guide. He was very knowledgeable provided an excellent experience. It was a long day but very enjoyable!”

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4.Combo Arenal : Suspension Bridges + Hot Springs + Fortune Falls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $249

Travel from San Jose to Arenal with a small group of up to 15 people. Walk to La Fortuna Waterfall, cross rainforest suspension bridges, spot wildlife with guides such as Hayro or Leni, then relax in more than 15 Los Lagos hot-spring pools. Breakfast and lunch are included, but expect a long day with plenty of stairs.

“Be prepared for rain if you are going in October/November! The rain was light but steady. Wear good shoes w/ grip; there are quite a bit of inclines on the hanging bridge tour. Ask for Hayro! He was super knowledgeable about the animals, plants, history and Costa Rican culture. We happened to go on a really great day with several clear views of the volcano. Hayro let’s you tailor the trip to your liking; more time here or less time there depending on what interests you :) Breakfast and lunch were provided and we stopped for souvenirs and fruits”

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5.Rio Celeste Waterfall at Tenorio Volcano and Sloth Watching Tour From San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $185

Leave San Jose before sunrise for Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park, then watch sloths, toucans, frogs, butterflies, and other wildlife with a local guide. Breakfast, lunch, transport, park admission, and hotel pickup are included. Guides such as Yancy, Johnhan, Luis, and Fernando have earned praise for their sharp eyes and friendly style.

“Tour muy completo! Luis y Johan muy buenos guías, nos dieron oportunidad de nadar en el rio (el tour no lo incluye, solo ver la cascada), muy amables todo el tiempo. Es importante tener en cuenta el tiempo de traslado si están en San Jose, es algo largo y mas si hay trafico. El ver a los perezosos y otros animales igual es interesante, se ven desde un telescopio entre la naturaleza con otro guía.”

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6.Poas Volcano + Coffee tour + Waterfall tour day from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $149

Leave San José at 8 a.m. for Poás Volcano, then visit a working coffee farm in Fraijanes, with hotel pickup, lunch, park fees, and transport included. You’ll see coffee nurseries, a wet mill, drying patio, and roaster. The advertised waterfall stop needs confirming, since timing may not allow it.

“The pick up was on time. That is where the good points stop. The van was very dirty, and none of the seat belts works despite the driver saying they did. One other person was picked up and we headed to the Starbucks plantation. We arrived an hour and half ahead of our scheduled tour time. So the driver suggested we get a coffee which we waited almost half an hour for. The next tour was in Spanish so the driver suggested we drive around for an hour until our tour time. He got lost on the way back and had to drive recklessly to get us back to Starbucks…”

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7.Poas Volcano + Coffee Plantations & La Paz Waterfall Gardens Trip from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $199

Leave San José early for Doka Estate coffee country, Poás Volcano, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. You get breakfast, buffet lunch, bottled water, transport, and hotel pickup. Guides such as Edgar, Daniel, Fran, and Oscar have earned praise for lively explanations, but expect a long day, changing weather, traffic, and many stairs.

“Our trip had to be adjusted slightly since Poas was closed. But the trip was still 100% worth it! Our guide was SO knowledgeable and interactive with the group. Learning how coffee is processed was so eye opening and La Paz Waterfall garden was great. There were A LOT of stairs to get to the falls, but for those who couldn't manage the stairs they had a plan for an alternative tour ready to go. Overall this was a GREAT way to end my trip.”

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8.La Paz Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $135

Travel from San Jose toward Poas to see coffee, fern, flower, and strawberry farms before exploring La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Your guide, possibly Frank, Antonio, Max, or Eduardo, leads you past wildlife exhibits and three waterfalls, with buffet lunch included. Expect stairs, rainforest weather, and about six hours on the road.

“Everything that you see and do is a beautiful experience. All planned very well! Our tour guide Frank was so friendly and made it even move amazing. Our driver was so safe and met the needs of our wellbeing.”

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9.3 in 1 Combo: La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, Thermal Spa from San José

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $249

Leave San José at 6:30 a.m. for La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Hanging Bridges, and Los Lagos thermal pools. Guides such as Hayro, Lenny, Miha, and Yorleny add sharp wildlife spotting and local insight. Expect a long day, a small group of up to 15, and time to relax at the end.

“I highly recommend this tour. Our tour guide Yorleny was professional, friendly, fun, knowledgeable, cautious driver & was very considerate of our needs. She picked us up on time from our SJO hotel. We truly enjoyed the sights … small rural towns, mountain views, Arenal Volcano, waterfalls, hanging bridges in the cloud forest, animals (sloths, monkeys, snakes, birds, pizotes, etc.), and relaxing thermal pools. We had an excellent experience. This tour is a great way to learn about and explore the amazing costarrican nature and wildlife.”

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10.Special Private Waterfalls and Jungle Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $120

Join César and Carolina at Hacienda Ébano for a private 4 to 5-hour outing through rainforest trails, five streams, two bridges, and the double Ebano Waterfalls. Swim, spot possible wildlife, ride to the Big Mango Lookout, then enjoy Jade Waterfall and a Costa Rican lunch wrapped in banana leaves.

“Cesar knew the hills and paths like a pro! It was such a wonderful and educational trip. We were so impressed by the waterfalls and the hike itself. Having lunch home cooked at the end of the trip was a nice treat, too! So delicious!!”

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11.Super Combo Tour: Waterfalls Gardens + Coffee Tour + Poás Volcano

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $199

Start at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast and a coffee tour at Doka Estate, then visit Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. You’ll learn how coffee is grown and prepared, look for fumaroles and the turquoise crater lake, and walk past five waterfalls and rescued wildlife. The shared tour lasts about nine hours and allows up to 25 people.

“Great combo of things to see and do for the day - highly recommend!! Paved walk along the ridge to see multiple waterfalls was really unique. Daniel our guide did a great job too!”

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12.Doka Coffee Tour, Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Day Trip from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $184

Start with hotel pickup in San Jose, then visit Doka Coffee Plantation for breakfast and a guided coffee tour, Poás Volcano at 2,708 meters, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens with lunch. Guides such as Max, Martin, Rachel, Victor, and Erik have been praised for clear explanations and helpful service.

“I had a wonderful time The tour guide made it a great experience I would recommend this tour and tour guide”

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