La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Pablo Herrera • March 24, 2025

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the #1 Most Visited Privately Owned Ecological Attraction in Costa Rica featuring one of the best hikes near San José, the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, rescued wildlife preserve with over 100 species of animals, and an environmental education program.

The gardens include five waterfalls, safe hiking trails through the cloud forest, an aviary with numerous species of birds and toucan feeding, an insect exhibit, butterfly observatory, capuchin (white-faced) monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, Serpentinian (snake exhibit), jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, Tica house with petting zoo and ox cart, ranarium (frog exhibit), orchid exhibit, heliconia exhibit. 

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is open year-round from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations are not necessary.   With over 3.5 kilometers of walking trails and educational animal exhibits to enjoy,   you may want to plan to spend at least 2 hours for your visit.   However, if you would like to see every trail and sit or pass slowly through the Aviary and the Butterfly Observatory, as well as enter act with the Hummingbirds, you will need more than 2 hours.   Add a visit to the frogs, snakes and wild cat and monkey rescue and you have a full-day tour.   There is a decent restaurant on site serving a buffet lunch if you do choose to spend the day.

The waterfall trails are an easy to moderate hike, with beautiful lookouts and benches to rest or observe and take photos.   Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared with light or waterproof jacket.   The park is about 1600 meters above sea level and cools off with cloud cover.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is located 1 hour by car from Villa San Ignacio.   Public transportation is limited to this area but has easy access to paved roads.   The drive does take you through beautiful, scenic landscape … and a few curves as you wind up the road to higher altitudes.   Ideally, take route 107 to San Pedro de Poas, then 146 then 120 then 126.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  Recommended visiting before 3:00 p.m.

Entrance fee Adults:   $48 (with tax $54) Children 3 to 12 years:   $32 (with tax $39)

Book your stay at the best hotel in Costa Rica for families here

8 Things to do in Alajuela Costa Rica with 48 Hours

April 14, 2025
Here is a comprehensive list of things to do in Alajuela Costa Rica – just a short drive from the Juan Santamaria International airport vicinity if find yourself in the area with a little extra time and looking for stuff to do.

Family Visit to Costa Rica? 5 Major Ways Birding is Good for Kids!

By Pablo Herrera • April 14, 2025
Costa Rica is an excellent option for a family friendly vacation. This stable, safe country offers plenty of fun and healthy outdoor activities for both kids and adults, and many of those activities also have an educational component. One such option is birding. When it comes to birding or “birdwatching”, Costa Rica is a top The post Family Visit to Costa Rica? 5 Major Ways Birding is Good for Kids! appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Visiting Alajuela Costa Rica? Top 5 Historic Things to See

By Pablo Herrera • April 7, 2025
The city of Alajuela, home to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, covers the western side of the Central Valley. Many know the central valley as home to Costa Rica’s Capital, San Jose. But there are distinct areas that connect with San Jose, but have a character of their own.Alajuela is likely the first and last The post Visiting Alajuela Costa Rica? Top 5 Historic Things to See appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Birds and Breakfast at Villa San Ignacio

By Pablo Herrera • April 7, 2025
On a vacation in Costa Rica, breakfast might be the most important meal of the day. A good, healthy breakfast provides energy needed to visit a volcano, take a coffee tour, go birding in Costa Rica, and enjoy other fun and exciting activities. As luck would have it, the traditional Costa Rican breakfast is a The post Costa Rica Birds and Breakfast at Villa San Ignacio appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

A Guide to the Hummingbirds of Villa San Ignacio

By Pablo Herrera • March 31, 2025
Hummingbirds are surreal. Tiny, fearless, and with naturally iridescent highlights, these birds look more like feathered fairies than their avian relatives. 300 plus species zip between flowers from southern Alaska to Chile, the highest number occurring in the tropical zone. In Costa Rica, more than 50 of these incredible feathered creatures have occurred and several The post A Guide to the Hummingbirds of Villa San Ignacio appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Beautiful Birds of Costa Rica: Tanagers

By Pablo Herrera • March 24, 2025
Costa Rica is a fantastic place to experience the tropical side of life. Situated just north of the equator, this beautiful nation never gets cold and in the Central Valley, temperatures are like a constant, idyllic June summer day. That welcome climate isn’t just enjoyed by people. It also works for a vast array of The post Beautiful Birds of Costa Rica: Tanagers appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

The Best Way to End a Birding Trip to Costa Rica: 5 Suggestions

By Pablo Herrera • March 24, 2025
Birding in Costa Rica can take several forms. Some of the more focused birders walk off the plane with binoculars at the ready, others enjoy birds in a much more casual and easy-going way, and folks with cameras may prefer the photographic side of birding. No matter how you enjoy birds in Costa Rica, there’s The post The Best Way to End a Birding Trip to Costa Rica: 5 Suggestions appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Doka Estate – Coffee Tour

By Pablo Herrera • March 17, 2025
Located along the fertile slopes of the Póas Valley, Doka Estate has been growing and roasting award-winning coffee for more than 100 years. The farm uses the same century-old water mill imported from England to power their processing plant – a rustic building recently designated a historical and architectural heritage site by the Costa The post Doka Estate – Coffee Tour appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Poas Volcano National Park – What to Know

By Pablo Herrera • March 17, 2025
Poas Volcano National Park is a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica. When the mist and clouds part you’ll see the sulfuric, bubbling green, rain-fed lake at the bottom, surrounded by smoke and steam rising from fumaroles.  Water from the lake is constantly seeping through cracks in the hot rock, evaporating The post Poas Volcano National Park – What to Know appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.

Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center

By Pablo Herrera • March 10, 2025
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is located a short 10 minutes from Hotel Villa San Ignacio. If you are just starting out a family vacation and spending two nights to shake off some jet lag, we recommend a visit to Rescate Wildlife to view an abundance of Costa Rica’s treasured wildlife. As well, if you have The post Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center appeared first on Villa San Ignacio | Hotel near San Jose and Alajuela | Costa Rica.
More Posts