A cloud-forest trail down a river gorge past five waterfalls, with clouds of hummingbirds and butterflies along the way.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a private nature park on the eastern slopes of Poás, where the La Paz river drops through a steep, forested gorge.
A trail of steps and viewing platforms follows the river down past five waterfalls, each bigger than the last, ending near the main La Paz fall.
Up top, the hummingbird garden has recorded 26 species darting between the feeders. There's a large butterfly observatory, an orchid garden, and wildlife houses for rescued toucans, sloths, frogs and wild cats.
It's polished and pricey, but beautiful, and easy to combine with Poás volcano or a coffee farm on the same road.
A morning at the gardens.
Start at the feeders, where dozens of hummingbirds whirr around you.
Walk through the butterfly dome while it's warm and active.
See the toucans, sloths, frogs and cats in their enclosures.
Follow the trail and stairs down the gorge past the five falls.
At the bottom, take the park shuttle back to the entrance for lunch.
About 1½ hours from San José by car or tour, often combined with Poás.
Buy at the gate or online; lunch packages are available.
The main waterfall can also be seen free from the road bridge below the park.
San José practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences.
