Poas Volcano, Waterfalls, and Coffee Farm Tour

Plan your visit

Plan your day trip

Prepare for a 12-hour day and changing weather. Temperatures drop significantly at the 2,708-meter volcano elevation.

Poas Volcano, Waterfalls, and Coffee Farm Tour

Route 120, Alajuela, Costa Rica

GPS 10.2, -84.233

Open directions

Getting there

Tours include pickup, or you can self-drive paved roads.

How	Time	Cost	Notes
Tour: Booking a guided full-day excursion from San José	10-12 hours	$130-$195	Includes round-trip hotel transfers, a bilingual guide, meals, and all entrance fees.
Car: Self-driving a rental car to the three stops	1-1.5 hours to the first stop	$40-$80/day for rental	Roads are fully paved. If doing this independently, you must book Poás Volcano tickets online in advance for a specific time slot.

When to go

QuietModerateBusyPeak

The dry season from December through April is the best time to visit. This offers the highest chance of seeing the crater without cloud cover. Try to reach the volcano by 8:00 AM.

What to bring

Warm jacket or fleece (temperatures drop significantly at the 8,885 ft volcano elevation)
Rain jacket or poncho (rain and mist are common in the high-altitude cloud forest)
Comfortable, sturdy walking or hiking shoes (La Paz features many wet stairs and platforms)
Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses)
Insect repellent for the lower-elevation jungle sections
Original passport (required for national park entry verification at Poás)
Reusable water bottle
Small daypack to carry extra clothing layers as the temperature changes throughout the day
Camera or smartphone for wildlife and waterfall photos

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Pack layers and a rain jacket.

You will move from warm coffee fields to a cold, windy crater.

How the day runs

A typical schedule for the 3-in-1 combo tour.

The classic 10 to 12-hour guided itinerary.

6:00 AM
Hotel pickup
Board the bus in San José or Alajuela.
7:30 AM
Doka Estate
Tour the historic wet mill and eat breakfast.
10:00 AM
Poás Volcano
Walk about 700 m to the crater viewpoint.
12:30 PM
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Eat lunch and hike the waterfall trails.
5:00 PM
Return
Arrive back at your hotel.

Practical packing advice

You need a warm jacket or fleece for the volcano. You also need a rain poncho for the cloud forest. Wear sturdy walking shoes, as La Paz has hundreds of wet stairs.

Bring your original passport. Park rangers at Poás require it to verify your advance reservation. Carry a reusable water bottle and insect repellent for the lower elevations.

Easiest way to do it

Coffee Plantation-Poás Volcano N.P-La Paz Waterfall Gardens Park

10 h 4.9 (821)

Guaranteed to skip the long queues
Hotel pick-up and drop-off and Parking Fees
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle

From$185per person

Viator$185 GetYourGuideCompare

Cancellation terms differ by platform and listing. Check them before you pay.

Planning questions

What should I wear to Poas Volcano National Park?

Wear warm layers and a rain jacket. Temperatures at 8,885 feet drop significantly. Bring comfortable walking shoes for the wet trails.

Can you drive to Poas Volcano and La Paz on your own?

Yes. The roads are fully paved. A rental car costs $40 to $80 per day. You must book your Poás Volcano tickets online before arriving.

What is the best time of day to visit Poas Volcano?

Arrive early, ideally by 8:00 AM. Clouds usually obscure the crater by 10:30 AM.