La Paz Waterfall Gardens  

  La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Peace Lodge 
Gift Shop and Restaurant

Near Volcano Poas
Vara Blanca, Costa Rica
Telephone: (506) 225 0643
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.html
 

As you wander the trails of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, your senses will
delight at the five waterfalls… that line the trail. Originally, the only way
one could view the falls, was by literally hanging over the side of the
mountain, looking through trees and ferns, not very inviting for picture
taking. With the construction of Waterfall Gardens, guests are afforded
views from platforms above, below and in front of the falls for great photo opportunities.

When you think about Costa Rica, you probably imagine lush tropical
Rain Forests, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies
and flowers. At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you will see all that and more.

Waterfall Gardens is open year round, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with our
last shuttle pick up, from the exit trail at 5:00 p.m. With over 3.5 kilometers
of walking trails, we recommend a minimum of 1 1/2 hours reserved for your
stay. However, if you would like to see every trail and thoroughly enjoy the
time spent in the Butterfly Observatory, Hummingbird Gardens and our new
bird watching areas, you will probably want to stay the whole day.
 

Waterfall Gardens is a primarily a self-guided tour, allowing our visitors to
proceed directly to their areas of interest. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes (preferably with a thick tread, for hiking the trails and hundreds
of stairs), shorts or comfortable pants and a lightweight jacket or raincoat.
Please keep in mind, that the park ranges in altitude from 5,200 feet to 4,200
feet, so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.

 Entrance to La Paz Waterfall Gardens 
Adults: $25
Students (with I.D.) $15
Children (12 and under): $15

  Map, Directions and Taxi Info: From the Airport Area or San
José, going through Alajuela, Take the Pan American Highway towards
the International Airport and take the Alajuela exit. Continue straight on
this road for 12 miles following the signs for Poás Volcano. At the dead
end three way intersection, take a right. Proceed for one mile, to the
town of Poasito and make another right at the intersection, where it says
Heredia – Vara Blanca – Sarapiquí. Make a left at the gas station, at
Vara Blanca and proceed for 3 miles. Waterfall Gardens is on the left.


  With the addition of our Peace Lodge Hotel, we are now
offering waitress service for dinner in our upstairs dining room. Complete
with fireplace and an incredible interior design, your dining experience
will be comparable to few others.


  Waterfall Gardens is proud to present the largest enclosed
Butterfly Observatory in the world, covering 18,000 square feet (1,630
square meters) and towering 50 feet in height. Our collection includes ten
species of the most colorful butterflies, found in Costa Rica.

In our Hummingbird Garden, our feathered friends will delight and
fascinate you with their antics, as they play and fight with each other at
amazing speeds. These special creatures have become so tame, they will approach and feed within a few feet of you.

  Bernardo’s Trail – 550 Meters (20-30 minute walk)
Starting at the Welcome Center , Bernardo’s Trail will take you downhill
to the beautiful Hummingbird Garden, where you can enjoy the wonders
of these tiny creatures. From there proceed through the Orchid Houses
to the entrance to the forest. As you continue to walk downhill through
secondary forest, you will hear the river and waterfalls growing louder
and watch the forest tend toward more primary growth.


  Trail of Falls – 350 Meters Down and Back (45 minutes)
This truly spectacular trail, begins with a suspended metal staircase
which takes a path along the vertical cliff face of Magia Blanca Waterfall,
the largest and most powerful of the falls. Halfway down the suspended
trail, you will encounter a viewing platform that allows you to observe the
fall from twenty feet under the drop- off. The route continues to our two
viewing balconies and great photo opportunities. Continuing down river
you will dead end, at our three balconies in the gorge, that was created
by the confluence of the Rio La Paz Grande and the Rio La Paz. From
the balconies, you view three separate waterfalls, Encantada, Escondido
and, of course, the famous La Paz Waterfall.  After hiking back up you
can continue up river, to our viewing platform at the Templo Waterfall
Canyon.
 

  Rio La Paz Trail – 685 Meters (20 Minutes)
Once you hike up above the Templo Waterfall, the trail will take you on
a leisurely stroll along the banks of the source of the magnificent falls.
Around each turn you will find breathtaking views up and down the La
Paz River. Interspersed along the trail are small side trails that take
you right to the water’s edge. Depending upon the flow of the river
some of these areas will be open for swimming.  You will also feast
your eyes upon hoards of gigantic, green Iguanas "sunning themselves"
upon the tree tops!


  Fern Trail – 600 Meters (20 Minutes)
As the name implies this trail boasts an extensive collection of tree
ferns.  In fact, you will find eight out of the 12 species of tree ferns
found in Costa Rica on this trail.

   La Paz Peace Lodge  
Near Poas Volcano
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/lapaz-peacelodge.htm

  With the Peace Lodge we endeavored to create the finest quality accommodations in Costa Rica. To do this we put our master craftsmen
to work sculpting a uniquely themed environment for your enjoyment. We combined the use of naturally shaped wood beams and hand laid hard
wood flooring, along with river stone and slate, to render an atmosphere
that encompasses the rustic past and natural beauty of the rainforest and
Costa Rica.


  Welcome to the Peace lodge. The ultimate awakening of your
senses. Here every magical sight, wondrous smell and sensual touch,
create irreplaceable memories of a journey, you wish to take again and
again.


  Each and every room, boasts a Jacuzzi tub and stone fireplace,
along with showers that transform into waterfalls… with the turn of a knob.
From the handcrafted canopy beds and love seats, to the original stained
glass and illustrated artwork, you will understand the time and care, put
into the details of each accommodation.


  To insure your enjoyment of the cool mountain weather and view
of the Poás Volcano, we built oversized balconies, complete with rocking
chairs, hammocks and custom Jacuzzi tubs. The experience continues
with your choice of aromatherapy products and our selection of fine quality
linens and robes.

  All guests are welcome to enjoy the park, before it opens and
after it closes, the optimal bird and wildlife viewing times. Private walking
tours are available, but we suggest booking these, at the same time you
reserve your room.


  We offer four diverse day tours, for guests of the Peace Lodge,
including Sarapiqui Canopy Adventure, Rafting on the Sarapiqui, Poás
Volcano and Doka Estate Coffee Tour.


  Rates based on double occupancy and do not include Sales or
ICT Taxes. Lodging includes full menu breakfast & unlimited access to
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park ($25 per person, per day value.)