If you’re looking for a fun day trip from San Jose, head to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park in Vara Blanca. This beautiful park has 5 waterfalls and an animal sanctuary on the property, allowing visitors to revel in the beauty of the cloud forest.
La Paz Waterfall Garden Nature Park
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is only a one hour drive from San Jose but feels a world away. It sits high in elevation in the small town of Vara Blanca and is also part of the Peace Lodge property (a gorgeous luxury boutique hotel). You can read our review of the Peace Lodge for more information.
Our partnership with La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park gives our readers a 7% discount for adults and children.
Discount is off original prices listed below and includes ALL taxes and fees. Prices are quoted in USD and are valid until December 15, 2025.
Adult entrance: $61.02
Adult entrance + buffet lunch: $77.97
Child entrance: $42.94
Child entrance + Lunch: $53.11
IMPORTANT:
This is for the entrance fee to the park only. It is not a guided tour. Tickets do not include transportation. Please book through our site to get the park entrance discount. Additionally, if you take a taxi or shuttle to the park, make sure you only book transportation and make reservations beforehand with us. You can also only use one discount code per reservation.
***The form is having some issues with Chrome and Safari. If it doesn’t work for you, please email us at web @ Mytanfeet. com and include the following information: your name, date of tour, entrance or entrance + lunch, number of adults and children (and children’s ages).***
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Discount FAQ
Where is the park located?
Click here to go to the park on Google Maps.
What if I don’t have my own transportation?
If you need transportation, you will need to arrange a private driver or a taxi. There is no public transportation directly to the park. Another option is to book a day tour that includes roundtrip transportation (click here to read more about San Jose day tours and get our discount).
If you need transportation, we will be happy to set it up for you with our private transportation provider. Please leave a note in the comment section if you require this service.
Do I need a 4×4 to drive there?
The road to La Paz Waterfall Gardens from San Jose is all on well paved roads. However, it gets very curvy, windy and narrow once you get out of the city so please drive slow.
When is the park open?
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is open everyday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
How much time do people normally spend at the park?
On average, people spend around 3-4 hours at the park including lunch. It does depends on how long it takes for you to walk the trails and see the animals and if you are getting lunch there or not.
Can I stop by the park on my way from San Jose to La Fortuna?
Yes and I highly recommend it! It’s a great stop in between. We do recommend going early in the morning so you can take advantage of the whole day and not be driving to La Fortuna in the dark. But you can definitely stop by and use our discount!
What is the lunch like?
Lunch is buffet style and they have a good mix of international and Costa Rican food. They have vegetarian options like salad, veggie stir fry, bread, cheese pizza and fries.
What’s the weather like?
Vara Blanca is high in elevation so that area is generally cooler, cloudier and rainier. It experiences typical tropical seasons with a dry and rainy but note that it can rain at night or afternoon even dry season. We recommend to bring a rain jacket and wear long pants and closed toed shoes.
During rainy season, we highly recommend a waterproof backpack and rainjacket. They have ponchos and umbrellas for sale at the gift shop.
If you can, go as early as it opens. Tour groups start arriving around 10 AM so it is a lot less crowded in the morning and near closing time.
Jamie says
How far in advance do I need to book this? Also, we will be driving from La Fortuna to San Jose and have all our luggage. Your previous comment about the luggage in the car was from 2020 and you mentioned sparsity due to covid. Is that still relevant?
Sammi says
Hi Jamie, you don’t need to book it super far in advance if you don’t want to as the park rarely if not ever gets sold out unless it’s a private event. They have their own parking lot with lots of tourism buses going in and out, but please do not leave any valuables in your car and try not to leave anything visible as much as possible. Generally it’s not recommended to leave luggage in the car alone, this park is a very popular touristic place, but they are not responsible if anything happens to your car or belongings.
Jacqueline Furuno says
Can you send me rates for December pls?
Sammi says
Hi Jacqueline, we’ve sent you an email and also this form has been updated. 2025 rates for La Paz will start on December 16, 2024.
Jen Minarik says
We will not be visiting until March 2025, is this rate only honored until Nov 2024?
Sammi says
Yes, right now the form’s rates are until November 2024, for March 2025, we will send you the new rate via email.
Dora Biro says
Hi Sammi,
Can you help me please with a bit of detail what does the ticket entrance+lunch mean? Can I choose from one specific food from one restaurant for this price or it is just the price which allows me to eat and then pay at any restaurant in the park?
Thank you very much for your help
Sammi says
Hi Dora, the lunch is a buffet style and is only at one designated restaurant
Vandra Massey says
HI..visiting in December 2023, so could you please send form for discount to La Paz for 2 adults? also, what time to they do the hummingbird feeds, where they close the feeders, and they can feed out of your hands?
Sammi says
You can fill out the form on this booking page and we’ll get back to you to complete your booking with the discount. They still have some hummingbird feeders around, but not as many as before, the birds won’t feed out of your hands.
Suzanne says
What is the drive like from La Paz to La Fortuna compared to San Jose to La Fortuna via San Ramon?
Thank you!
Sammi says
They are both normal routes, La paz is a bit more curvy and narrow through smaller towns.
Tony says
Hi there, still offering the discount? Need to book for 5 adults (w/buffet). 1 of the adults is from Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Hello Tony, yes the discount is still valid, you can use the booking form. Please note we unfortunately don’t have discounts for Costa Rican nationals but we have it for tourists (Costa Rican citizens have a different price). Please write a note in the comment section that one adult is from CR so that we can give the accurate quote and that adult will need to present their cedula.
Russell Jones says
How can you find out if the tours pick up at your hotel?
Sammi says
We don’t provide transportation for La Paz Waterfall Gardens (The park doesn’t either), so you’ll have to find your own way to get there if you want to visit the nature park. You can drive or you can book a tour with another company (We have a partnership with a San Jose tour operator that does offer La Paz with transportation which you can get here: https://mytanfeet.com/special-deals/san-jose-day-tours-discount/)
will smith says
Can you swim and jump off the waterfalls?
Sammi says
Nope not allowed at La Paz
Teresa says
Hi, if we are driving from San Jose to La Fortuna and have all of our luggage with us, is the parking lot safe at La Paz to leave our luggage in the car? I see you recommended stopping at la Paz between those destinations so I’m sure it’s safe- but wanted to double check.
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Teresa, the La Paz has a large parking lot and before COVID, there were always tons of of cars there since lots of tourism vans go there. Therefore it wasn’t really much of a problem before because there was always a lot of traffic with tourists, guides and companies going in and out. Nowadays or whenever you go there may not be as much flow so if possible if you go, try to hide as much of your luggage so it’s not visible and don’t leave anything else visible in the car (no purses/backpackers/bags/shopping bags/etc.), roll up windows and lock your doors.
Courtney says
Hi there,
Where do you park if you are arriving with your own vehicle? Is there a fee for parking?
Sammi says
They have a large parking lot at La Paz, it is free.
Carla says
Hi! Are refunds available if we need to cancel for any reason?
Sammi says
Hi Carla, the cancellation policy is if cancelled in less than 24 hours, there is a 100% penalty fee. No refunds for no shows.
Lucy C. says
Hello,
I wanted to know if this discount still applies for 2020 planning to go in June and will like to purchases tickets to visit this location.
Sammi says
Hello Lucy! Yes the discount is still valid!
Kristen says
Hello, does this day pass to La Paz include access to swimming pools there? Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Kristen, La Paz waterfall gardens doesn’t have swimming pools. They have an animal sanctuary and waterfalls.
Michael says
I just filled out the form but the page just looked like it reloaded and I did not receive an email. Maybe your form is still having issues. If that’s the case please e-mail me. Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Michael, just sent you an email 🙂
Dan Roy says
I just sent my request for tickets. When will I hear from you?
Dan R.
Sammi says
Hi Dan, I just sent you an email!
Catherine Larochelle says
I have twice submitted requests for tickets for La Paz and have not received a reply. Is this offer still valid?
Sammi says
Hi Catherine, we just sent you an email!
Greg Burns says
I have twice submitted requests for tickets for La Paz and have not received a reply. Is this offer still valid? I would like to visit La Paz on Jan 31st.
Sammi says
Hi Greg, I just sent you an email. The offer is still valid, you have to fill out all the sections but the form is having issues with certain browsers. I sent you details in the email 🙂
Sid says
Hi.. can I reach The waterfall gardens and but ticket there? Using your Mytanfeet discount? Or advance reservations are a must here at Lapaz.
Sammi says
Hi Sid, to get the discount our agreement with La Paz is to make reservations and payment beforehand using the form on this page.