Costa Rica Tours · From San José
A guided day out of San José with hotel pickup: the Poás crater rim, a photo stop at La Paz Waterfall, then lunch and a coffee tour at Hacienda Alsacia, the Starbucks farm on the volcano's slopes. Pick it for the paperwork it takes off your hands, because the park ticket, the mountain driving and lunch are all booked for you.
Costa Rica Tours runs the classic loop north of the capital. An air-conditioned van collects you from your San José hotel and climbs through Alajuela, Fraijanes and the dairy country around Poasito to the national park, about 1.5 hours on the road. The listing gives roughly an hour at Poás, a photo stop at La Paz Waterfall, then about 2.5 hours at Hacienda Alsacia, the coffee farm Starbucks bought on the slopes of the volcano in 2013 and opened to visitors in 2018 (Starbucks).
An hour in the park sounds generous. Most of it is not spent at the rim. Since 28 August 2026 the rangers let 56 people stand at the crater viewpoint for 20 minutes at a time, helmets on (Tico Times). Add the safety briefing and the paved walk of about 700 metres each way and the hour is gone. What decides your view is the clock: cloud usually fills the crater by 10:30 or 11:00, so ask the operator for your slot time once you are confirmed.
Two lines in the listing need a closer read. It mentions a walk toward Laguna Botos, the cold green lake in the cloud forest; that trail was not among those named open in the August 2026 rules, which listed only the main trail and Sombrilla de Pobre, so plan on the main crater only. And the La Paz stop is about 30 minutes at the waterfall beside the road, for photos. It is not a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens with its trails and animals. For the gardens, look at the Waterfall Gardens tour, or at the Café Doka day.
The van collects you from your hotel. The listing says bookings are confirmed within 48 hours; your confirmation carries the pickup time.
North through Alajuela and the coffee and dairy farms below Poasito. The air cools fast: it is usually 10 to 18°C at the top.
A ranger briefing, helmets on, then the paved path to the viewpoint. Your group gets 20 minutes at the railing above the acid lake before you walk back down.
A stop beside the 37-metre falls, which drop right next to Route 126 (La Paz Waterfall). Photos, not the paid gardens.
Lunch and the coffee farm tour at the Starbucks estate. The farm's own tour walks the coffee fields and the processing area and ends with a tasting on the patio (a visitor's account).
The van drops you at your hotel.
★★★★★The visit to Poás Volcano National Park is impressive, and seeing the active crater is amazing.
★★★★★Ricardo is an excellent guide! He has an extensive knowledge of the culture and nature.
★★★★★my favorite part was learning about the coffee process and having a fresh cup at the end of the tour.
★★★★★I had a very enjoyable day. Charly was a great guide and knew the area well.
Read next:
The listing gives about an hour in Poás Volcano National Park. That hour holds the ranger briefing, the walk of about 700 metres each way and 20 minutes at the viewpoint, the limit for every group since 28 August 2026.
No. The listing describes a photo stop of about 30 minutes at La Paz Waterfall, seen from the road. The gardens, with their trails, hummingbirds and rescued animals, charge foreign adults $56 and are part of the Waterfall Gardens tour.
The listing mentions a walk toward Botos, but that trail was not among those named open in the rules of 28 August 2026, which listed the main trail to the viewpoint and Sombrilla de Pobre. Expect the main crater only, unless the park reopens it.
Yes. Lunch is part of the roughly 2.5 hours at Hacienda Alsacia, together with the coffee farm tour. Park entry, hotel pickup and the guide are included too.
Ready to book
The crater, La Paz Waterfall and lunch at Hacienda Alsacia in one day, with hotel pickup and park entry included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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