La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Catarata La Paz

A private nature park combining a series of powerful waterfalls with an animal sanctuary housing sloths, big cats, monkeys and toucans. Walkways and lookouts make it a family-friendly highlight in the cloud forest.

Things to do

• Hike to La Paz Waterfall — Descend the forested stairways to the base of the park's namesake 37-meter waterfall for a misty, thundering view.
• Walk the Five Waterfalls Trail — Follow the paved trail and lookout platforms past Magia Blanca, Templo, Encantada, La Paz and Escondida falls through the cloud forest.
• Visit the Sloth Sanctuary — See rescued two- and three-toed sloths up close in the park's dedicated habitat.
• See the Big Cats enclosure — Observe rescued pumas, jaguars and ocelots that cannot be returned to the wild.
• Enter the Hummingbird Garden — Stand among dozens of hummingbirds darting between feeders in one of Costa Rica's richest hummingbird spots.
• Explore the Butterfly Observatory — Walk through one of the largest butterfly enclosures in the country, filled with native species like the blue morpho.
• Meet toucans and monkeys — Visit the aviary and monkey exhibits to see keel-billed toucans, spider monkeys and capuchins.
• Tour the Costa Rican Heritage Village — Step into a recreated traditional oxcart farmhouse to learn about rural Tico life and coffee culture.

Food to try

• Gallo pinto — The classic Costa Rican breakfast of rice and black beans, served at the park's buffet with eggs, plantains and tortillas.
• Casado — A hearty plate of rice, beans, salad, plantains and a choice of meat, offered at the buffet-style restaurant overlooking the forest.
• Costa Rican coffee — Sip locally grown highland coffee, a fitting drink in the cool cloud forest climate.
• Fresh tropical fruit and refrescos — Try papaya, pineapple and natural fruit drinks (refrescos naturales) made from local produce.
• Agua dulce — A warm, sweet drink made from tapa de dulce (raw cane sugar), a traditional Tico beverage.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress for the cloud forest — Bring a rain jacket and non-slip shoes, as the walkways stay wet and cool from the constant mist and rain.
• Pay in colones or USD — The park accepts US dollars and cards, but small colones are handy and tipping is welcome though not mandatory.
• It's a rescue, not a zoo — The animals here are rescued and cannot be released, so respect the no-touching and no-flash-photography rules.
• Say 'Pura Vida' — This national phrase means both hello and a relaxed, grateful outlook that Ticos use warmly with visitors.

Nearby

• Poás Volcano National Park — 8 km
• Barva Volcano (Heredia) — 11 km
• San José de la Montaña (Heredia) — 16 km
• Barva (Heredia) — 22 km