Poás is a working volcano an hour and a half north of San José, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens sits on the wet side of the same mountain. This guide is for you if you want both in one day. It covers the two things that decide whether you see the crater, the ticket you must book before you travel, what to pack for the cold, and what happens when the park closes.
An active volcano sets the rules
Start with the part you cannot control. Poás is active, and the park closes when the volcano or the road says so. Two closures show how that works.
In 2025 the park shut on 23 March, at the start of a new eruptive phase. In April the eruption columns rose more than 4,000 metres. The national emergency commission lifted the red alert after a run of quiet weeks, and the park reopened on 30 July 2025, more than four months later, under a green alert. The authorities said at the time that conditions could change again.
In January 2026 the cause was a bridge. Inspectors found serious damage to the bridge over the Tigre stream at Poasito, on the main road to the crater, and the park closed from 21 January. Traffic was allowed back on 29 January, with a nine-tonne weight limit, and the authorities warned of short closures while the works went on.
What this means for you: book the day, but keep it flexible. If Poás is closed, we tell you and plan the day around La Paz and the coffee farms. If you have several days in San José, put this trip early in your stay so there is room to move it.
The ticket, and the slot you need
Poás tickets are sold only online by SINAC, the national parks service, for a set time. They are not sold at the gate. Since the 2025 reopening, entry runs in 20-minute blocks between 08:00 and 14:00, with a cap on the number of people in each block. Book the slot that matches our arrival, at around 08:30, and do it before the day. Bring the passport you booked with.
At the crater you will see shelters built to protect visitors from falling rock. The signs on them explain, in Spanish and English, what to do in case of ash, gas or rock fall. Follow the rangers' instructions, and if they move you on, go. Check the SINAC site before you travel for the current state of the park.
Cloud and season
The crater is either there or it is white. Mornings are usually clearer, which is why the day goes to Poás first and to the forest after. Even then, nobody can promise you the view. If the cloud sits on the rim when you arrive, your time slot still runs, so use it.
Costa Rica's tourism board gives the Central Valley a dry season of roughly December to March and a rainy season of roughly May to October. The dry months give you a better chance of a clear rim.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 and back at your hotel at around 16:00. The drive up through Alajuela takes about an hour and a half, and the time at the crater is short. The walk from the car park to the rim is not long.
The longest stop is La Paz, which takes up the middle of the day. The gardens have five waterfalls, from El Templo and Magia Blanca to Encantada, Escondida and La Paz itself, linked by about three and a half kilometres of trails and viewing platforms. On the way you pass a hummingbird garden and a butterfly garden. The trails go down by stairways, so take it slowly if you have knees to think about.
Between the two you stop at Poasito for coffee and fruit from the strawberry farms, and lunch is in Vara Blanca, in the gardens or on the road. The Poás ticket, the La Paz entrance and lunch are not included.
Because the vehicle is yours, the plan bends. You can swap La Paz for a coffee farm on the slopes of Poás if you tell us when you book, or stay longer at the crater if the sky has just cleared.
Driving yourself, or a private day
You can drive this route in a hire car. Two things to weigh. First, the crater slot is fixed, and if you miss it you do not get in. Second, the roads around Poás can change at short notice. During the January 2026 bridge closure, the old cantonal road was the only alternative, and it was suitable only for four-wheel drive: narrow, steep and full of sharp bends. The head of the local conservation area warned people not to use any alternative route, calling it very high risk.
A private day leaves the road to your driver, collects you from your hotel in San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia or Alajuela, and lets you sleep on the way back down through Heredia. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Your passport, matching the name on the Poás ticket.
- A warm layer and a rain jacket. The crater is much cooler than San José.
- Shoes with a good grip for the wet stairways at La Paz.
- Money or a card for the La Paz entrance, lunch and the stalls at Poasito.
- A dry layer to leave in the vehicle for the drive back.
Questions people ask
What happens if Poás closes on the day?
We tell you as soon as we know and rebuild the day around La Paz and the coffee farms. If you would rather not go at all, cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund.
Is it suitable for children?
The crater walk is short. La Paz has stairways and a long walk downhill, so bring a carrier for small children and plan rests.
Can we combine it with the coffee country?
Yes. Ask for a coffee farm in place of La Paz, or see the coffee farm, Grecia and Sarchí tour as a separate, shorter day.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Booking the day
Book the tour, then book the Poás slot for around 08:30, and keep a spare day in case the volcano or the road has other plans. If you are still choosing between the two craters, our guide to day trips from San José compares Poás with Irazú. Everything else is on the Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
