Doka, Poas & La Paz Waterfall Gardens

You will be picked up at your hotel and driven by the city of Alajuela passing by the Agriculture Monument, the Monument to Juan Santamaria and the famous Mango Park before continuing on to the Doka coffee plantation where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast. The Vargas Ruiz family, who own the plantation are pioneers in coffee production since 1931, and will teach you about the whole production and processing: learning how coffee is picked, milled, ground and roasted. You’ll also get to sample the estate’s numerous blends of coffee.

Next, continue towards the Poás Volcano, there will be a change in temperature and vegetation; and you will see coffee plantations, fern, flower and strawberry farms along the way, creating a colourful landscape. The Poás is one of the most spectacular volcanoes in the country, with its enormous crater measuring one kilometre in diameter and 314 metres deep. At the volcano you can explore segments of the park with a light hike and peer into an impressive crater steaming with fumaroles. You’ll also visit the beautiful Botos Lagoon and learn about the various ecosystems that are present within the region.

After visiting the volcano, you’ll continue on to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a natural private park with over 3½ kilometres of walking trails leading to the beautiful and powerful White Magic Waterfall. While here you will also have the opportunity to visit the hummingbird garden, serpentarium, bird house (visitors are allowed to hold a toucan on their arm), butterfly garden, and frog exhibit.