Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfalls and Sarchi

Culture, history, nature, and adventure await in this exciting combo tour that allows you to experience a little bit of everything all in one day. You’ll hike the rim of the active Poas Volcano, stroll through the beautiful La Paz Waterfall Gardens and animal sanctuary where you’ll stop for lunch, then explore the colorful town of Sarchi with working artisans whom you can meet and learn the history of their trade.

For guests staying at the Villa Blanca Resort, you will leave from the reception area on a comfortable bus. Your knowledgeable bilingual guide for the day will be your host as you travel the countryside seeking adventure.

Your first stop will typically be at Poas Volcano National Park. Your bus will make the climb to the top where you can easily access the rim trail of this very active volcano. On your walk you can see an amazing display of subtle volcano activity including smoking fumaroles, bubbling mud and geysers all a safe distance away.

The two craters contain beautiful emerald green pools of water, which are surprisingly different. One crater is full of hot caustic water and steam creating barren surroundings preventing any life from growing. The second crater, with its rich mineral content, creates a healthy landscape full of lush greenery and burgeoning wildlife.

Your next stop will be the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Animal Sanctuary. Easy walking trails follow the La Paz River as visitors pass through rain and cloud forest vegetation to witness a chain of 5 breathtaking waterfalls. Observation platforms are strategically placed so you can soak in the views and take lovely photos.

Along the trail, you’ll visit the bromeliad, hummingbird and butterfly gardens as well as several animal sanctuaries for up close encounters of Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife. These animals have been rescued and are living comfortably within a protective habitat since they are unable to return safely to the wild.

After exploring the Gardens, a delicious lunch will be provided at the La Paz restaurant known for its excellent cuisine. You can relax in the gorgeous surroundings before boarding your waiting coach that will take you to your next adventure.

The last activity of the day you will spend strolling the artisan town of Sarchi, known for the amazingly talented artists who paint mandala-like oxcart wheels and colorful folk art. Among the artisans are painters, sculptors, and woodworkers who graciously invite visitors into their studios for first-class viewing of the creative process.

Your guide will show you the most interesting spots in Sarchi and some of the most famous galleries in the region. You might want to bring along extra spending money for purchasing souvenirs or gifts to bring back home.

This tour is only available to guests at Villa Blanca Resort and includes a bilingual guide, transportation to all destinations and lunch. Travel time varies as well as the time spent at each location, so combined time of participating in all 3 activities, transportation, and lunch can take 8 to 12 hours.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, rain gear, insect repellent, and extra spending money if you’d like to purchase souvenirs. High up on the Poas Volcano it can be windy and chilly so you may like to bring a jacket along.