Add dates

Alajuela Culinary & nightlife

Our most recommended Alajuela Culinary & nightlife

Poás Volcano, Coffee Plantation & La Paz Waterfall Gardens

1. Poás Volcano, Coffee Plantation & La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Experience Costa Rica's nature and culture on this full-day tour from San José. Your first destination is the Doka Estate coffee plantation, where you'll learn all about the ancient techniques of producing some of the best coffee in Costa Rica and around the world. Experience the careful process involved in the cultivation, harvesting, and roasting of the Golden Bean before tasting the delectable product. After your coffee tour, continue to Poás Volcano National Park, where there is a noticeable change in temperature and beautiful scenery in a cloud forest. Climb up Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano that most recently erupted in 2017. The crater of the volcano is over a mile across and 1,050 feet deep, making for breathtaking views. Hike on a trail to the beautiful Botos Lagoon as you learn about the different ecosystems in the park. Then, continue to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and enjoy a buffet lunch of traditional Costa Rican dishes. After lunch, explore the lush tropical rainforest. See the flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies, monkeys, and hummingbirds before returning to San José.

Nature Safari Float + Tortilla Making

2. Nature Safari Float + Tortilla Making

Your day of adventure and cultural immersion begins on the Peñas Blancas Safari Float, the perfect spot for everyone from the very youngest to the very oldest nature lover in your group to get close enough to hear the sounds of the wildlife. After a short drive from La Fortuna to the river dock, your guide will supply life jackets and help you aboard the raft for your two-hour float down the Peñas Blancas. Your guide will share his love of Costa Rica and the knowledge and history they know from living in the region. On this relaxing float down the Peñas Blancas River, you move slowly and stealthily so you won’t disturb the ambiance, which greatly improves your chance of seeing the abundant life that inhabit this river. Monkeys, the Long-Nosed bat, iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards, owls and much more reside along the banks of the Peñas Blancas River. After returning to the dock, you will depart for the Doña Mara Tortilla Making Experience, and visit with a local family. This time at Doña Maras home will give you a better understanding of the meaning of “Pura Vida” (pure life) experienced by rural Costa Ricans. This authentic cultural experience should be a part of everyone’s visit to Costa Rica! You will be welcomed with a tropical drink (pineapple, orange and coconut water) at the “rancho” (like a gazebo) and enjoy a delicious typical lunch prepared on Doña Mara’s rustic wood-fired stove. While lunch is cooking, you will get an opportunity to try your hand at making tortillas from freshly ground corn “masa.” You will learn how to flatten the dough into perfect circles, ready for cooking – and for the best part – you will get to enjoy the fresh home-made tortillas served with lunch! Guests are encouraged to practice their Spanish and learn about the Costa Rican culture while eating lunch with the family. At the end of the tour, your driver will take you back to your La Fortuna area hotel.

2 activities found
Sort by:

Other Sightseeing Options in Alajuela

Want to discover all there is to do in Alajuela? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Alajuela

We loved everything about this activity! Our guide, Freddy, was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He picked us up right at our hotel in San Jose and dropped us back off at the same place. We learned all about the process of making coffee as well as the history of coffee in Costa Rica. At Poas volcano we were able to see the full crater without any clouds in the way, which is rare. Lastly we went to Peace Lodge And walked around some of the nature exhibits (butterfly garden, frog garden, etc.) before hiking down to the waterfall. Along the way we also stopped for breakfast and lunch, both with amazing and authentic food!! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a day trip!

This was such a good way to kick off my travels in Costa Rica! I felt super comfortable doing this as a solo female traveller, and I met some really lovely people over the course of the day. The tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable, and the overall day wa as great balance between exploring at an easy pace and learning lots! Definitely worth the price, I really recommend!

The tour was just perfect!!! Marco our guide had absurd knowledge about the whole country and filled us with valuable information. We learned a lot and saw breathtaking landscapes! Everything from the beginning, from the coffee plantations, to the waterfalls and the volcano, everything was impeccable! 10/10! Marco is in our hearts ❤️❤️❤️

Ronnie, our tour guide was funny, down to earth, and very knowledgeable. He took great care of his tourists and we could tell he enjoyed what he does. I will request him anytime I do this tour again.

A beautiful day of discovery of Costa Rica, very complete and well accompanied by a very interesting guide.