Hi, guys! We're thinking of making a return trip to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Did anyone take the guided tour of the grounds? Did you see anything that you wouldn't have seen on your own? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Hey volcanogirl, not to hijack your thread, but swisshiker (aka kopp) and I were talking about you at lunch last week. Any chance you will join us at the Austin/SA GTG? Here's a link in case you are interested.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35100217

I hope someone will answer your question.

I can't answer your question, but if you get the chance to hit Los ChorrosWaterfalls it's worth a stop as well. I think it only costs you about $3 to get in, and you can swin in the pools and hike all around the place.

P_M, thanks for the invite! I hadn't heard anything about it, and it looks like fun, but hubby and I have plans for that night. I see you're going to the Grist Mill - one of my favorite spots! Have fun, and have one of those homemade wine coolers for me!

airwayvz, thanks for the info. I had read about Los Chorros in a trip report - maybe yours? Can you remind me where it is again?

What is it about Austing this Spring? Roadfood.com has a get together there the same weekend I am there for another convention.

Keith

It's between Grecia and Alajuela...closer to Grecia I believe. I don't remember the exact location, but an interenet serach would probably find it.

Thanks, air.

I guess there's no takers on the guided hike at La Paz - we had fun doing it on our own, so I think we'll do it ourselves again. Just wanted to make sure we didn't miss something.

Volcano Girl,
What is the fee to do the La Paz Waterfall Gardens on your own?

nina, we stayed at the Peace Lodge, so it was free for us. There's a lot to do on the grounds - a hike to 5 really beautiful waterfalls, a ranarium, aviary, serpentarium, and a butterfly house. Also, they have a nocturnal frog tour that's great and at certain times of day, you can hand feed the hummingbirds. I believe the cost is around $30 per adult (less for children) if you're not staying on the grounds. It's expensive, but I think it's worth it. If you stay there, they give you a little bracelet to wear, and you can come and go as you please.

We're staying at the Peace Lodge next week. Do we need to make an advance reservation for any of the special activities like feeding the hummingbirds or the nocturnal frog tour?

I'd like to know about the guided vs. unguided hike as well. We were planning to do it on our own but would consider a guide if it was worth it.

Thanks Volcano Girl, we decided not to stay at Peace lodge because we would've needed 2 rooms for our family and one night would've been uber expensive, so we're staying at Vista del Valle our last night in CR.

Maybe I'll look into Los Chorros Waterfalls instead, I saw some photos and they looked beautiful, and very close to VDV.

The hummingbird tour you won't need reservations, you just walk up when they say the feeding times are and they give you a little feeder to hold - if you cup your fingers higher around the base rather than the stem they will land on your hand, very weird to feel their tiny little feet). The frog tour is offered a couple times a night; if you're only staying 1 night it wouldn't hurt to make in advance or if you have a specific time you want dinner, otherwise I would just wait til you're there. Since it's only for people staying there, they have enough slots for everyone. Sorry vg, just wandered about on my own. Not sure how much it would add to the experience other than the cost, since all the workers there I found so willing to talk about whetever exhibit area they were posted in.

tully, when we did the grounds, there was no one in the exhibits; I think it's because we got there so late in the day due to our flight delay.

Cathy, when we did the nocturnal frog tour, they only had one time left and the rest were filled; we were pretty flexible on timing so it worked out okay for us. The tour is really great; you're completely in the dark and they give you a flashlight, and they even let you hold the frogs - kind of freaky at first, but it was fun, and we got great pictures.