I've read somewhere that not all waterfalls are open after earthquake but their website does not provide much info . I was wondering , if they are all open and if not, is it still worth a visit and $35 price to enter ? Appreciate any info provided. Thanks

We were just there Sunday. Only 4 of the waterfalls are visible from the trails. It is beautiful but to us, not worth the drive on that terrrible (and IMHO unsafe )road. If we were staying at Peace lodge anyway then we would go but I think it is too soon to say "the road to La Paz is open"

Which road are you referring to? I've been somewhat concerned about the route we're going to take from Peace Lodge to Arenal.

I've heard the road from SJO to the Peace Lodge is in good shape - is that right? Isn't it the road from the Peace Lodge to Arenal that's damaged?

We are thinking of staying in Pura Vida Hotel http://puravidahotel.com/. It is around 40 min from Poas. This is our 1st day in Costa Rica and we've been thinking to hire a taxi for a half a day tour to Poas or La Paz waterfalls. Is it the same road to Poas as to the waterfalls?

You'll be fine on the road to Poas or La Paz from Pura Vida. The road that is questionable is the road from La Paz to Arenal. It was pretty much destroyed by the earthquake.

Yes, I suspect 1bhcrashman was talking about the road from Arenal to La Paz. I hope he/she comes back with more info. Peace Lodge told me that portions of that road have reopened (even though it shows it as closed on their website) and that's the route their private drivers are using, but I'm not sure I want to use it.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I was talking about the last 6k from Vara Blanca to La Paz. Even though they have been working on the road, the damage from the quake was extensive. I have been told but don't know from personal experience that continuing on past La Paz towards Arenal is even worse. If you have a driver who is familiar with the roads it would probably be better.

I drove that road from Vara Blanca to Poas, when I visited in November. It is open but in awful shape. I didn't like it at all.

Is the "road from Vara Blanca to La Paz" the same route you would take from SJO? Or is there another way?

"SJO" the airport? "SJO" the city? There are two ways to get to Poas Volcano, one via Vara Blanca and one heading north from Alajuela. I advise the latter.

I checked on google maps, the Road number you want to take is 130 and not 126 (which is the road via Vara Blanca). 126 still isn't open to San Miguel. And don't expect to see Route numbers (or any roads signs for that matter) on any of the roads, but you will see signs pointing the way to Poas, so pay attention to those and follow them.

BTW here is the website for "estado de rutas" in CR. It's a handy one to have although you need the ability to translate Spanish, but the word "Normal" is the same. "Totalmente cerrado" means completely closed..

http://www.transito.go.cr/estadorutas/

Thank you for the info. This is what is making me nervous - Peace Lodge told me in an email that the private transfer they arranged would take me through San Miguel, which is now open. I'm not arriving until June so I'm just going to wait and see what happens with the road. I asked about this on tripadvisor (I have the user name Junk2), and I really don't know what to think at this point.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-..._Alajuela.html

I don't want to make you unnecessarily nervous but June could be pretty wet up there. I would ask Peace Lodge if they can tell you how long a drive they are accurately figuring. Personally, even though they say the road is safe, I would wait until closer to the arrival date and verify it again on this board or others. Leave yourself sometime to cancel if necessary and inn the meantime book somewhere else as a backup plan. If you plan on going on to Arenal from there, I would just skip this place & route for this time and head up to Arenal.

It's still getting pretty consistent five star reviews on tripadvisor. B, maybe you could message some of the reviewers.

If I'm understanding things correctly, the road from SJO airport is fine. So my back-up plan, as it gets closer to June and I'm still not comfortable with the route Peace Lodge is intending to use to Arenal, is to just cancel my private transfer with Peace Lodge and hire my own driver, insisting that he backtrack to the airport. Do you think that sounds reasonable? And, VG, good suggestion about messaging some of the reviewers. I will definitely do that with the reviewer who mentioned the scary road to Arenal.

June is a long way away. They will undoubtedly claim some kind of miscommunication (the catchall excuse) but still get you to Arenal one way or the other.

If you are on TA have you asked roadadvisor? He is in the tranfer business so will know.

Next day after we arrive are going on 2 days rating trip with Exploradores Outdoors: 1 day on the
pacuare and 1 day on the revantazon. They said they can pick us up from Pura Vida early in the morning. Would they be taking a different road? After the rafting trip they will take us to Arenal. Not sure what roads they will be taking.We are going in April. Thanks

Irina - I would just call your tour provider and ask them what route they are planning to take. I suspect it's not the same road we're talking about here.

mlgb - Yes, Roadadvisor is on that tripadvisor thread, expressing his absolute disbelief that hotels are using that road to Arenal. As you said, June is a long time away and I'm sure it will all work out. Thanks!

roadadviser is not a fan of the Peace Lodge, even before the earthquake. It frustrates him that they have caged animals on site.