gailching

Does anyone know what time the hummingbird garden, the butterfly garden and waterfall park close for Peace Lodge guests?

We will be arriving at SJO at 2:45 and are wondering whether there will be enough time that night to explore after renting our car and driving out there.

Thanks

EdPhoto

gailching:

I think the available daylight will be the factor that determines how long you will be able to explore. I don't recall there being any time restriction - you can walk the grounds at anytime you want, but after about 6 or 6:30 pm, depending upon the cloud cover, you won't be able to see much. Early morning is always a great time to walk the grounds. The butterfly garden is best around noon, when the sun is higher and the butterflies are active.

gailching

I know that the peace lodge shuttle stops running at 5....i guess it isn't walking distance from the lodge (or is it?)...if we have a car, are there places to park?

sandyc

It gets completely dark around 6:00, so you won't have much time to explore the grounds. By the time you get through immigration, get your car and drive the hour to La Paz it will just be getting dark. Enjoy your rooms and a good meal and explore all you want the next day. The grounds are right there on the property. The shuttle brings people from the last waterfall back to the front door so you don't have to walk all the way back.
Sandy

gailching

We wanted to see Poas the next morning...<sigh>

Do you think there is enough time to go to Poas (does it open at 8am?), stay for an hour, get back to La Paz around 9:30 a.m., hike around for 3 hours until 12:30pm and then leave for Arenal at 1pm and get there before dark?

I'm assuming that the drive from Peace Lodge to Poas is about 30 mins? Is this a correct assumption?

Thanks.

gailching

Sorry, just had another thought. From the map, it looks like the butterfly garden and hummingbird garden are closest to Peace Lodge. Maybe I could see those two things on the first night and then do the waterfalls the next morning?

Anyone know if the hummingbirds and butterflies would be very inactive around 5pm?

sandyc

The butterfly garden, hummingbird garden, and waterfall trails are at the Peace Lodge. La Paz/Peace Lodge are one and the same. You will step outside your room and take a short walk, and it's all there. If you get there before dark, go ahead and take a look. If they aren't active, go back in the morning. Poas is very close. It's never been clear when I've gone to see it -- that area is often foggy. You can do both, but if I had to pick, there's a whole lot more beauty to be found at La Paz. The trails are cool and green with waterfalls here and there. Poas is an asphalt trail to a crater filled with bluish green liquid (or a trail to a thick fog. Arenal on the other hand is quite impressive.

Sandy

Suzie2

I'm with Sandy. I have never gotten to see Poas because it has been cloudy. Lots of people do but as they say...timing is everything. Some days are clear and some not. If you have a car, you could play it by ear and find out if it is clear before leaving. Walking around La Paz before (or after)the bus loads of tourists is wonderful.

A tour of just the butterfly area and hummingbird area could be done before going to Poas or possibly after you arrive that afternoon. I think we spent a couple of hours sitting in the hummingbird area alone. After Poas, you could go back and take a hike down through the waterfalls, have lunch, and then on your way. You could make Arenal by dark if you leave by 1pm.

One suggestion I would like to make is to take a cheap poncho or rainjacket when you are hiking around the waterfalls. It can be misty. We would have been soaked (or just not been able to see some of the waterfalls well) if we hadn't had ours.

Enjoy!

gailching

yes, must remember the poncho. it seems like everytime we go on vacation, we need to buy an umbrella or poncho of some sort

hopefully the weather cooperates with us! thanks for the advice!

OBXBarb

The hummingbird garden doesn't close. We spent time there every day at the end of the day, when the hummingbirds were very active. All the buses are gone, so we were always one of only a few guests. There was always an bird expert that wandered through to ask any questions and let us feed the hummingbirds (you hold the feeder). We have tons of different hummingbirds from our daily visit there.

We started on the waterfall trail one early evening, and it gets pretty dark in there quickly. There is an employee at the entrance, who I'm sure is there to stop people when it gets too late.

The time to go in the butterfly garden is when its sunny. Also before the buses get there in the morning. We went out for daily activities when the buses started coming in. The coffee plantation was really interesting.

We got out of SJ surprisingly fast (probably 1 1/2 hours with rental car.)..the lines were pretty long at customs. Make sure you keep your eyes open for the turns when you get close to the lodge. We ended up at the volcano accidently when we missed the turn. It will definately take an hour...the roads wind and lots of people walking on the road. We were there for three days, and kept seeing the clouds move in and out at the volcano. The lodge is very close. We waited for an opening, jumped in the car and went up. Made it in time to see it. Great pictures again!